How about them Canucks!

[talloola]

Good points all but I think we've all been thinking of Luongo as the team savior or something. There have been some games that Luongo has stolen a game almost by himself. Luongo made a few spectacular saves last night but unfortunately he also let in a few pretty ordinary goals. The Canucks have needed their goaltender to put up a wall and in a good number of games. he has done that, but I get the feeling that this goaltender is burning out a little. If the defense and the rest of the team is playing a solid game, Luongo is fine but he needs the defense to sweep away those rebounds and pick up their checks. The coach needs to yell at the defense about these things. I also think the coach should put in the backup goaltender for thr next game.

I think the idea of pulling luongo is wacko Juan. That would send a 'last' resort
message to chicago and everyone else as well, and we aren't nearly at that
point at all. Luongo hasn't had outstanding games against chicago, but neither
has the rest of the team. If they get in a situation where chicago are beating us
badly, with a huge lead, then pull him, to save embarrassment, but put him right
back in, in the next game. He is the last line of defense, and he was left very
vulnerable on some occasions, and it is not his job to have to win the games
all by himself.
Our defense must allow him to see 'better' in the shooting lanes, don't clog up the
sight line for luongo along with the chicago player, get in front of, or behind the
player, not beside him, causing luongo more problems 'trying to find the puck'.

Think about three 'just abou't goals we 'should' have scored which
we didn't. l) Bernier missing break a way, he should have scored that goal.
2) Kesler's goal post
3) Sundin shot over top of net
4) Burrows had a close in shot
Burrows shot was not so point blank, goalie made a good save,but the others were, should have been goals, missed the net.
You don't keep your goalie on the bench with the amount of wins he has had
recently, that would be crazy.

 

[talloola]

1) I would shift lines again. Kesler back with Burrows, Wellwood with the twins
Burrows seems a little out of his comfort zone on that line against chicago, his
skating ability is challenged now, and the twins need him to help them, and he
isn't doing that, the twins are fine, they just need more help, (just like Kesler
needs help on the second line), he can't do it by himself.
2) The second line is horrible, so with Kesler back with Burrows on the 3 rd line,
and wellwood with the twins, and maybe Dimitra out with injury ?, not sure yet,
he could put Bernier and Raymond with Sundin, sure can't hurt, as that
second line can only get better, as they can't get worse.
3) He could put Ripien with Kesler and Burrows, that would be a great shut down line, and
able to contribute as well.
4) Pyatt could be inserted onto 4th line with Hortichuk and Johnson
5) Team needs to be more 'physical'.
6) I am seeing the third period as a situation where chicago can ramp it up, as
'they' are 'younger and faster', and when other teams are a little slower in the third
period, 'they' are faster.
7) We have to check them closer in the neutral zone, a little bit like Minnesota
does, as chicago starts their rush from deep within their own zone, with 'all'
players, as their defense become very offensive minded. We have to put more
pressure on those defensemen so they don't have that chance to join the rush.
We don't have the scoring depth they have, you can see that by all the different
forwards who have scored for them in 'all' the playoffs.
9) They have more 'talented' scoring players than we do, but that doesn't mean
their team can play better, structure and discipline and coaching becomes very
crucial now. In the last game our structure crumpled and we began running around,
because of all the pressure.
10) The loss of Salo is crucial to our team, it means that the defense pairings are
juggled around, which upsets the rythum a little, he has scored 6 points and 3
goals in the playoffs, so we will miss him dearly, they have to adjust to his absence. O'Brian now has to play more minutes, and play against better forwards,
so that puts pressure on him that he isn't used to. Vaanenan will be playing now
and he doesn't have salo's talent, but he will be a stay at home defenseman and
quietly do his job.
11) I really do think the 2nd line will lose us this playoff run, but gillis will be
able to rebuild his lines again in the summer, and hopefully sundin will be gone
and dimitra has to be relegated to the press box more often next year.
I don't like to sound like I am throwing in the towel, and I do hope Vineault can
juggle his lines and make the team stronger from here on. They are paying
Sundin big bucks, and they have to play him because of that, and I think they
are hoping 'his presence' on the ice and his little contributions around the net
will be enough to get something done, (a tall order in my opinion).
If they come out and win nicely tomorow, then everything I suggested won't be
necessary, (unless, of course, it was allready done). lol

I am enjoying the pitts/wash game as we speak, a good series, probably very
even, and I couldn't imagine who will win this series.


GO CANUCKS GO

 

[talloola]

Washington beat Pittsburg today 4-3, and crosby and ovetchkin both got hat tricks.
Amazing.

 

[wulfie68]

9) They have more 'talented' scoring players than we do, but that doesn't mean
their team can play better, structure and discipline and coaching becomes very
crucial now. In the last game our structure crumpled and we began running around,
because of all the pressure.

Thats the biggest thing IMO. Discipline can overcome raw skill if you stick to your game plan and don't get selfish/take too much on for yourself. Its something thats been proven over and over again in years past. People have to accept their roles almost religiously. Vancouver played that way down the stretch and were one of the hottest teams in the NHL but it seems they've gotten away from it in the playoffs... over confidence from handling St Louis too easily?

I also agree that they have to pressure Chicago's D more but they have to be especially careful and disciplined there with the way Seabrook and Keith are playing. And Salo being out with the "lower body injury" doesn't help matters: no one can afford to lose a steady defenseman, never mind one that was contributing offensively as well.

 

[talloola]

Thats the biggest thing IMO. Discipline can overcome raw skill if you stick to your game plan and don't get selfish/take too much on for yourself. Its something thats been proven over and over again in years past. People have to accept their roles almost religiously. Vancouver played that way down the stretch and were one of the hottest teams in the NHL but it seems they've gotten away from it in the playoffs... over confidence from handling St Louis too easily?

I also agree that they have to pressure Chicago's D more but they have to be especially careful and disciplined there with the way Seabrook and Keith are playing. And Salo being out with the "lower body injury" doesn't help matters: no one can afford to lose a steady defenseman, never mind one that was contributing offensively as well.

What a fresh faced exciting team this chicago group are, I'm wishing for the
canucks to win this series, but I am uplifted by that team, and I see the NHL
going younger, and faster, and other teams to follow that style. They don't
even have any 'veteran' leadership, their captain is 21 years old, and he and
sharp are the talkative ones in the dressing room, what a treat we are in for,
over the next few years, and the junior level is loaded with those energetic
fast skating players, who can't wait to get into the NHL level and show their
stuff.

 

[shadowshiv]

Washington beat Pittsburg today 4-3, and crosby and ovetchkin both got hat tricks.
Amazing.

Washington is playing like a totally different team than in the first round. They learned from their mistakes. Pittsburgh's problem is that Malkin has been pretty invisible the first two games of the second round. True, he got an assist in Pittsburgh's 3rd goal, but that didn't really decide anything. He was -1(or -2) for the game, and took a costly penalty that resulted in a Washington goal.

Pittsburgh is a fair bit of trouble, and they need to pick it up!(Well, not Crosby. He's kicking ass right now.)

 

[talloola]

Washington is playing like a totally different team than in the first round. They learned from their mistakes. Pittsburgh's problem is that Malkin has been pretty invisible the first two games of the second round. True, he got an assist in Pittsburgh's 3rd goal, but that didn't really decide anything. He was -1(or -2) for the game, and took a costly penalty that resulted in a Washington goal.

Pittsburgh is a fair bit of trouble, and they need to pick it up!(Well, not Crosby. He's kicking ass right now.)

I remember Malkin missing in action last playoff too (last year), wonder why, he is such
a wonderful player, and you'd think this time around, he would know how to
perform in playoffs, oh well, there is still some time left, but not much.

 

[talloola]

today from chicago at 5:00 p.m.



For the Canucks…

With Sami Salo unavailable for at least the immediate future, the Canucks will need to rely on the rest of their blueline corps to step up in his absence and that goes double for the lone right-handed defenceman remaining on the active roster in Kevin Bieksa. The team’s leading goal scorer (11) and point-scorer (43) from the backend during the regular season, the 6’0”, 205 lbs. rearguard has been oddly quiet on the offensive side so far this post-season with just two assists over the six games. The 27-year old picked up his first point of Round Two in a losing cause on Saturday with the second assist on Alex Edler’s 5-on-3 power play goal in the first period.

Aside from helping his team rebound from a tough loss in Game 2, the only thing the Grimsby, Ontario native would love to do more would be to find the back of the net again. Dating back to the regular season, Bieksa has gone 23 games without a goal. His last tally came back on March 7th in a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. He is still in search of his first career playoff marker. In 15 career NHL playoff games, Bieksa has two assists and 26 penalty minutes.For the Blackhawks…

If the Canucks had their way, Ben Eager would have spent Game 2 watching from high above in the press box rather than be an active participant in the contest. The 25-year old, who is in his first full season with the Blackhawks after being acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers midway through the 2007.08 season, drew the ire of the Canucks after he threw a late and dangerous high hit on Rick Rypien during the second period of Game 1 but somehow managed to escape punishment from the League office. The 6’2”, 220 lbs. left winger would hit the Canucks hard again in Game 2 only this time he did his damage on the scoresheet with his first career playoff goal early in the third period – the goal that stood up as the eventual game-winner.

The Ottawa, Ontario native, who netted his first career playoff point also in this series with an assist in Game 1, has points in consecutive games for the first time since a modest two-game point streak (2-1-3) back on November 20 – 22. He will be looking to post a point in a third consecutive for the first time all season. In 10 career NHL playoff games, Eager has notched two points (1-1-2) and 55 penalty minutes.

Don't know what to expect from this game, as the last game left such a
question mark for me. It's not that they had a loss, as it is only one loss
in many many games, but it is 'how' they lost that concerns me.
If they get their structure back in order, and the discipline to carry it out
even when being 'pressured', then they will make out OK.
They need better defensive play, especially from forwards, pressuring chicago
defensemen, by not allowing the constant 'surge' of offense from all five
players on chicago, rushing up the ice together.
Lots of hitting, make Kane worry about getting hit. The big Buff----- needs
someone to do a little number on him, (difficult chore), but he also needs
to get out of his 'happy' mood, and get into a snit, and not feel so comfortable.
Looking forward to the excitement and a good game.
Enjoy, everyone.

GO CANUCKS GO

 

[talloola]

According to Kevin Bieksa, in an interview today, he stated that they haven't played their best in 'either' of the two games against Chicago, and tonight they
will bring a better effort. I am looking forward to that, hope he is right.
I would like to see some of the cockiness knocked out of chicago, especially at
home.

 

[JLM]

Washington beat Pittsburg today 4-3, and crosby and ovetchkin both got hat tricks.
Amazing.

Yep, I'm kind of rooting for Washington.

 

[JLM]

According to Kevin Bieksa, in an interview today, he stated that they haven't played their best in 'either' of the two games against Chicago, and tonight they
will bring a better effort. I am looking forward to that, hope he is right.
I would like to see some of the cockiness knocked out of chicago, especially at
home.

I'm guessing their effort will be much better tonight, but it's not going to be an easy win by any means in Chicago without Salo. Could go to O.T.

 

[talloola]

Yep, I'm kind of rooting for Washington.

I'm kind of 'on the fence, on this one, don't know who to cheer for, I like
them both, and they both have top players. I like Ovetchkin and Crosby and
Malkin, so which ever team gets through, one/or two of them will move on.

 

[talloola]

Ah good, dimitra is out, and I see the second line allready looks better.
1-0 canucks after one.

 

[gerryh]

2-0 for Van.... but they've been here before

 

[gerryh]

now 3-1 for Van..>Chicago now starts their run.

 

[talloola]

So far so good, they tried their surge after that first goal, didn't last long then
canucks regained their presence, and did their thing too.
Third period will be intense.

 

[#juan]

The Canucks kept their cool and won back the home ice advantage. The Canucks had the better of the play and I thought they were the better team for most of the game. Luongo played his "A" game and the Canucks are looking to win the next two and move on to the next round.

 

[talloola]

The whole team played well, but for me the key was the second line, as the addition of mason raymond, improved that line immensely, and he and kesler
had a great game together.
The defense was tough, and played like we know they can, and luongo played
well too, but he wasn't the sole reason that canucks won, it was a 'team' effort.
Chicago are now in the position we were, after the last game, they didn't look
great tonight, but they will be back stronger next game, there are no guarantees
who will win the series, one game at a time.

Salo is on his way to chicago, might play the next, or the one after that for sure.

I heard that Demitra is out for the series, but if we're lucky, it will be longer than
that, don't know how vineault can change things back now after he has seen how
well kesler/raymond/played together, and that makes sundin able to sit back a little
and wait for chances, and make passes.

 

[shadowshiv]

Looks like Hiller is working his mojo against Detroit! It is about to be a final...2-1 Anaheim(and a 2-1 games advantage to boot!).

 

[talloola]

Looks like Hiller is working his mojo against Detroit! It is about to be a final...2-1 Anaheim(and a 2-1 games advantage to boot!).

Those damn ducks, detroit just have to find a way to win this series, can't stand
that team. Whatever team come out of that series, will be the team to beat,
as anaheim seem to have found their stride just at the right time, and detroit
aren't the better team, (right now), hope that changes.