In Luongod We Trust: Canucks-Kings Preview-Game Thread
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 6:44 AM PDT
in Game Preview
Email
Print
GAME TIME: 7:00 PST
TV: Sportsnet
Enemy Territory: A Queen Among Kings/Battle of California
Update: Via the LA Times, the Kings will have a handful of rookies out there tonight who will are aiming for a spot in the bigs next season, including:
...rookie winger Wayne Simmonds has goals in back-to-back games; center Brian Boyle, showing desired signs of aggressiveness, has picked up fighting majors in back-to-back games; and Peter Harrold, who has played defense and wing, will spend his second consecutive game at center.
--------------
After playing and beating a playoff-bound team in Calgary, the Canucks now go back to playing 2 non-playoff teams to finish the year, and the fans will wonder if they bring their A-game against weaker opponents. The grand theft larceny of the Flames bolsters my confidence in the ability of Roberto Luongo, but not the team defence. The Canucks know they have to tighten up, but aren't getting it done. Sure, Luongo loves all those shots because it gets him into the game, but it won't make the team successful in the playoffs long term. There isn't much time left.
By the way, Luongo is 3-1-0 with a 1.51 GAA and a shutout in his last three games against the Kings.
The Kings are not going to roll over though.
"We talked about finishing out the year strong,"Kings' defenseman Matt Greene said. "We're just trying to make sure we have some good compete out there and are playing hard.
"We're going for points here, we're not going to lay down for anybody. Just another game for us."
The Kings rank 13th in the NHL on the power play and 6th killing penalties. Special teams aren't everything are they? The Canucks rank 17th and 15th respectively.
It appears the Kings will go with Jonathan Quick in net. Their forwards lines should look like this:
Alexander Frolov - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Calder - Boyle - Purcell
Wayne Simmonds - Michal Handzus - Dustin Brown
Ivanans - Harrold - Zeiler
Their defence:
Davis Drewiske and Drew Doughty
Sean O’Donnell and Jack Johnson
Matt Greene and Denis Gauthier
More on the Kings here.
As posted in the Fan Posts section, the Canucks will not make any changes to their 6 defencemen, with Rick Bowness saying that nearly all the skaters need to play better defensively. Man, do they ever. Where has the stingy Canucks defence gone?
Mats Sundin looked a lot better against the Flames. Let's see if he can continue that effort. To me he still looks a bit lost out there at times. I think a big reason for that (beyond the rust) is because our system is so much different than what he played in Toronto. For whatever reason, Sundin would be given the puck to charge up the ice more in Toronto. Here he seems to dump the puck in and wait behind the net (or in that vicinity) for someone to give it to him. There's a lot less movement from him. But it seems to be improving. Emphasis on "seems".
Personally, I'm anticipating a big night from the RPM Line. Kesler has been frustrated as hell lately. It's time.
It's also time to bury a team that will be golfing in a week.
193 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Off topic but..
Bratney Spears halted her show at GM Place last tonight because the pot and cigarette smoke in the arena was not being vented properly. More on that here, if you give a rat shit about her.
Maybe we can start blaming this whenever the Canucks look dopey at home!
I kid.
I find it comical in a sense that GM Place bans smoking and pushes smokers further away from entrances at hockey games but when live shows are there everyone lights up in the audience. How are you going to stop a crazed crowd from smoking though?
Personally, I would need a metric ton of some narcotic to put up with one of her shows. Though I am willing to bet her fans are worse then suffering through her “songs”.
And if she has an encore? Crystal meth time.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 6:00 AM PDT up reply actions
I watched one of her live shows on TV once and I made it through it….barely. Talk about suckage. There was a pole dance part though..
Wow, Spears doing a pole dance…how 1999 of her (when she was the best jailbait the western world has seen).
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
unfortunately, i’m missing the game tonight. have to write a final exam for astronomy. hopefully i can catch some of the third period.
sorry to hear that. Good luck on your exam. Hope you studied enough so that luck has nothing to do with it :)
Astronomy huh? Now that’s pretty cool. You’ll have to elaborate on that sometime.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey how about a sighting tonight of this mysterious Sundin character. Dare I say a goal? Just one, small, tiny, insignificant goal?
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
If he floats I’m doing another Sundin anger post tomorrow
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Go Flyers
In a week where I’m rooting for the Oilers, why not be a Flyers fan too? If they can sweep the Rags, I’ll comb Carcillo’s hair
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Oh shit. 2-0 Rangers half way through the first. Who scored the first goal? Markus fucking Naslund. Drury has 2 points already. OH NO!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions
The first goal was questionable. They play should have been whistled dead, but they let Naslund have like five whacks at the puck near Biron. Crap.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know which Rag it was. Naslund was at the side of the net just whacking at the puck. Really the ref’s fault for not blowing it dead. Naslund stuck with it I guess. I’d be pissed if I was a Flyer fan though.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Not seeing enough NHL action, GZ? Damned time zone, heh?
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 5:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Florida has half a game left to learn to score
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Panthers tied it up. Sabres are killing the Canes. And the Flyers have scored, so it’s 2-1 going into the third.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Ohhh…Canucks game is supposed to be streaming on the Canucks website.
http://canucks.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?type=wvod&id=39304&catid=817
Fucking Rangers are going to win. I still cannot stand Naslund in that uniform…makes me extremely ornery.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
So, do you think the Canucks will eventually retire his number?? I think he is more than deserving…but I know a lot of Canuck fans have a bad taste in their mouth about him.
I hate Naslund, but he deserves the retired jersey. It took me a while to think that way
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah I definitely think his number will be retired. Until then though I’d almost ignore him (like I do Morrison) but he picked my least favorite team. It’s very frustrating to watch (and precisely what Bure did! grrr)
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I saw the Rangers in ’01 while traveling on work. I was pumped to see Bure, but lo and behold, the previous night he blew out his knee for, I believe, the last time and I never got to see him play.
I did have the pleasure of watching an overtime game in which Peter Nedved scored the game winner with a guy about 20 rows behind me bellowing…‘Nedved, you STILL suck!’ Gotta love the NYC fan.
I saw Bure’s first game in the garden. It was against Vancouver actually. Bertuzzi scored a hat trick in the Canucks win. All in all, I went home a happy (drunk) guy.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
If you’d like you can send your condolences to Panthers fans, as the Bruins aren’t going to beat the Habs in regulation.
HAHAHAHA! The Holy Bernier wins the Unsung Award! Bow to him Zanstorm.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Well, Bernier has a great work ethic, I can’t deny that.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions
It was the unsung hero. You plebs may not sing his good name but I will.
HOOOOOLY BEEEEEERNIER. We pray to thee.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow Kirk McLean gives Burrows an award. I missed it though. Willie just won the best defenseman award. Kesler just won something and I missed that one too! Sheesh I suck.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Kesler MVP. Nice ring.
That trophy will look so good next to his gold medal from the olympics next year.
You’re not happy with anything tonight!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Ryan Kesler as the MVP..I’m happy with that!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions
He’s gonna suffer from a stroke one of these days when he does that Oh Canada ending. They’ll need a forklift to pick him off the ice
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
GM Place is the usual graveyard.
Hey, I am pessimistic tonight ain’t I?
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I like it when they let the audience sing.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions
JEEESUS. SOB murdered that poor guy. And the best part was SOB was standing up for Hordichuk!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
rolling puck. I think the puck hit some of Britney Spears’ gunk and started rolling
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions
You mean he has unsung hero hands?
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions
There's always beer
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Seriously how depressing is that.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Look at their total GA
They have given up 10 fewer goals than the Canucks. Clearly goaltending/defence isn’t the problem!
Kings to the PP. Henrik for hooking I believe.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
I'm not impressed with this start.
Was really hoping the Canucks came out crushing them and getting a quick lead.
do you know how many Nintendo joysticks I broke by failing like that?
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 7:28 PM PDT up reply actions
This first period is boring as sin. Canucks are mailing it in again.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Kings definitely are pressing the play more than Vancouver. WTF?
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Bernier would have bagged that one for sure!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes. Our unsung hero would have done it while in the air and cured cancer on the dismount. It’s a shame he’s so unsung.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Canucks back to the PP. Demo draws a cross check call from Gauthier. Perhaps a goal to end the first period?
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Kesler and Pudge missed at the end there.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
We were talking Canucks in the intermission at my house. We were wondering who was a better captain…Smyl or Linden?
Then we argued about whethetr or not Tony Tanti ever scored 100 points. I said no and I was right.
Neither won a Cup…but both led their teams to the finals. But, when you look at the talent that surrounded Linden vs Smyl…you might want to give the nod to Stan.
You gotta start podcasting that shit
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 8:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Well their pressure seems better this period.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Sundin draws a penalty now. Back to the PP…c’mon, it’s fucking LA. They should be able to do this.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Sundin blasts, rebound to Kesler, SCORE.
Canucks MVP with a PPG. That rhymes.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
nope
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions
no, still a special teams event.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions
NHL Gamecenter: FAIL!
Wayne Simmonds GOAL on Roberto Luongo
Instead of Ryan Kesler GOAL on Jonathan Quick
ha ha. Flames fans are everywhere!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 8:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Calder to the box, Canucks back to the man advantage.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
AWWWW….Rypien on the breakaway but Quick stoned him. Daaamn. I love seeing Rypien out there.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
That fight Rypien had with Stortini was a thing of beauty. Both hands…blocking Stortini’s shots…let him get tired out and then lay into him. Stortini was hanging on to the linesman after that one too, while Rypien headed to the room. Never seen such a skillful bout on skates before.
If he can score regularly, what an awesome weapon for the post season.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 8:29 PM PDT up reply actions
GRRRRRRR
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 9, 2009 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Pudge just fanned on shot that would have been an easy score. Oh well, still1-0
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
Ok gentlemen, I can’t keep my eyes open here. They better hold on to this lead. See ya later.
Go Bernier go!!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
So, if the Flames win tomorrow…and the Canucks win on Saturday…wouldn’t you love to be in the sports bar in Denver with the team watching the last game of HNIC?
Man, I’d just prefer the Oilers to be the Lames tomorrow and then we have destiny in our own hands on Saturday. Screw this drama!
Go Oilers!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 9, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Nucks Misconduct
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Nucks Misconduct Store
Your clothing sucks. Go fix it.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
