Canucks vs Lightning Pre-game / Game Thread
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 2:11 PM PST
in Game Preview
31 comments
Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks, Feb 27, 2009 7:00 PM PST
Update: 2:10 PM PST
Vigneault's patience with Wellwood obviously wearing thin:
“He’s an offensive player that is supposed to be able to produce and right now he is not,” Vigneault said. “He is getting a regular shift five-on-five and is getting every power play. As a coach, that’s all I can do. I have shown him that I have confidence that he can get it done.
“On the same take, I know that I have to keep my finger on there. It took Kyle five years to figure out he had to get in pretty good shape to play at this level, so I know I have to keep my finger on him. But that being said, I have shown a lot of patience. Hopefully, our patience won’t run out.”
2/27 7:53 AM ET Update - In case you were curious how the ex-Canucks on the Lightning are doing this season, ponder no more:
As for Krajicek, he returns to the ice tonight after missing three games with a bum hip.
If there was a team in the NHL that the Canucks could use to kick start their offence after being shutout (as they were last game in Montreal) it would be the Lightning. Tampa Bay has never won at GM Place, going 0-7-1 at the Garage. The Bolts have lost 10 of 13 games. They have lost 6 road games in a row, surrendering an average of 4.3 goals per game. They have allowed more than 40 shots per game in their last 5 games. (Thanks for all the stats, Canucks.com).
I have been griping about the futility of the Canucks' 2nd and 3rd lines. Now is their chance to get it going.
Even better news for the Canucks is that they probably won't be facing a goalie performance like they did against Jaroslav Halak in Montreal. Tampa's 2 main goalies, Mike Smith and Olaf Kolzig are on the IR. Backups Mike McKenna and Karri Ramo are not getting much help from their teammates obviously, but also are not helping their team.
McKenna: 7 games played, 2-3-1 record, 2.90 GAA and a .903 save percentage. He may get the start over Ramo.
Ramo: 9 games played, 2-4-1 record, 4.04 GAA, and a .898 save percentage.
Holy hell, bring back Manon Rheaume! Please do.
Meanwhile, Shane O'Brien has no love for his former team. He told the papers yesterday that he doesn't want the Canucks to just beat the Lightning. "I want to beat them 10-0 if we can,"
He's not bitter. No not at all. O'Brien also has a hard time keeping his mouth shut, even though I appreciate his sense of humor. More on O'Brien's rant here.
The hockey gods have shown the Canucks some favor. Even after last night's games, Vancouver is still in 5th place and still 3 points up on the 9th and 10th place Oilers and Ducks. Time to take advantage of a weaker Lightning team and increase that gap.
I don't care what anyone says, I don't think the Canucks brought their A-game against the Habs or the Leafs. I want to see more point shots and screens in front of a faltering Lightning goalie. Buckle down!
Do it!
I'll have more updates on either team as the day goes on.
Feel free to hang out here game time and chat it up, predict scores, curse Demitra, etc.
The game is a 7:00 PST start and it's on bloody PPV.
MISC LINK
The Lightning are dropping season ticket prices between 10-80% next season. Part of it is because of the recession, a chunk of it is because the teams sucks so badly that people would rather watch their toe nails grow.
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Someone on the HF Boards posted recently: “Is Marek Malik the worst Lightning player ever?”
I’ve always missed Krajicek. He wasn’t too bad. Great speed.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 8:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Krajicek was brittle too. Always projected to be awesome, just never quite got there.
Malik trashing has been en vogue since he became a Ranger. His claim to fame is still that shootout goal (and man was I tanked when I saw that on TV a few years ago…I really did chalk it up to inebriation when I saw it was him).
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Feb 27, 2009 10:03 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I know, hey? His big shootout goal is his only highlight. Huge guy that refused to play a big physical game I can remember
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 11:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Seriously if Vancouver can’t beat Tampa I am going to be become uncontrollably violent on my own furniture. That’s what always get’s me about Vancouver: the joke games are never quite the jokes they should be.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Feb 27, 2009 12:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well, in the month of February I thought they changed that a bit against non-playoff teams. Actually, we didn’t lose any. But the suckiest of suck teams we have to to better against, I agree
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 1:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
BTW...
The Fanzone has a terrifying picture of GM Place:
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Feb 27, 2009 2:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Makes Vancouver seem hellish (I just set the ball on the tee…who’s gonna drive it?)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Feb 27, 2009 2:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, it could be a photoshop you know… If not, it’s one hell of a pic.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 2:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I figured as much
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Feb 27, 2009 2:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If the Lightning win, I’ll change the image so that GM Place is destroyed!
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 3:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I’m gonna miss this game. Seriously…I’m having my hair done.
And, yes, I am comfortable with myself to admit that.
by GZ Expat on Feb 27, 2009 3:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ooo! Go with Vigneault’s hairstyle! It’s uber sexy!
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 4:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I’m more into the Bernier look…locks flowing from under the helmet.
by GZ Expat on Feb 27, 2009 6:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Glad you have it figured out! :)
Gad I hate waiting for games…
Any predictions out there? Projections for how many points players get?
I’m going 5-2 Canucks, with the RPM line finally returning to form. 3 points for Mats and Kesler. 2 for Demo. Wishful thinking perhaps?
O’Brien jumps over the Tampa bench and beats on the coaching staff…even tho Melrose isn’t there.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 6:24 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
4-2 Van
Lovely noon start on a Saturday. Fortunately the munchkin is asleep or there is no way I’d be able to hear the radio.
by rsm on Feb 27, 2009 7:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Feed the munchkin alcohol when he-she wakes up :)
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 7:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
That would not go over well with my better half, and thus for future prospects of night-time entertainment I think I should refrain from that. Plus I can probably just bribe her with yogurt. She’s pretty easy on the food. The troll on the other hand is probably going to ask for bacon, eggs and cheesecake in a bit.
At least it’s not as bad as the one in PHX.
by rsm on Feb 27, 2009 7:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Burrows with a breakaway! Damn. Stopped.
The “troll” haha
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 7:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hey, I got one troll and one munchkin. 3.5 and 1.8 respectively.
by rsm on Feb 27, 2009 7:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Kind of a lifeless start to this game, besides our goal post and breakaway
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 7:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wellwood for the save? Let him eat and stuff him in goalie pads, the dropped cheese from the cheeseburgers in the crease should slow the puck enough to let him save.
by rsm on Feb 27, 2009 7:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I don’t get it. Where is everybody? Sleeping? If it wasn’t for booze I’d be sleeping right now.
The Canucks had better show some more intensity
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 27, 2009 8:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hard to fall asleep at 3pm, but hey, it wasn’t that exciting.
by rsm on Feb 27, 2009 10:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
My guess is that most people couldn’t be bothered to get the PPV and went to a bar if they wanted to see the game.
by rsm on Feb 27, 2009 10:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Well they didn’t miss much. That game wasn’t exciting. But I’ll take the win!
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 28, 2009 12:47 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
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