Canucks a confident bunch heading into Game 4
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 21, 2009 12:21 AM PDT
in Game Preview
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GAME TIME: 5:00 PST
TV: CBC
THE ENEMY WHO REFUSE TO QUIT: St. Louis Game Time
How can they not be confident? They've got about everything going for them right now. Game 3 was a colossal victory. They won in St. Louis by weathering a vicious physical storm in front of a rabid crowd in the first period and then settling down and taking over the game. Their special teams are rolling after killing two 5 on 3's and scoring 3 power play goals last game.
The Blues have known what they have to do to win games in this series but simply cannot get it it done effectively enough. They lack the consistent tenacity that the Canucks have brought. Chris Mason has not stolen a game and Roberto Luongo has.
Yes, this series could end tonight and much will be said about the above factors plus the experience factor. The Blues are a good team that are going to be great. The Canucks are a better team in almost every area on paper and are playing that way. They are built to win NOW.
"I think you start to see what's going on right now — the juggling of their lines and matchups," said Darcy Hordichuk. "Their guys who maybe were having success together, now aren't having that success. So they're trying other combos and they still can't find that success. It doesn't matter who they put against each line, we're finding a way to shut them down."
(Vancouver Sun). Follow that Sun link for more Canucks players' 2 cents. The confidence is flowing out of them right now.
Despite that, as a fan I am not going to get cocky. I'm not going to drop some broom references. Forget it. It's not over till it's over. I'm excited as hell, don't get me wrong, but I'll reserve the jumping up and down and gloating for when this series is over.
A sweep would be ideal. A break arguably won't hurt this bunch.
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BLUES NOTES
- Paul Kariya was practicing on defence with the team on Monday, has not yet been cleared by doctors to play, and admits his legs are fine but his hands are not. He is doubtful for Game 4.
-Naturally, frustration is mounting with the Blues team.
CANUCKS NOTES
-Mats Sundin liked what he saw from the team in Game 3 and offered little details about his injury, calling himself day-to-day. I would say he won't play, if you've learned anything about Sundin lingo over the past year.
-Alain Vigneault on the Sedins:
"They (the Blues) think that being extra physical and sometimes even dirty on them, that's going to take away from their game," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. "The twins don't back down."To the contrary, that probably motivates them more to play harder and better, and that's what they've shown so far in this series."
Alright boys, let's get this over with! Finish them! Put them out of their damned misery!
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Kristin Reid is hot. That’s all. :)
by CANUCKS HOCKEY BLOG on Apr 21, 2009 6:01 AM PDT reply actions
Is she the one on Canucks TV or is she the one that sometimes pops up on the Fanzone web pages? Either way, both of the women I am talking about are quite fetching.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 6:28 AM PDT up reply actions
She’s the one on Canucks TV (though example B isn’t bad either).
by CANUCKS HOCKEY BLOG on Apr 21, 2009 7:05 AM PDT reply actions
So I wonder if there is a ranking system with the Canucks. Does Kristin move up to doing Canucks PPV games if we lose that spikey-haired guy named Dan Murphy? If that is the case, I say we petition to have Murphy fired immediately!
Wasn’t Murph doing Reid’s job before?
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 21, 2009 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions
A. Her voice irritates me…nasally…whiney.
B. Obviously pointing at the ‘Vancouver’ on her shirt, cuz there isn’t much else there…
yes but what of the looks sir?
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, Kristin Reid has to be about 30. Be a sport! She’s an 8.5 at least!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 21, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
haa you are funny.
A is 8 at best… B is 7.5… so A! HAA!!
We are all Canucks.
by Chinese Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I love the attitude the Canucks have, and I think it’s rubbing off on us. I’m not saying the Canucks will reach the Stanley Cup final, but I can honestly say I would not be shocked at all if they do. They just have this steely confidence about them, and I’m lovin’ it! 4 THE SWEEP!
I think the Canucks have a good Chance of reaching the finals! They also are the only western team that can stop Detriot….GO CANUCKS GO!!!
by Canuckfan101 on Apr 21, 2009 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Oh yeah, I like how we match up against anybody right now in the West. I’m just curious to see if the Sharks make a comeback…I wouldn’t mind playing the Flames in round 2 and let the Wings play the Ducks if the Sharks lose round 1.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 21, 2009 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Yea that would be a good match if the Canucks met with the Flames in round two…
by Canuckfan101 on Apr 21, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed. I can only see us losing a 7 game series to Detroit and that’s it.
Toot Toot
by rollonubears on Apr 21, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
You mean winning a 7 game series against Detroit. We played them hard and well this year. I was at one of those games!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 21, 2009 12:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I mean the only team I could see beating us in a 7 game series is Detroit. And it would be close.
Toot Toot
by rollonubears on Apr 21, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I never said that we would lose. I’m saying that they are the only team with a real chance.
Toot Toot
by rollonubears on Apr 21, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Yea they played well against Detriot this year,I think the Canucks Have a good chance against them in the playoffs if they can avoid injury..
by Canuckfan101 on Apr 21, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah, the way i see it, the team we will definitely have to eventually face, in either round, is detroit. san jose and anaheim are both still possibilities though. if detroit and san jose are both kicked out in the 1st round (which will probably not happen, but who knows), then we would definitely have to face anaheim in the 2nd round.
keep a close eye on anaheim. they may turn out to be dangerous to us again this year. they are the west’s wild card this year.
you know how those rotten flamers like chanting "fuck the canucks" because it rhymes?
well, it just so happens that "fuck the flames" uses alliteration, for which more superior intellect is required compared to rhyme.
fuck the flames, and GO CANUCKS GO!
Sundin skated with the team today. It’s still possible he could play. We won’t know until this afternoon. I’m not banking on it, let’s just say.
URGENT: I NEED A STREAM
Versus is picking the Penguins game over the Canucks game, so as it is I will only get the last hour as the game is joined ‘In progress’. That is shit. I need a stream badly. There is no way I am missing this game.
Toot Toot
FUCK!
Are you kidding me? I have to watch this shit online?
I have Center Ice, NHL Network and Versus. There are five playoff games on and these Einsteins can’t figure out how to get a dedicated feed per game going?
It’s fucking annoying enough to have paid for Center Ice all year precisely for these sorts of games and the damn thing blacks out. Now even the NHL Network (which according to their website will be showing two taped programs, one all about Luongo for fucks sake) can’t pitch in?
I hate the NHL.
Fuck it dude, let’s go bowling.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Well for me, I’m getting the early game, then the Nucks after that, but then a half hour later, I assume they are gonna switch it to the Sharks game according to my local listings.
by Linix129 on Apr 21, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
I live in the Sharks region and the local channel is getting blacked out tonight so Versus can get the exclusive feed.
Toot Toot
by rollonubears on Apr 21, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
TV Coverage
According to my channel guide I can get the whole game on Centre Ice. Versus will pick up coverage after the Pens/flyers game is over.
I about lost it when I saw Versus wasn’t covering the whole game.
Kevin
Yep
See my comments below Yankee. You can watch the game on NHLCI, but for some asinine reason, they are not providing an HD feed.
And your CI has been working this past week? Everytime I go to it, it’s been blacked out. Not sure if it’s running into a problem with MLB Extra Innings or if it’s just my provider (Time Warner). Do you both get it on satellite or by cable, out of curiosity?
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions
DirecTV
I’m using DirecTV. I’ve flipped over to NHLCI a few times for games and the feeds are working fine. Perhaps you were getting blacked out because of where you live? For example, I never get the Anaheim games on NHLCI. You’re in NY right? So you can’t get the NYR or NJD games.
Right not on CI no, but I have a few MSG channels that cover seeing them if I want (and, by the by, the MSG HD signal is by far the best I’ve seen. So clear you can almost spot the sin on the Rangers).
OK, so my CI issues are Time Warner based. Not terribly shocking.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Jeez you guys!
ATDHE scroll down
Put it in your favorites!
I’d put these streams in my post….but no. Not sure that’s recommended.
I am again going to miss the game...
More work, no fun… Hopefully the Canucks win this one and get out of the west coast travesty that is Misery (Or Missouri, whatever works).
We also have a prediction if Backes tries to stir something up tonight…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1TxiVhrkZA
"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens
No HD feed for US-based fans???
Not sure about other providers, but my DirecTV guide says tonight’s game is not going to be in HD. Called DirecTV and they said it is up to InDemand. Why are they showing FOUR feeds for the Detroit game, including TWO in HD, while showing only one Vancouver/St. Louis feed, in SD?
Tried calling In Demand but got put through to voicemail. Anyone who wants to harass them over there can call 646-486-1010.
The STL feed
is not on in HD. Cheap broadcast station that carries about 15 games a year won’t pop for it.
www.stlouisgametime.com
CBC
Right, but the CBC feed is in HD (thanks Save-On!), and actually, the In Demand website says they are carrying the CBC feed. So if you’re carrying the CBC feed already, why not carry the HD feed? Argh, makes me so nuts there isn’t anyone to hold accountable!
Just don't pull Backes' hair
Probabilities favor the home team for tonight’s game 4, but the probability for the series … not so much.
Now that’s a snazzy stat site. Thanks for sharing it.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 21, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh man numbers
I do statistics as a hobby… I wish there was a way to make that site look better instead of it being a blizzard of stats, numbers and figures.
"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens
Actually you’re misreading that… it says the probability is that we will win tonight’s game. The chart states that teams that had home ice advantage in the series in the first round who are up 3-0 win the 4th game 69.6% of the time, and even if they lose the 4th game, they still win the series 98.2% of the time.
So, succinctly, a team in our position has historically won the 4th game more than 2/3s of the time.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
This site is hard to read
The web site takes an overall look at the playoffs as if it were a straight 16 (originally typed 1116) team tournament — No Eastern conference, no Western conference, so that means what they list as Prelim = 1st round — Qtrs = 2nd round — Semis = 3rd round and Finals = SCF.
In the preliminary round teams with a 3-0 series lead who played game one at home have won 15/28 games (.536) and have always won the series.
The stats you were referring to, Beantown, were for the 2nd round (Qtrs). Still good stats for our Canucks though!
"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens
****15/28 Game 4's
Yikes. This site has drained my brain. I gotta get outside.
"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens
Yeah you’re right… I saw quarters and was thinking conference quarters, didn’t notice the ‘prelim’ option. Anyway, I like our odds!
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions
Uh, oh — I’m afraid you’re right.
A drowning Blues fan does grasp at straws, after all.
So why do they say that the last’n is hardest?
I suppose being hard doesn’t change the fact that the team with the advantage tends to maintain its advantage.
Happily [or sadly] I have my own rec hockey game to play tonight, so may the better team win.
I’ll see the highlights on the NHL Network
They’ve been great games and the Nucks have earned all their W’s.
The last one is the hardest perhaps because of the opposing teams’ mentality or morale. They have nothing to lose. There is no tomorrow for them unless they win. What bigger motivation does a team that got themselves in this mess need? Desperation.
That, or it’s a fixed issue with the NHL to generate more revenue from game attendance. :)
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 21, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m not sure about tonight. A win would be epic, but I could see St Lou pullin out a win to keep it alive also.
I’ll go out and pick a 5-3 win for Vancouver, Hank with the empty netter.
And St Lou will not be “great” one day. They have some good building blocks, but they are nowhere near being a contender. Plus they have Andy Murray as a coach, who pretty much sucks at everything.
Wear black, Blues fans
You’re going to get buried.
3-1 Canucks
"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens
I tend to think both sides will behave themselves, for the most part. Too much on the line. Also it’s amazing there hasn’t been one fight in such an aggressive series (there hasn’t been right? You’d think I could remember back to last week but nope)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Canucks have no need to fight now. I hope there aren’t any tongiht.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 21, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Why would the league screw Canada's Best Chance
"What is Jumanji?" --Jason Owens
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