How about them Canucks!

[talloola]

LIVE ON SNET-P(HD) Radio: 1040 Canucks Sun 19/02/2012 6:00 PM Oilers

Preview Canucks start six-game trip in EdmontonDavis Harper - NHL.com Staff Writer


Date Vis/Home Final
24 Jan 2012 EDM@VAN VAN, 3 - 2
26 Dec 2011 EDM@VAN VAN, 5 - 3
25 Oct 2011 VAN@EDM EDM, 3 - 2
15 Oct 2011 VAN@EDM VAN, 4 - 3

CANUCKS (37-15-6) at OILERS (22-29-6)

TV: SNET-Pacific (HD), SNET-West

LAST 10 : Vancouver 8-0-2; Edmonton 4-6-0

Season Series: It's the fifth of six meetings between these two teams, with the home team prevailing in each of the first four. However, both Edmonton wins came in October, when the young Oilers were tearing through the League. Vancouver has won the most recent two, including a 3-2 shootout win on Jan. 24.

Big Story: The Northwest Division rivals are heading in opposite directions as the Canucks come to Rexall Place to begin a six-game trip. Vancouver is gaining on Detroit for the Western's top spot - the Canucks are two points back entering Sunday - while the Oilers have lost five of six and lead only Columbus in the overall standings.

Team Scope:

Canucks: Vancouver is riding a 9-0-3 streak that has them second in the West and pressing Detroit for the top spot. That the Canucks have been skating well should be no surprise, but one thing about the recent run does come as a shock: Daniel and Henrik Sedin have had very little to do with it. The Sedins - usually vital conduits through which Vancouver's offense flows - entered Saturday's contest against Toronto with just 12 points between them over the past 12 games. Unfortunately for Toronto - and, perhaps, Edmonton - the Sedins got back in the scoring columns in a big way against the Leafs. Daniel Sedin had four points (one goal, three assists), while Henrik had four helpers of his own.

"We didn't play our best for a month, a month and a half, and that's something we had to change," Daniel said. "We played better the last few games and hadn't got the results. But tonight a few of them went in."

Oilers: As January turned to February, the Oilers stirred to life, going 4-0-1 over a five-game stretch that harked back to their early-season success. Since then, however, very little has gone their way. After getting a much-needed 4-3 overtime win in Ottawa last Saturday, the Oilers returned to Rexall Place for a three-game homestand and promptly lost the first two. The second was a 3-1 loss on Friday to Colorado, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period. Associate coach Ralph Kruger, at the helm while Tom Renney recovers from a concussion suffered when a puck struck him in the head earlier this month, called his team's lack of spark an anomaly. But losing has become all too typical of this Oilers team.

"We've had the odd night like this," Kruger said. "It's about finding ways to win the difficult games. We knew this was going to be a tough one as they are fighting for their lives. They played very well defensively and didn't give us much deep down in front of the net. They really cleaned that up.

Who's Hot : Alexandre Burrows was twice the recipient of a Sedin assist on Saturday, scoring two goals to give him three in the past two games.

Injury Report: Vancouver's Kevin Bieksa played - and scored - Saturday against Toronto, despite a sore foot. Dale Weise missed the game with a facial laceration and bruised right foot. Keith Ballard (sore neck/headaches), Andrew Ebbett (collarbone surgery) and Aaron Volpatti (shoulder surgery) are all on injured reserve. … For Edmonton, Corey Potter (groin) is questionable for Sunday. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will miss at least another week with a sprained shoulder. Theo Peckham is on injured reserve with a facial injury.

Stat Pack: Likely Edmonton starter Devan Dubnyk has a decent mark all-time against Vancouver, going 2-2 with a 2.17 goals-against average and .930 save percentage, but has lost his last two decisions while conceding eight goals. … If the Canucks score first, the numbers suggest it may be a long evening for Edmonton. Vancouver has more wins than anyone (32) when scoring first, while Edmonton is 27th in the League (6-19-3) when conceding the first goal.

Puck Drop: Despite their enviable streak, the Canucks needed overtime 10 times in the past 14 games before Saturday's blitz of the Leafs.

"It was nice to get a few goals and not play a game where you need to come back the last few minutes," Henrik Sedin said. "It got away from them."

 

[Mowich]

canucks will do what they will do, if they don't become the most exciting team in the NHL, or the highest
scoring, or the winner of the presidents' cup, or win the stanley cup, It doesn't matter that much to
me.
I'm enjoying the games, irrespective of style. I admire how they have managed to get so many points without
playing that well.

I have come to the end of all the hype of expectations, and trashing and wimpering and band wagon jumpers,
and I just go on any enjoy each game, for the game itself, doesn't really matter who is playing, but
always hoping for my canucks most of all.

I just smile now listening to callers on the radio, for they don't change, and never will, the team
must do what 'they' want, and do it every game, and as soon as they faulter, (even for one game) all
of the critics come out of the woodwork and all seem to know how to fix something that really isn't
even broken.

The players they want traded is frightening, and the players they want brought into the mix is ridiculous,
as they want players that no team is going to part with, they pay no attention to the cap number, and
seem to think, (as my mother use to say) that money grows on trees, just pick it off, and its yours. lol

I am hoping for canucks to battle for the presidents' cup. as they are in a position to win it, and this
road trip coming up will make a big difference, as they are playing lots of games, and should they
win most of them, or all, they will sit out in front of everyone at least for a little while, as I imagine
detroit won't have that many games this week, or rangers, so we'll see how it goes.

While many are just putting up with the regular season, waiting for playoffs, I am having a good time
watching hockey games, enjoying all of them, and keeping track of how the 'league' is doing, its fun.

Canucks aren't playing like they did last year, but what team could match that performance, they were
magnificent last season, I will never forget.

Tanev is up again, as ballard is still out with the neck/headache problem, so we get to see this young
guy again who has a very bright future with the canucks.

Don't have a clue what canucks will do at trade deadline, they don't have much cap room, so if they want
a 'name' player they will have to give up salary, so that means good players leaving the team, so I
don't really want them to do that, but gillis could pick up a couple of players that are not highly
paid, but useful, and helpful, similar to higgins and lapierre last year, they turned out to be very
valuable to the team.

They do have reinprecht in chicago, a veteran, a stanley cup winner with colorado, so when playoffs
start, they can bring him up without losing him on the waiver wire, which is what would happen now.

I'm with you about all the 'fans' calling for higher scoring games and complaining about the low-key play of the Canucks until last night, talloola. What is it with some people? The Canucks were winning their games. They were putting up points. They were second in the standings. They are healthy and playing decent hockey - but still that was not enough for the idiots who ranted about low scores. Well I hope last night's game will shut some of them up at least along with some of the 'talking heads' on the panels. Sheesh!

The Canucks did a lot of things right last night........They came out seemingly well rested after a couple days off and
began by blasting a few pucks past a Leaf goaltender who never did get ready. The twins were about as good as I've
ever seen them. I wasn't happy about that last goal the Leafs scored.....The Canucks were running around a bit and
sprawling around the crease getting in Luongo's way. In any case, it was a good win that should give them a bit of
confidence going into the game with the Oilers.

I didn't really blame Lu for either of the goals T.O. got past him last night, both times he had little chance of seeing the puck - too many bodies around him of both colors.

Before the game, the guys on HNIC were talking about Lu and how his game has improved. One of the points they made was that the coaches have allowed him to come out of the net and play the puck more aggressively as was more his style in years past. Thinking back to that fabulous glove save he made on Iginla in the Canucks game with the Flames, and watching him in last night's game where he was often found 'beyond the paint', I had to agree. He just looks so much happier and confident now. Maybe that was the 'key' all along.

 

[talloola]

I'm with you about all the 'fans' calling for higher scoring games and complaining about the low-key play of the Canucks until last night, talloola. What is it with some people? The Canucks were winning their games. They were putting up points. They were second in the standings. They are healthy and playing decent hockey - but still that was not enough for the idiots who ranted about low scores. Well I hope last night's game will shut some of them up at least along with some of the 'talking heads' on the panels. Sheesh!

yeah, teams will not always play their best, there are high, medium, and low times of the season, and
others dictate just how well their opponants play as well, and when the outcome is good, and the performance
wasn't so good, but the score is positive, take it, and move on, a win is a win, could have been a loss.

what many people fail to think about is the 'other' team, what 'they' are trying to do, and how that
affects 'our' team, it is a struggle out there on the ice for most of the time, and very rarely does
the win come easy, for any team.

I do make a point, as I watch many games a week, to keep in mind where I think canucks fit in the
pack of 30, and that changes about as well, and from number one down to about number eleven, (have to
include eleven because chicago is there and they won't be there long), it's anybodys game on any given
night, and it will be fun to watch and see just how it all settles in the end.

And it doesn't really matter how it does settle, they will still all be able to beat each other
quite easily in any given game.

Just as babcock said the other day on a telephone interview on team 1040, "even the teams that will
be out of the playoffs are good teams", as the structure of teams is so close all over the league now.

So, if anyone judges a team by the number beside their name in the standings, and expects a certain
outcome because of that number, and if your team loses to a team with a high number, and you think
they are failures because of that defeat, give your head a shake.

The league has never been better in all the years the NHL has been alive because the closeness of
the teams makes every game a question mark till the last buzzer goes, and thats just the way it should
be.

So many give so much praise to the original 6 teams, but remember there was no draft, and teams grabbed
and secured young players for themselves, to the detrement of the rest of the teams, and that is why
montreal and toronto dominated so much, that would never have happened if they had a draft back then,
and also a cap.
The backroom deals and the promises to young players, 'if' you come to our team, none of that exists
now.

 

[JLM]

I'm with you about all the 'fans' calling for higher scoring games and complaining about the low-key play of the Canucks until last night, talloola. What is it with some people? The Canucks were winning their games. They were putting up points. They were second in the standings. They are healthy and playing decent hockey - but still that was not enough for the idiots who ranted about low scores. Well I hope last night's game will shut some of them up at least along with some of the 'talking heads' on the panels. Sheesh!



I didn't really blame Lu for either of the goals T.O. got past him last night, both times he had little chance of seeing the puck - too many bodies around him of both colors.

Before the game, the guys on HNIC were talking about Lu and how his game has improved. One of the points they made was that the coaches have allowed him to come out of the net and play the puck more aggressively as was more his style in years past. Thinking back to that fabulous glove save he made on Iginla in the Canucks game with the Flames, and watching him in last night's game where he was often found 'beyond the paint', I had to agree. He just looks so much happier and confident now. Maybe that was the 'key' all along.

Yeah, fans can be rather a fickle bunch (with short memories to boot) Canucks are actually on track for about 114 points (anything over 100 is excellent) Every player (maybe not Gretzky) goes through slumps and every team has a real stinker game once in awhile. If it's two or three a year, it's not a big deal. A team can play an excellent game and still lose (regardless of what that sports idiot on C.K.N.W. says) As far as I'm concerned Luongo and the twins are as good as you are going to find in the league over the long haul, but the twins are still expected to be top notch after 13 years when most players would be happy to work in an advisory and leadership capacity.

 

[talloola]

Yeah, fans can be rather a fickle bunch (with short memories to boot) Canucks are actually on track for about 114 points (anything over 100 is excellent) Every player (maybe not Gretzky) goes through slumps and every team has a real stinker game once in awhile. If it's two or three a year, it's not a big deal. A team can play an excellent game and still lose (regardless of what that sports idiot on C.K.N.W. says) As far as I'm concerned Luongo and the twins are as good as you are going to find in the league over the long haul, but the twins are still expected to be top notch after 13 years when most players would be happy to work in an advisory and leadership capacity.

I've noticed the twins struggling hard against the tight checking teams, but as soon as the game
opens up a bit, eg. last night, they will shine.
The tight checking games brings out their weaknesses and stops their strengths.

Those games are for the lunch bucket crowd, strong, hard working, great checkers, good skaters who can also score.
Even burrows will struggle in the very tight checking games, as his skating problems show up, but
with a little room to work, he and the twins will do their thing.

It will be interesting to see how edmonton play tonight, but without hopkins, they won't be their
best, but I watched them the other night, and those young forwards are so good, so exciting to
watch, so if their goalending is hot, canucks will have a battle on their hands.

Should be fun.

 

[JLM]

Best N.H.L. news of the day breaking.....................Beantown Timmy in the process of shellacking by lowly Wild. Love it.

 

[talloola]

Best N.H.L. news of the day breaking.....................Beantown Timmy in the process of shellacking by lowly Wild. Love it.

yes, I watched first period, then went out, heard the score on the car radio, baxtrom locked the door
in the first period, played awsome, and good for minnesota, broke the slump, yup, looks good on em.

 

[#juan]

I've noticed the twins struggling hard against the tight checking teams, but as soon as the game
opens up a bit, eg. last night, they will shine.
The tight checking games brings out their weaknesses and stops their strengths.

Those games are for the lunch bucket crowd, strong, hard working, great checkers, good skaters who can also score.
Even burrows will struggle in the very tight checking games, as his skating problems show up, but
with a little room to work, he and the twins will do their thing.

It will be interesting to see how edmonton play tonight, but without hopkins, they won't be their
best, but I watched them the other night, and those young forwards are so good, so exciting to
watch, so if their goalending is hot, canucks will have a battle on their hands.

Should be fun.

Vancouver should win their game against the Oilers, The Canucks have scored 38 more goals and
allowed thirty fewer goals. The Canucks are currently outpointing the Oilers 80 to 50. Over the last
ten the Canucks are 8 - 0 and 2 while the Oilers are 5 -3 and 2. On paper they should blow them
away-----I'll give my prediction at the end of regulation time....:roll:

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

I watched Boston lose. Great news. It's all because Thomas the goalie didn't visit Obama and everyone hates him for being as dumb as a trainwreck. All he had to do was smile and no one would have cared.

NBC has better goal replays than CBC. Montreal just scored against NJ.

 

[talloola]

I watched Boston lose. Great news. It's all because Thomas the goalie didn't visit Obama and everyone hates him for being as dumb as a trainwreck. All he had to do was smile and no one would have cared.

NBC has better goal replays than CBC. Montreal just scored against NJ.

yeah, his stubborness definitely outdoes his brain power, oh well, he told the country how smart
he is, took about a minute.

Vancouver should win their game against the Oilers, The Canucks have scored 38 more goals and
allowed thirty fewer goals. The Canucks are currently outpointing the Oilers 80 to 50. Over the last
ten the Canucks are 8 - 0 and 2 while the Oilers are 5 -3 and 2. On paper they should blow them
away-----I'll give my prediction at the end of regulation time....:roll:[/SIZE]

thats a good idea, lol

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

yeah, his stubborness definitely outdoes his brain power, oh well, he told the country how smart
he is, took about a minute.

Since we haven't taken over the USA yet, you may mean the "world" instead of the "country". That's the problem of having two nations so close together speaking the same language, it's confusing. And it's not common in the world.

Or the "country" you may mean is the Anglosphere, since some say the UK, USA, Oz, NZ and us are all one nation really, our countrymen. Asians think that. If you speak English then you are English they say.

 

[TenPenny]

I do enjoy the fact that the Vancouver 'fans' can't do anything unless they can dump on Boston.

Celebrating the fact that your guys beat Toronto? That's like winning a trophy for opening a paper bag.

 

[JLM]

I do enjoy the fact that the Vancouver 'fans' can't do anything unless they can dump on Boston.

Celebrating the fact that your guys beat Toronto? That's like winning a trophy for opening a paper bag.

That's exactly right, they had it in the bag and didn't open it! :lol:

 

[bill barilko]

The Canucks let Edmonton into the play a little too much in the second and in return we saw some fast skating-all to the good.

To their credit Edmonton didn't quit they kept trying more than I can say about some teams.

 

[JLM]

Looks good, how many teams impose two thrashings in two nights?

 

[talloola]

I do enjoy the fact that the Vancouver 'fans' can't do anything unless they can dump on Boston.

Celebrating the fact that your guys beat Toronto? That's like winning a trophy for opening a paper bag.

its interesting that you have no opinions in this thread unless it is dumping on somebody, otherwise
you don't show up.

we bait you.

The Canucks let Edmonton into the play a little too much in the second and in return we saw some fast skating-all to the good.

To their credit Edmonton didn't quit they kept trying more than I can say about some teams.

yes they did, and they made the second period interesting and showed canucks they are ready to pounce
if canucks start getting sloppy, their time is coming, everybody better get their winning done before
they get new goalies and better defense. They will get another very high draft pick this year, maybe
even first again overall.

Someone might want khabibulin from them at trade deadline.

nashville on tuesday, detroit on thursday and new jersey on friday

 

[JLM]

we bait you.

That's the nature of fools......................easily baited! :lol::lol:

 

[talloola]

canucks/predators- tuesday - 5:00 p.m.


20 Oct 2011 NSH@VAN VAN, 5 - 1
CANUCKS (38-15-6) at PREDATORS (34-19-6)

TV: SNET-P (HD), FS-TN

Last 10: Vancouver 8-0-2, Nashville 5-3-2.

Season Series: After splitting games in Vancouver earlier, the Canucks took a 2-1 season-series lead on Feb. 7 behind a 4-3 shootout decision in the Music City. Alex Edler scored in the sixth round of a shootout and Roberto Luongo made 37 saves to give the surging Canucks the triumph. Vancouver eliminated the Predators from the Western Conference semifinals last season, winning all three games in Nashville, including the series-clinching Game 6.

Big Story: There aren't many teams hotter than the Canucks right about now. The club is 9-0-3 in their last 12 games and has not lost a game in regulation time since Jan. 15. If fact, 10 of the team's past 16 games have gone to overtime or a shootout. Additionally, the Canucks improved to 20-9-2 for the season on the road following their victory over Edmonton on Sunday and now have more away wins than any other NHL club. The Canucks, who are 8-2-1 in their last 11 road contests, finished the 2010-11 campaign with the League's best road record (27-10-4).

Team Scope:

Canucks: The line of Daniel and Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows is red hot. The twins each had a goal and an assist while Burrows provided two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Oilers on Sunday. The line combined to produce 16 points over the weekend, which included a 6-2 decision over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Henrik Sedin's six points in the two-game span matched his production of the previous 12 contests.

Predators: Newly-acquired defenseman Hal Gill played his first game with the Predators on Sunday, a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars. Gill, who wore No. 75, played alongside rookie Roman Josi for most of the game. He finished with a plus-2 rating and two blocked shots in 16:23 of ice time. Colin Wilson's goal 16:05 into the second proved to be the game-winner for the Predators, who have won two of their last three matches. The contest against the Canucks marks the first of a four-game home stand for the Preds, all against Western Conference opponents in the thick of the playoff hunt. It's also Nashville's longest remaining home stand of the season.

Who's Hot: Predators goalie Pekka Rinne has posted a 16-3-2 record with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in his last 21 decisions, improving to 32-13-6 on the season. His 32 victories tie him with Detroit's Jimmy Howard for the League lead.

Injury Report: The Canucks are without defenseman Keith Ballard (neck), who will remain home during Vancouver's six-game road trip. … For the Predators, forwards Patric Hornqvist and Brian McGrattan are both out with upper-body injuries, while center Mike Fisher is day-to-day with the flu.

Stat Pack: Nashville has posted a 16-5-2 ledger in its last 23 games and has outscored the opposition, 69-51, despite being outshot, 710-639 (minus 71). … Since being acquired from Florida on Oct. 22, 2011, Canucks forward David Booth has collected 11 goals and 22 points in 33 games. The Canucks have not lost in regulation when he records a goal (9-0-2) and have compiled a 13-1-3 mark when he records at least a point. The team is also 20-8-3 when he's in the lineup.

Puck Drop: The Canucks are tops in the NHL in first period goals (64) and have capitalized, recording a record of 32-6-1 when scoring first and are best in the League for most wins when doing so.
_________________________________________________________________________________
tonight is alex burrow's 500th game. what a story, which can inspire many young players who aren't
quickly being moved up in the ranks, as soon as they would wish.

the key to his success is clearly between his 'ears', as he is one of the smartest players I have ever
watched, and I stated a long time ago after another one of his very intelligent interviews, that he
is definitely coaching material in the future, as his whole approach to 'seeing' the game is just as
a coach would see it.

And of course his dedication and desire to do his best is all part of this package.

He remembers his very first NHL goal, was against the leafs.

Hope we see another 500 from him before he leaves.

 

[Mowich]

tonight is alex burrow's 500th game. what a story, which can inspire many young players who aren't
quickly being moved up in the ranks, as soon as they would wish.

ROCK ON ALEX!

the key to his success is clearly between his 'ears', as he is one of the smartest players I have ever watched, and I stated a long time ago after another one of his very intelligent interviews, that he is definitely coaching material in the future, as his whole approach to 'seeing' the game is just as a coach would see it.

Not many players have the ability to 'see' the ice, talloola - Gretzky and Crosby come to mind, but having someone on the Canucks team who is able to do so is a real plus for the team.

GO, ALEX..........GO, CANUCKS!

 

[#juan]

Looks like Cory Schneider is in goal tonight. It is getting to the point where it really doesn't matter
who is in the net. They are both playing well.