Sharks' Failures Point To Canucks Facing Hawks or Flames

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2009 12:38 AM PDT Comment 30 comments

I know, it's too early to assume things, as the Sharks-Ducks series is not officially over yet. But did you watch Game 4 tonight? That was a disgrace! The Sharks looked like slugs and showed no determination. The Ducks are eating them up.

Fear The Fin summed the game up perfectly: PATHETIC. Sharks fans are disillusioned and for good reason. Joe Thornton continues his floating ways. If you thought Sundin was bad at times you need to watch Joe. Terrible. Captain Marleau wasn't much better. The team is flat and all but dead, except for maybe Dan Boyle.

I've been watching the Flames-Blackhawks series, but now I will be watching it very closely. Know your enemy. If the Ducks take the Sharks out, the Canucks will keep home ice advantage. Isn't that a beautiful thing?

The Canucks know it.

"No, I'll never be a Ducks fan,"said Dan Sedin. "But I would love for them to beat San Jose. It will be interesting to see how they do. I mean, if the Ducks can beat San Jose, we get home-ice advantage again, so that would be really good for us," Daniel further explained. "The way we've been playing at home, it would be big."

Who would you rather see the Canucks play in Round 2?

Flames

84 votes

Blackhawks

212 votes

Shut it, man! The Sharks are going to make a comeback!

15 votes

It doesn't matter

49 votes

360 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 30 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I think we would eat Chicago alive. They are a relatively inexperienced finesse team; Mitchell and Bieksa (and Wellwood?) would tear them apart.

Bring me Stanley. Alive if possible, dead... just as good.

by King Luongshanks on Apr 24, 2009 12:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think we’d be tearing them apart, but I think Calgary has been looking better in the past two games and Khabby is letting in some bad goals. Both series would be fun, but I’d take another Central team as the prospect of losing to the Flames would be unacceptable.

Besides, it’s pretty clear that if Vancouver is making a long run, they’re going to have to go through the Central division.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Apr 24, 2009 3:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d rather face the Hawks than the Flames (broken record here, I know). Mostly for the same reason as Zan mentions: Less physical series. It might be a longer series, because the Hawks can steal games on raw talent somewhat more than Iginla can steal them on his own, but you really don’t want to play a fired up Iginla at all if you can avoid it… sore, battered and bruised is the name of that game.

by rsm on Apr 24, 2009 4:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Just wondering...

after sweeping us, are you guys worried about a potential long layoff if you have to wait out the Hawks/Flames series, or even if the Sharks get back into it? Different sport, of coruse, but I think what really helped the Cardinals in the ’06 Series was the fact that the Tigers sat around for about a week and got rusty. Personally, I have always been wary of ending a series early and having to sit around for up to a week.

by tbell61 on Apr 24, 2009 5:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah the Vancouver papers were touting that as early as Tuesday night. But they have some injuries that need healing and, if you listen to the players, they said one of the reasons Anaheim squashed them two years ago was because they went seven with Dallas and were just tired. Then chuck in Vancouver travels the most and the fatigue factor goes up again.

I suspect they’ll be somewhat rusty in game one but nothing to be too concerned about. That’s why home ice would be extremely helpful since it should kick them into game mode quicker then on the road.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Apr 24, 2009 5:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the Flames somehow make it through the first round, they may not have a team left. Calgary players have been dropping like flies.

Matchsticks and Gasoline

by Kent Wilson on Apr 24, 2009 6:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Bourque back yet?

One hidden bonus of going against the Flames is I assume, at the right moment in each game, Bertuzzi will literally hand us a break away, a power play or a goal. That’s something to look forward too.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Apr 24, 2009 8:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

They will make it through, I think that the Flames will take the next 2. Chicago is young and startin to get worn down.

by Nuckels on Apr 24, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah right. Watch Chicago play in Chicago. The Flames are brutal defensively as well. We’ll see. Hope it goes 7.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Flames for sure. They are really banged up, playing really bad defensive hockey, and it likely wouldn’t be as physical a series as you think.

Even more important, the travel would be miles better than Chicago. Vancouver needs an easy travel schedule sometime if they are going to go far. Back and forth to the East Coast for all 4 rounds will take a real toll on our older players who showed they do not handle travel well.

Plus, there’s the added benefit of taking the Flame’s playoffs away after taking their division!

by Sweet Monkey Action on Apr 24, 2009 8:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The travel! Good point!

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2009 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

To all the people who have picked San Jose to go all the way the last few years

You are STUPID!

by Linix129 on Apr 24, 2009 9:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am one of them. Well, this year and last year anyway. I thought with all that playoff experience on this year’s team that they would pull it off. Guess I’m losing my playoff pool again :)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2009 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah ah ah, don’t count ‘em out yet. I watched last night and it was brutal. Simply inexcusable. The Sharks will be up to the wall now, and if they dont win, there will be BIG changes over the summer. I’ve got a feelin that we still might be lookin at Detroit in a week or so.
Preferably the Hawks though, although I like our chances against Calgary also.

by Nuckels on Apr 24, 2009 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Hawks/Nucks series could be awesome right now. If the Hawks make it past the Flames that is. Don’t want to get too cocky like some people…

Eager is just waiting to drop Bieksa again and there’s still the matter of that hairpulling.

Oh.. and that picture is amazing.. great job

Second City Hockey

by Matthew Dirt on Apr 24, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Never going to hear the end of this...

Me: Hey, looks like we’re facing you guys in the second round. Should be a great series. How do you think the teams are going to match up?
Some other guy from some other team: Canucks suck! You assholes are already planning a parade route! You’re a joke.
Me (slightly embarrassed): Yeah, I saw that. Pretty silly huh? Anyway, during our regular season series I thought…
SOGFSOT: …A parade route! What a bunch of pompous assholes. You…
Me (a little annoyed now): No no no. It’s not ME. It was a newspaper article. I don’t agree with it. I just wanted to know how you felt about the goaltending matchup.
SOGFSOT: Stupid Canuck fans. You think…
Me (getting pissed now): Really! It. Is. Not. Me. It was frontal labotomy day at The Province and…
SOGFSOT: Win on e series and you think you’re gonna win the cup. Start planning parade routes. Yoe really are..
Me: pulls deafboy’s opposing teams’ jersey over his head and goes Rypien on his ass

I’m getting tired already just thinking about it.

by kesrows on Apr 24, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The parade route was really a piss poor idea.

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Apr 24, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just remember, it was a mock piece. Regardless…

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally understand it was tongue-in-cheek, unfortunately getting the rest of the world to understand it will be harder than getting a condom on a mouse.

by kesrows on Apr 24, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Condom on a mouse! haha!

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Columbus pulled that, I’d laugh because we’d all give the first timer a pass. But not a team that’s never won the damn thing. The joke is completely lost (on me anyway).

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Apr 24, 2009 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t forget, this isn’t the first time these guys have printed that concept either.
It’s been an on-going thing. I’m not a superstitious guy, but I hate that the other teams could post that in their locker room for motivational purposes.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Apr 24, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs