Vancouver Canucks

[MoreCanadianTeams]

Nice analysis Ryan. I think Daniel & Hank will be fine against either team, as both clubs allow more time & space with their playing styles.

I love the headline on one of the papers:


" What on the menu - Fish or Wings?"


Edit#1: I felt the same way when I saw Bieksa's leap, there was only one thing missing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao-RKWBdiDk


Edit#2: Just heard that Manny Malhotra was on the ice this morning on his own and skated with a bird cage on. I don't think we'll see him in the playoffs, but it's nice to hear for his recovery.

[ridinryan44]

Nice analysis Ryan. I think Daniel & Hank will be fine against either team, as both clubs allow more time & space with their playing styles.

I love the headline on one of the papers:


" What on the menu - Fish or Wings?"


Edit#1: I felt the same way when I saw Bieksa's leap, there was only one thing missing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao-RKWBdiDk


Edit#2: Just heard that Manny Malhotra was on the ice this morning on his own and skated with a bird cage on. I don't think we'll see him in the playoffs, but it's nice to hear for his recovery.

I forgot about that Bieksa punch!!! Thanks for digging that one up! Love that guy. Great news on Malhotra. I agree, we won't see him in the playoffs, but then again I know nothing about eye injuries and if they can see quick improvement once "out of the dark."

I agree on the Sedins. Much different facing Weber and Suter than any of the other D (other than Douglas Murray). Less physicality will help them. I just want to see Hank get better. He HAS to be hurt. I've seen a chair with two legs stay up longer than he does.

[ridinryan44]

Just an update on the Eddie Lack call-up: He's simply serving as a depth goaltender for the remainder of the playoffs. I'm sure it has much more to do with the experience than anything. Dan Murphy broke this news VIA Twitter.

[Dutch]

one thing people are forgetting about when they say the sedins will break out, because no weber and suter....

Sure they got more room to operate, but at the flip side, sharks/wings will pepper luongo with a hell of a lot more shots on net as well... So end of the day, it's not as easy as it sounds

I would be shocked to see the sedins show up. I mean, lidstrom and stuart/ boyle and murray are quite capable off shutting down opponents

[MoreCanadianTeams]

one thing people are forgetting about when they say the sedins will break out, because no weber and suter....

Sure they got more room to operate, but at the flip side, sharks/wings will pepper luongo with a hell of a lot more shots on net as well... So end of the day, it's not as easy as it sounds

I would be shocked to see the sedins show up. I mean, lidstrom and stuart/ boyle and murray are quite capable off shutting down opponents

True enough. I'm not saying it will be easy, but in watching the twins play against both squads over the past 2 years in particular, these teams play a style that opens up more ice to permit the puck possession cycle the Sedin's utilize so well.

[ridinryan44]

one thing people are forgetting about when they say the sedins will break out, because no weber and suter....

Sure they got more room to operate, but at the flip side, sharks/wings will pepper luongo with a hell of a lot more shots on net as well... So end of the day, it's not as easy as it sounds

I would be shocked to see the sedins show up. I mean, lidstrom and stuart/ boyle and murray are quite capable off shutting down opponents

Totally agree. Can't really say that Nahville's top pairing is necessary "better" than Detroit's, but the style difference is better for the Sedin's. A little more space and a little less physicality should help them out a bit, especially with Hank's injury. Vancouver played much better games against DET and SJ this year than they did against NAS.

[Dutch]

Totally agree. Can't really say that Nahville's top pairing is necessary "better" than Detroit's, but the style difference is better for the Sedin's. A little more space and a little less physicality should help them out a bit, especially with Hank's injury. Vancouver played much better games against DET and SJ this year than they did against NAS.

for sure it will help them get space, but the 2 goals they will score a game, will go in at the other end as well because a datsyuk or pavelski combo is much more dynamic than a kostitsyn and erat combo...

That's a point that many people (mostly on the radio) fail to get to.

So at the end, I'm not sure it really matters to be honest with you. instead of 2-1 games, we will see 5-4 games...

[MoreCanadianTeams]

for sure it will help them get space, but the 2 goals they will score a game, will go in at the other end as well because a datsyuk or pavelski combo is much more dynamic than a kostitsyn and erat combo...

That's a point that many people (mostly on the radio) fail to get to.

So at the end, I'm not sure it really matters to be honest with you. instead of 2-1 games, we will see 5-4 games...

Yes, 5 for Vancouver and 4 for ????

[ridinryan44]

for sure it will help them get space, but the 2 goals they will score a game, will go in at the other end as well because a datsyuk or pavelski combo is much more dynamic than a kostitsyn and erat combo...

That's a point that many people (mostly on the radio) fail to get to.

So at the end, I'm not sure it really matters to be honest with you. instead of 2-1 games, we will see 5-4 games...

Absolutely, but you can't suggest that just because one team scores 5, the other will score 4, or vice versa. Of course you have to play the defensive end as well, that, I would assume, would go without saying.

Simply, we were just stating that playing against the top D-pairing of SJ or DET may open more space for the Canucks... that's about it.

[ridinryan44]

Great article on Manny Malhotra's sighting at the rink today. Don't get hopes up that he'll be back this spring, but look forward to a return next year!

Check it

[ridinryan44]

Some pretty interesting stats from the KURTENBLOG - you can read the whole thing here.

-- Cory Schneider started both games in San Jose this season. Luongo only played the Sharks inside the friendly confines of Rogers Arena.

-- Alex Burrows did not register a single point against Detroit. The Wings were one of only two Western teams to hold Burr scoreless (the other was Minnesota).

-- For Detroit, the biggest Canuck killer was Henrik Zetterberg (2G, 3A, 5PTS). Pavel Datsyuk only played twice against Vancouver due to injury and recorded just a single assist.

-- For San Jose, the biggest Canuck killer was Dany Heatley (1G, 3A, 4PTS). Should be noted that the Sharks' leading postseason scorer, Ryane Clowe, only played in three games against Vancouver but led all Sharks with three goals.

-- Antti Niemi vs. Vancouver: 1-2-1, 3.64 GAA, .896 save percentage.

-- Jimmy Howard vs. Vancouver: 2-2, 3.17 GAA, .908 save percentage.

[STONE.]

Zetts kills the Canucks, and it almost always looks harmless until it's in the back of net (which seems to be a theme for Luongo in these playoffs).

I'm still pulling for Detroit tonight though. I think Detroit is more beat-up. Tough call though. More than anything, since I'm out East, I will be glad if every game isn't at 10:00.

Go Nucks Go!

[MoreCanadianTeams]

Zetts kills the Canucks, and it almost always looks harmless until it's in the back of net (which seems to be a theme for Luongo in these playoffs).

I'm still pulling for Detroit tonight though. I think Detroit is more beat-up. Tough call though. More than anything, since I'm out East, I will be glad if every game isn't at 10:00.

Go Nucks Go!

According to the NHL.com schedule forecast, looks like the latest starts for either series would be 2100hrs your time.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=5...d-rr-headlines

As much as I think Detroit would be a more entertaining series, I'm of the opinion that staying in the same time zone would be better should the Canucks advance (no jinxing intended).


Just heard that Malhotra was centering the 4th line at practice today, though just line rushes and with no pads. Again, I don't see him playing, but good steps showing his recovery is way ahead of schedule.

[ridinryan44]

I pray for a DET-VAN series. Always entertaining games!

[STONE.]

According to the NHL.com schedule forecast, looks like the latest starts for either series would be 2100hrs your time.

That's fantastic news. Rep for that!