How about them Canucks!

[gopher]

Rangers over Wash 4-2


7 wins in a row with 9 of 11 recent victories

As before, Broadway Blues seem to tire in the 3d period and they almost gave up the lead as the defensemen looked tuckered out. Thankfully, the Caps made a couple of mistkaes and they were able to score a key PPG.

 

[talloola]

Rangers over Wash 4-2


7 wins in a row with 9 of 11 recent victories

As before, Broadway Blues seem to tire in the 3d period and they almost gave up the lead as the defensemen looked tuckered out. Thankfully, the Caps made a couple of mistkaes and they were able to score a key PPG.

maybe the rangers are an older team, i don't really know, but hockey takes so much endurance to get thru
the 60 minutes in the game, and some teams are harder to play, so more energy has to be spent too
early in the game, and if the age of the team has quite a few older players, that tells the story.

nothing about this game is easy, nothing.

 

[gopher]

Broadway Blues > Jersey Devils 3-1

Derek Stepan with a hat trick - huge amount of hats thrown into the rink after his accomplishment.

They called it the Tri-State Challenge but NY/NJ are only 2 states.

 

[talloola]

sunday 5:00 p.m. pacific


Canucks return from break, visit DucksSunday, 12.28.2014 / 11:46 TV: TVA SPORTS, CITY, PRIME

The Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks were not expected to skate before they played at Honda Center on Sunday.

Anaheim remains without forward Corey Perry, who missed his ninth-straight game Saturday because of a sprained knee. Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters that he is not expected to play. Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin did return from a broken finger, which gave them their regular defense for the first time since the beginning of the season.

The Ducks lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Arizona Coyotes and are 17-0-6 in one-goal games.

Boudreau told reporters Saturday that he wouldn’t shy from starting goalie Frederik Andersen again on the back-to-back set. Andersen is 4-0-1 with a 1.36 goals-against average in his career against the Canucks.

Vancouver was one of four teams that did not play Saturday and has been off since Monday, when it defeated Arizona, 7-1. Alexandre Burrows scored two goals and 14 players recorded points.

It is not known if Canucks forward Zack Kassian will play. Kassian is recovering from a finger injury.

This is Anaheim center Ryan Kesler’s third game against his former team. The Ducks are 7-0-1 in the past eight games against Vancouver.

 

[talloola]

x

a pretty good game, canucks played well, and both goalies were very sharp. anaheim came on more

in the third period, but canucks did get a point out of the game, so all was not lost.

anaheim is a very good hockey team, sitting on top of the western conference.

if only the top line would contribute a bit more, they have almost completely shut
down, the twins just don't have the speed, and they seem to be always trying to
either catch up, or having to make a play too fast for it to be successful.
anyway the team is doing ok this season, and maybe the management will work
toward building a 'new' number one line for next year.

 

[bill barilko]

...if only the top line would contribute a bit more, they have almost completely shut down, the twins just don't have the speed, and they seem to be always trying to either catch up, or having to make a play too fast for it to be successful.anyway the team is doing ok this season, and maybe the management will work toward building a 'new' number one line for next year.

Yeah that has to be next and if Bening knows what he's doing that's what he's working on now.

 

[talloola]

Yeah that has to be next and if Bening knows what he's doing that's what he's working on now.

yeah, i hope so too. the team has quite a few young up n comers, and over the next year and on from
there, that should be 'his' first priority, and i'm totally sure he and trevor can see quite easily,
'that' very problem, doesn't mean the twins can't be on the team, they just have to step away from
'that' position, and become part of the depth of the team, can be very good second line players.

 

[gopher]

Dallas > Rangers 3-2


Broadway Blues defensemen looked awfully tired and the announcer singled out Marc Staal as looking terribly fatigued. I wonder if the flu bug or the mumps has hit the team the way it has others.

Netminder Lehtonen made a couple of good stops for the Stars.

 

[talloola]

this game tonight will be a good test for canucks, as, although san jose wasn't at the top of their game
earlier in the season, they are now, they did lose a close one last game, but they have been playing
very well, just as we had expected them to play from the getgo, so, if canucks can win this one, or
even if they lose a close one, but play very well, we will know where they fit in, in this conference,
and if they can still compete with the top teams.

i will repeat, top line must step up, they have been a disappointment lately, and that isn't acceptable
on a team that must make the playoffs, they won't if this line doesn't smarten up, so lets go.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7:00 p.m. pacific time

Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose SharksCANUCKS (20-11-3) at SHARKS (19-12-5)

TV: SNP, CSN-CA

Season series: Nick Bonino's goal with 2:40 remaining in regulation proved to be the winner when the Vancouver Canucks edged the San Jose Sharks in the first game. Canucks goalie Ryan Miller made 34 saves.

Canucks team scope: Vancouver has earned five of a possible six points it its past three games. The Canucks last played Sunday, when they took a lead into the third period against the NHL-leading Anaheim Ducks but lost in overtime 2-1. It was the second time this season Vancouver has failed to pick up two points when leading after two periods, with the other game an overtime loss to the Ducks on Nov. 20. "For whatever reason, we let it get away a bit," coach Willie Desjardins said. "If we want to win in this League, we have to take the puck to the net. We can't rely on our goaltender."

Sharks team scope: After five straight wins, its longest streak of the season, San Jose lost its past two games (0-1-1) against the Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks are 9-2-1 in their past 12 games after starting the season 10-10-4. Over that 12-game stretch, San Jose has allowed outscored its opponents 38-24. Forward Matt Nieto participated at practice on Sunday and Monday, alternating on line rushes with Tomas Hertl next to Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Nieto last played Dec. 4 and has been on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow after today's practice, we'll get him through another good hard one," coach Todd McLellan said Sunday. "We'll look at the lineups that are coming at us and consider the back-to-backs. And then we'll make a decision that's best for him and the team."

 

[talloola]

ok, a good win, even a goal from the top line, 5 on 5, although the goalie should have saved that shot,
if miller had of let one in like that, he would have heard about it.

miller was awsome, and has been in the last few games.

so, as i was stating earlier, this game for me was a test, they passed it, they look equally as good as
san jose, and that shows they can still compete with any team in the conference, but that top line has
to be better, they were a bit better tonight, but i don't see anything to get excited about from them.

san jose didn't play their starter tonight, that could have made the game more even, if they had.

 

[bill barilko]

I see the Canuck break out game is slowly getting better-they needed to be faster & more accurate and slowly slowly it's happening-OTOH I understand it's not a matter of turning a switch there's a lot to it.

That shot by Thornton was a beauty.

 

[talloola]

I see the Canuck break out game is slowly getting better-they needed to be faster & more accurate and slowly slowly it's happening-OTOH I understand it's not a matter of turning a switch there's a lot to it.

That shot by Thornton was a beauty.

yeah, the canucks aren't a fast team, hanson and mathias are great skaters, but thats about it, the rest are
either the middle of the road, or in the sedin's case, slow.

they must move the puck quickly to make up for their lack of foot speed.

but tonight was fine, san jose did co operate somewhat, and miller was first star.

l.a. on thursday. edmonton beat l.a. tonight in ashoot out, i was so excited for them, they were ahead
till almost the end of the gAme, then took a penalty, and l.a. tied it up, but they did get that
final winning goal, good for them.
thats two losses in arow for l.a., they'll sure be grumpy when they arrive in town on thursday, and they
are big so, canucks better eat their wheaties and be ready.

 

[gopher]

Rangers > Florida 5-2


Sensational play (perhaps play of the year) by Gopherland's McDonagh as he heel kicked the puck to save the zone and drove it home from the point.

Amazingly - despite a large Florida crowd, most of the fans were rooting for the Broadway Blues! Lots of ex-New Yorkers and vacationers there. Great to see that.

 

[talloola]

the oilers and flames played a great game tonight, oilers finally lost it in overtime, 3 on 3, as they

were both shorthanded. hope this is the turning point for the oilers, they look different, they look

like workers, grinders and players at last. i think the management made amistake when they hired

dallas aiken, he is very young, right out of juniorcoaching, he is a good coach, but the guy they

have now has coached in the ahl, where players and coaches become tough and harder to play against,

i think he will teach them to do the same, well, i hope so, we'll see.

 

[JLM]

the oilers and flames played a great game tonight, oilers finally lost it in overtime, 3 on 3, as they

were both shorthanded. hope this is the turning point for the oilers, they look different, they look

like workers, grinders and players at last. i think the management made amistake when they hired

dallas aiken, he is very young, right out of juniorcoaching, he is a good coach, but the guy they

have now has coached in the ahl, where players and coaches become tough and harder to play against,

i think he will teach them to do the same, well, i hope so, we'll see.

Yeah, I watched a bit of it too, hard to prove to me that Edmonton is 30th in the league, but then what do I know? Sad ending!

 

[talloola]

7:00 p.m. pacific time

lots on the line tonight, position in the standings, so should make for an exciting game.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:Kings aim to overtake Canucks in Pacific Division
Los Angeles Kings vs. Vancouver CanucksKINGS (18-12-8) at CANUCKS (21-11-3)

TV: SN, FS-W

Season series: Los Angeles Kings forward Tyler Toffoli had a goal and two assists in a 5-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Nov. 8. The Kings have won five of the past six against the Canucks.

Kings team scope: Los Angeles was defeated by the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in a shootout on Tuesday. The Kings have 44 points and trail the Canucks by one point in the Pacific Division. The Kings have lost three of their past four games and their past five road games. Defenseman Jake Muzzin has three goals in his past six games. Forward Marian Gaborik has a seven-game point streak (seven goals, four assists). Jonathan Quick has started the past eight games for the Kings (3-2-3) and has allowed 22 goals.

Canucks team scope: Vancouver defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Tuesday for their third win in nine games. Tuesday will be their fifth straight game against a Pacific Division opponent. "These are extremely big points," winger Jannik Hansen told the Canucks website after the game. "You don't have to look over the standings twice to see that these are very important games." Hansen was fined Wednesday but not suspended for an illegal check to the head of Sharks forward Tommy Wingels in the game Tuesday. Forward Henrik Sedin has four assists in his past five games. Goalie Ryan Miller has allowed six goals in his past four games (3-0-1).

 

[bill barilko]

New Years Day games should be called Hangover Classics

 

[JLM]

It's just come to my attention that the Sedin line is leading the entire team in goals, assists and points, so they can't be doing too badly!

 

[talloola]

It's just come to my attention that the Sedin line is leading the entire team in goals, assists and points, so they can't be doing too badly!

well of course, that is the whole season, 'including power plays', which is their specialty. but it is
all about, what have you done lately, and that includes everyone, so the management of any team isn't
going to sluff off mediocre play of late, by saying, oh it doesn't matter, becAuse they played well
for the first 2 1/2 months.
this is all about winning, nothing else, it is a business, not a fun get together club. the bottom line
is what they look at, like any business, so as long As the team stays inside the playoff position, they
will push on as is, but if they begin dropping down, as they did last season, then changes will be made.

the team basically is the same team as has been, with some changes, but not the core. torterella stated
that the core of the team is stale, should be changed, and also suggested that burrows be bought out.

the core is doing well, but sedins need to step up again, and play as they did early on, b urrows is
back to his normal self, glad no one listened to him, and bought him out, he was the only twit with
that frame of mind, and couldn't consider all of the 'down' days b urrows had last season.

the only core player to leave was kesler, didn't hurt the team at all.

i watch lots of other teams, speed is what cAnucks lack, and speed is what many other teams have, and some
of them are Awsome to watch, even though they aren't heavelly talented, that speed cAn make up for a lot
of other things.

the sedins are the first ones to admit they aren't playing good enough, daniel said it before last game,
so they aren't skating around out there thinking they are great, theyknow they Are struggling. there
hasn't been very many power plays, other teams know that canuck power play can hurt them, so they stay
away from that situation as much as they cAn. the sedins know that they cAn kick butt in a power play, and sometimes 4 on 4,
but not always. five on five is crucial, and they aren't showing up much then,
they are being outskated, that is the main reason they are struggling.

 

[JLM]

well of course, that is the whole season, 'including power plays', which is their specialty. but it is
all about, what have you done lately, and that includes everyone, so the management of any team isn't
going to sluff off mediocre play of late, by saying, oh it doesn't matter, becAuse they played well
for the first 2 1/2 months.

I wonder how the Sedins' speed compares to other players who have played 15 seasons!