Canucks-Wild Preview: Pressure Mounting
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 12:00 PM PDT
in Game Preview
Email
Print| Wild (37-35-6) |
Canucks (47-27-4) | ||||
 |
AT |  |
|||
| Time | 7:00 PM PST |
TV | Canucks PPV |
| Season Series | 3-2 Canucks |
Last Meeting | 6-2 Wild (02-14-10) |
| The Enemy | Hockey Wilderness | Scoring Leaders | H. Sedin: 29-76-105 Koivu: 20-48-68 |
| Wild |
Category | Canucks |
| 13th | Conference Position | 3rd |
| 4-6-0 |
Last 10 | 5-4-1 |
| 2.64 (19) |
Goals Per Game | 3.23 (2) |
| 2.91 (21) |
Least Goals Against Per Game | 2.63 (12) |
| .88 (25) |
5 On 5 GF/GA | 1.28 (2) |
| 19.2 (9) |
Power Play % |
21.1 (5) |
| 82.9 (12) | Penalty Kill % |
80.9 (18) |
| 27.7 (29) |
Shots Per Game | 30.8 (10) |
| 29.3 (9) |
Least Shots Against Per Game | 29.3 (9) |
| 71.9 (11) |
Winning % When Scoring First | 78.4 (5) |
| 76.0 (12) |
Winning % When Leading After 1 | 82.8 (6) |
| 30.4 (17) |
Winning % When Trailing After 1 | 43.9 (5) |
| 87.5 (11) |
Winning % When Leading After 2 | 96.8 (3) |
| 19.4 (9) |
Winning % When Trailing After2 | 33.3 (2) |
| 52.3 (4) |
Faceoffs % | 51.5 (6) |
| 15.2 (26) |
Least PIM's Per Game | 10.9 (5) |
| -28 (27) |
+ / - GF/GA (see here) |
+40 (2) |
Update (2:57): Despite dropping from 235 to 227 pounds during his "exile", Shane O'Brien will not play tonight. If Botchford is correct, he still has a meeting with Mike Gillis tomorrow. Hey Alberts! Get your shit together!
Update: Shane O'Brien is getting better in front of a mic: "He's the coach and he's the boss and that's why he gets paid to make those decisions. he did what he thought would be good for the team and I'm in no position to argue it. I made a mistake and when you make a mistake in life, there are consequences and I know that so I've got to be a man and step up and take the punishment." OB rejoined the team this morning for practice. His full apology to his mates here. Not sure that he'll play though. Also, Mikael Samuelsson, Son of Sam, the sniping maniac makes his return to the lineup tonight. It us unknown who sits. I think we've made it clear who we want that to be.
*********************************
I'm not going to sit here and continually bash Roberto Luongo. We/he knows that he has to be better. However, there are several problems surrounding the Lou conundrum. First of all, I fully support Alain Vigneault's decision to leave Lou in goal for all 8 goals scored against on Thursday versus the Kings. AV tried to get Roberto to work through his "issues" in that game, the team included. None of them responded and shat the bed instead. More after the jump.
I also liked AV's decision because he's not baby-ing the captain. Lou shouldn't get special treatment. Let's see how he responds now.
The Canucks rebounded and played better in front of Andrew Raycroft the following night against the Ducks. Yeah, they weren't as tight or consistent defensively against the Ducks either, but they managed to outscore the opposition regardless. Why the better efforts in front of Raycroft? Why oh why oh why? Is it a trust issue? Do they feel the need to tighten up in front of Rayzor because he is not as good as Lou?
Well this game against the Wild may present a baffling scenario. What is going to motivate Vancouver to play a strong game now that they are most likely not going to catch Chicago for the second seed and are most likely not going to lose the 3rd seed in the West? They only need 1 point to clinch the NW title. Am I sounding a tad pessimistic? Well...they need to step up as a team and play better in front of Luongo and Luongo needs to return to form. Is that motivation enough? Prove it to themselves that they can play better team game, especially in their own zone.
Minnesota has officially been eliminated from the playoffs for a few days now. They can and will play loose. The Wild have won their last 2 games against the Canucks, outscoring them 11-4. Ironically, Luongo was pulled in both games. Time to exorcise some demons!
BTW, it's Roberto Luongo's 31st birthday today. Maybe that counts for something...
Videos?
1. AAARGH!
No more videos! No more videos!
OK, one more...
85 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Sunday Afternoon Hangover
Some asshole got drunk and left beer cans all over my house. I’m not sure who it was but he looks suspiciously similar to the guy on my drivers license.
Hope the Canucks can make a statement.
4-0 Canucks
Kesler (gwg), H Sedin, Burrows, Bieksa
4-2 Canucks, Kesler with the winner.
Also, it’s possible we could finish the season with SIX 25-goal scorers – all we need is a goal or two from Raymond, Kesler and Daniel (all at 23 or 24 goals as of now) over the next 4 games to accomplish that feat. Is that not insane?
by Canuckk on Apr 4, 2010 12:27 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
If they can just get the back end issues settled down, they can be a real threat in the post season. Anyone else get the feeling the cracks are starting to show in the Red Wings watching the last couple games?
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
Wings still look good to me. They had the Flyers running scared in the last 5 minutes.
Osgood was also between the pipes.
Can't watch the thinkspeak. Always sarcastic, barely ever mean. Just me.
With Chris “Auto-Suck” Osgood in between the pipes, it’s pretty hard to win. The Wings are still a scary team. There’s no way they’re playing Ozzie in the post-season (or ever) at this rate.
too easy to blame that on Osgood. Aaron Asham walked around Nicklas Lidstrom on that winning goal…
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
to the Flyers. who have been brutal lately. the D did not help him much, First goal was bad, the rest were not really his fault. Plus, they should have been able to score more on Brian frickin Boucher. And what did you expect from a goalie who hasnt seen game action since January.
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
I know, it wasn’t just Osgood’s fault, but the Flyers were playing far better then they have been and closer to their potential. We all seem to forget that the Flyers were thought to be Cup contenders in the off-season, but they’ve been very inconsistent and at times awful this year, and haven’t played anywhere near their potential. Today, they did. So I don’t think it was all that bad that the Wings lost to them, the Flyers did get up and make it a tough one for them.
And my fave tweet of the day:
Detroit Red #Wings lose; Chicago #Blackhawks clinch first division title in 17 years. Wings have owned that division for 2 decades.
Ah times are good. Change is good.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
Canucks 3 Wild 0. Big fat goose-egg for Lui.
Wellwood with the GWG.
"I’m not asking for first-line money or top six money," Burrows said. "I don’t think it changes anything. I still consider myself a checker. That’s what I think I am first. That’s how I want to be paid. "If I can generate offence once in a while, I think it’s a plus for the team." Alex Burrows...Mar/09
Cool post at Puck Daddy about a “what if?” What if it was conferences be damned come playoff time and seed 1 played seed 16, etc etc etc. We’d have the Sens right now, and the Flames would be in.
yup, they used to do that if I recall…
that’s how the Canucks ended up facing the Canadiens in 1975
it went predictably…
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
the divisions were different back then, though.
for example, in 1994, we played toronto before facing the rangers.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct
Press release: This year's official Battle of Alberta will still be held as planned on April 14th at the River Bend Golf Course in Red Deer.
GO CANUCKS GO!
No, the Leafs were in the Western Conference back then. Or is that what you are getting at, missy?
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions
This just in: Brent Sutter's facial expression will never change
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 1:28 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
3-1
White returns laserfire.
Can't watch the thinkspeak. Always sarcastic, barely ever mean. Just me.
Good ol’ Ian White. Put a Canucks jersey on him!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd take him
Every team should have one quality moustache.
Can't watch the thinkspeak. Always sarcastic, barely ever mean. Just me.
Isn’t he a UFA or RFA after this season?
"I’m not asking for first-line money or top six money," Burrows said. "I don’t think it changes anything. I still consider myself a checker. That’s what I think I am first. That’s how I want to be paid. "If I can generate offence once in a while, I think it’s a plus for the team." Alex Burrows...Mar/09
3-1 Van, Henrik FTW
BTW, I’m working while you guys will be draft picking for cyxj’s baseball pool.
Hopefully my roster’s decent.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
Holy crap, thanks for reminding me. It would’ve been my second forgotten draft in less than a week.
Poutine & Meatballs
Unless you move it again so I get a roster I actually like hahah :)
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
I’ve already moved the time or date a few times, peeps won’t be too happy with another one. Sorry.
If you can make it for some of the draft you can still find some gems later.
Poutine & Meatballs
17-2 Canucks. Game winner, Luongo.
What the fuck, my predictions can’t get any worse than they have been.
"He's a coward, he'll always be a coward, at least he was man enough to hit me when I was looking this time."
Is he playing tonight?
See he has flulike symptoms.
Can't watch the thinkspeak. Always sarcastic, barely ever mean. Just me.
No, I’m sticking with Luongo. It’s been 4 years since a goalie scored and it’s long overdue.
But I’d like to revise my score to 13-2 Canucks. 17-2 was just silly.
"He's a coward, he'll always be a coward, at least he was man enough to hit me when I was looking this time."
See? 4-3 Canucks. Woulda got u a point
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I’ll be sitting at YVR waiting for my flight back to New York during this game. Hopefully I find a good stream— yay free wireless at the airport. 3-1 Canucks, Burrows. I predict a boring one. Kind of a meaningless game.
Ha, you were here? How was your trip?
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
Trips home are always good. Vancouver is the shit.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 4, 2010 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions
Hope you stayed away from the Roxy, wanna keep you svelte.
Have a good flight, Bean.
Can't watch the thinkspeak. Always sarcastic, barely ever mean. Just me.
Oooh, big word.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
I said something I shouldn’t have, didn’t I?
Could you fill me in so I might be able to avoid such a transgression (they’re getting bigger) in the future?
Thanks in advance…seriously.
Can't watch the thinkspeak. Always sarcastic, barely ever mean. Just me.
Haha I’m all for elevating one’s speech.
When I think svelte, I think girl. That’s all, ha.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
by eightyseven on Apr 4, 2010 6:59 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
3-2 canucks. grabner.
The opposite of serious is not funny; the opposite of serious is unserious.
by casual on Apr 4, 2010 4:23 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I’m not sure who will care less this game. My expectation is that the only player really going guts out will be Luongo. That’s why i’ll say 3-0 Canucks, FU to Sweden for the winner.
FU should be hauling ass too. We can count on him for that!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 4:41 PM PDT up reply actions
BTW, Sammy had 10 goals and 4 assists in the 10 games leading up to his injury
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 4, 2010 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions
You know the earthquake must have happened in the USA when....
The CNN eye-witness says “the entire Walmart started to shake”.
"He's a coward, he'll always be a coward, at least he was man enough to hit me when I was looking this time."
McNabb joins the funniest RB committee on record!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 4, 2010 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I find it hard to believe that Michael Vick will remain the backup to a guy who has thrown all of 130 NFL passes.
"He's a coward, he'll always be a coward, at least he was man enough to hit me when I was looking this time."
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
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.
