Tuesday Morning Coffee- What next???
by Kent Basky on Apr 6, 2010 7:28 AM PDT
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It's pretty amazing to think that this team was able to clinch the division title considering all that's happened. The turmoil and drama, the record setting road trip. All these things have been a burden, yet somehow they pushed through to win their 3rd divisional crown in 4 years. Oh yeah, and the injuries. Lord, have there been injuries. And they continue to mount, as Christian Ehrhoff and Ryan Johnson are the latest additions. All this would destroy lesser teams, yet here they are... 3 games away from an attempt to bring home the Cup for the first time. It seems that any momentum gets killed whenever it starts. The question is: What next?
Obviously defense is a huge concern. And not just the 6 guys back there, but team defense as well. I am a "just win, baby" kind of guy, but as a whole the Canucks need to tighten up defensively, or this post season will be like so many others, short and full of questions.
So now we will see the return of Shane O'Brien and Steve Bernier should help tonight and Matt Pettinger's been recalled. Let's face it, this has been a patchwork team all season long. There hasn't been a moment where a minimum of 2 key members of the core weren't injured. So they have to do what they always do. Get out on the ice and play the game. What will we see tonight? Some say this could be trouble as they're playing for nothing. I think you're selling them short if you believe that, as they obviously have a lot to prove to the coaching staff and themselves after the last minute breakdown against Minnesota Sunday night.
The Canucks face Colorado tonight in a very interesting role: that of spoiler. Yes some prefer to focus on how they're not playing for anything, instead of relishing the chance to potentially crush a rival's playoff hopes. If it's motivating for teams out of the race, surely it can be one for a team that has their ticket to the dance. The Canucks have dominated the Avalanche this season, outscoring them by a 2:1 margin in winning 4 of the last 5 meetings. The Avs are clinging to a 2 point lead over the Calgary Flames, who will once again attempt to draw even with the Avs by meeting the San Jose Sharks. So I say, if Colorado wants to come to the playoff party, they need to earn it. No free points from the Canucks.
The post season kicks off in a little over a week and there's still lots to be decided. In the meantime the Canucks need to focus on getting healthy, and achieving some team and personal goals. That and get focused, finding their game as they prepare to battle to be the Western Conference representative in the Stanley Cup Finals.
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Woooo!!!
The post season kicks off in a little over a week
Thanks for getting me pumped WAACH!!! Also, anyone know if there’s any updates on Willie Mitchell?
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nothing new on mitchell, though I get the feeling the Canucks are going to be very tight lipped about any progress until such a time as he is close to returning (if that even happens). Given the length of the symptoms, you have to wonder if maybe he’s suffered permanent damage. That’s just my speculation, not an informed opinion. But it does worry me a lot.
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Me too. Very worrying.
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by nucksandpucks on Apr 6, 2010 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
My completely uninformed guess is...
…that he is out for the season. Which is going to make it tough sledding on the d-front. SOB needs to get his act in gear ASAP.
Knights, Canucks, Dolphins, Jays and Raptors all the way.
Let’s all remember, the act he needs to get in gear is whatever act it is that makes management happy with him. I’ve seen no evidence that his teammates are upset with him, but if they are as well, then that act as well. But the key point is that his play has been good and has been largely consistently in that category the whole season—keep that act as is.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 6, 2010 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions
This has been a very different Canucks team than the one I expected at the beginning of the season. Not just the goals for and not just the adversities (injuries, mammoth road trips, etc.). What made them surprisingly successful the last few years was the AV-imposed no margin of error in their own end. They kept shots to the outside and played a very disciplined game. Whenever they decided to run-and-gun with opponents, they got into trouble. In effect, they played above their potential. Now the kids have come of age and they’re every bit as good as we hoped they would be. But some of that defensive discipline has gone. Luongo has been getting a lot of bad press about soft goals, but there’s been a lot more traffic in front of him, more pucks in the slot, and (as a result) more funny bounces than I remember in recent years. Maybe this is fallout from Bieksa and Mitchell missing a lot of time, but it all makes me a little nervous come playoffs.
In the two games against Chicago last year where the Canucks played lockdown defense, the Hawks couldn’t get very much going at all. When they tried to skate with Chicago, they got blown out of the arena. Same kind of thing happened in the Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi heyday, too. And then they’d get bumped by the Wild. This is a special team, but anything can happen in end-to-end, shoot-em-up hockey. My preference is to stick to a more technical game: nobody matches up well against the Canucks that way…
Hoffer looks to be back in time for the playoffs. Sitting three games and SOB coming back isn’t a equal replacement but if SOB needs to find his game this is the perfect time to do it. If RYJO has the same injury as last time I guess we have enough guys to fill that role. Jansen will draw in and I hope that guy can play the same gritty game in the playoffs. I like Pettinger and he will help. But guys like Hansen, Glass, Bernier, Rypien, Welly will need to step it up. They are a key.
As for Alberts…. $&^%$ !!! Who knows.
My question is… The Canucks have played AV’s new uptempo game all season. Will they play a more 2-1 / 2-0 kind of game come playoff time?
Anyone who believes in a god or what have you, please pray that the Hoff gets good news from the docs today.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 6, 2010 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Baumer will get some time in too. Dunno if SOB or Alberts will sit for him.
So don't get violent and don't get caught with your head down, the night she stole the moon.
by thelastjohnny on Apr 6, 2010 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
whichever one plays worse. Personally, I think Alberts has shown improvement lately. Am I alone in this? His foot speed is in question? I haven’t noticed that so much.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 6, 2010 10:01 AM PDT up reply actions
a good thing for the avalanche: we still face calgary as well this week, so if the canucks slaughter them both, we’ll have no real effect on that race :)
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In last night’s Sportstalk, Dan Russell talked about Mitchell. He often drops by in the dressing room and media outlets, but he is not even close to working out. With one week to go, it is safe to assume that he is gone till next year.
These three games are a perfect time to practice defense, and outline some kind of defensive strategy. This should be of major importance right now. I am not thinking of a very “defensive” defense, but rather doing what the Canucks do best: agressive forechecking, followed up by a counter-attack with lightning speed.
If the system for defense is in place and well executed, the offense can feed off that.
Colorado will be desperate, and there will be no shortage of offense in their game, so this is a good time to see whether the Canucks can shut them down.
The rest of the week, they have two more games to fine-tune their system, and they should be ready by next week.
Los Angeles, CA
I agree, what a great opportunity for the Canucks. For Colorado, tonight’s game IS a playoff game. What a great chance for the Canucks to prepare.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 6, 2010 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions
That’s right, the Canucks have the luxury to take a business-like approach, and prepare specifically for the playoffs. It’s the perfect scenario for them.
Los Angeles, CA
if you go to the cbc sports page I believe they have a way to watch it there, but you have to go through the whole game. nhl.com also has games in their library, not sure if you have to pay for them.
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I don’t think the hit is on the NHL.com footage either. I’ve looked in a lot of places but can’t find the damned hit anywhere
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 6, 2010 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Every now and then I forget that Princess is in the hockey business. And then he’ll resurface here once in a blue moon and remind me.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
no offense to your Caps, but my dream opponent should the Canucks go all the way is Pittsburgh. Not that I think it would be a better series, but just for narrow-minded revenge of a rather bloody sort. Yeah. I am still pissed, and payback for Malkin would be icing on the Cup.
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I’d say let someone else beat the pens. My dream finals is anyone who finishes in 5-8 in the east. Those teams would have no chance of making the playoffs in the west.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 6, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
I’d be more offended if you said the Caps were your dream opponent.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 6, 2010 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
i think the caps-nucks matchup would be an excellent one for the SCF’s. not saying it would be a walk in the park, but it would still be intense.
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absolutely. A Hawks-Caps final would be sweet too.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 6, 2010 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Both of those would definitely make for some awesome hockey. As a hockey fan, I’d love it.
But by the SCF, barring some major unforeseen circumstances, it’s not going to be a cakewalk for either conference.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 6, 2010 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
I suppose we’re all talking about different things here.
Dream finals:
I imagine for any of us here it would be the Canucks versus the most exciting team in the East (which is Washington in my opinion) and us winning.
Strategic opponent:
If the goal is a situation in which Canucks are most likely to succeed, I then go with what I said, which is Canucks vs. any of the mediocre teams that finish 5-8 in the east.
Neutral fan’s perspective:
The most exciting finals possible for someone who just loves hockey would probably be Hawks-Caps.
All of those can be considered the ‘best’ matchup, depending on your motives.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 6, 2010 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions
I really don’t see the Caps making it out of the first or second round. Those defensive liabilities are going to kill them. Exciting hockey = good hockey in my books. The Canucks can be pretty exciting when they’re on their game…
and they didn’t have defensive liabilities last season? The Caps are going to kick everyone’s ass. Just my opinion. They are deeper and better than last year’s squad.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 6, 2010 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed that they’re better than last year (and not many teams in the East are, really). But I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see the dam break and watch them get blown out in five or six against New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, or even some lesser light like Montreal.
New Jersey is so overrated. They haven’t been a real contender since their all-star D corps left.
And Ottawa’s goal-tending is so streaky they won’t make it out.
Pittsburgh I could see happening. And Montreal’s PP could give them fits.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 6, 2010 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Also, categorically their defense isn’t terrible. They’re quite good 5-on-5. It’s their PK that is awful, and while that is a large part of defense, it is not the entire thing.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 6, 2010 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I feel that your are underestimating the Devils and Ottawa and overestimating the Pens and Habs.
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 6, 2010 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
The Devils haven’t done anything in the postseason since they lost Stevens, Special Nieds, Rafalski et al. on their blue line. And I don’t see why this year would be any different.
Ottawa runs hot and cold perhaps more than any other team in their league, and I don’t trust Elliott to maintain his hot streak in the playoffs. And I only said the Habs PP would give the Caps fits, which is entirely true. The Habs have the second best PP in the league, and the Caps PK is terrible (Thanks, Bruce!).
And the thing that scares me about the Pens is their complete domination down the middle. Crosby-Malkin-Staal-4th liner is significantly better than Backstrom-Morisson-Belanger-Steckel.
I have to go. But if I find one single dog hair when I get back, I'll rub... sand... in your dead little eyes. I also need you to buy sand. I don't know if they grade it, but... coarse.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Apr 6, 2010 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions
PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
the Victoria Salmon Kings start their 1st round series tomorrow against the Bakersfield Condors (Anaheim’s ECHL affiliate). It’s a best of 5 games series, where Victoria will host the first 2 games tomorrow and thursday nights, and the last 3 games will all be in bakersfield on saturday, sunday and monday. official press release with the matchup info here, victoria’s playoff roster here.
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Moose recently clinched an AHL playoff berth, too. Having a mediocre year, though. Hopefully the offensive infusion Schroeder brought will give them a boost. There’s a slim possibility that they could play the Heat in the second round, which could help put some butts in the seat in Abbotsford.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 6, 2010 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
yeah, the AHL regular season ends on sunday (same as NHL), so we’ll be getting their playoff schedule next week. ECHL starts their playoffs this week.
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and i got a ticket!!!
i’ll be at Game 1 of the Salmon Kings series tomorrow night!!!!
if anyone else plans to be there, let me know. i got section 112, row B, seat 5.
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Mueller is out for tonight’s game and for who knows how long. One of them head things. That’s a blow to the lanche, and in my opinion, bad for the Canucks, because we want the best opposition we can get for these last otherwise meaningless tune-up games.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 6, 2010 10:36 AM PDT reply actions
Ryan Johnson
And now we learn that Johnson’s out for at least the first round of the playoffs—4-6 weeks. He’s the kind of foot soldier this team is going to need in the playoffs. The way the game is played, forwards 7 through 12 are vital components to any Stanley Cup run.
I don’t know if it’s supposed to be a joke.
But Henrik has the A, not Daniel (refer to photo caption) lawl.
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Dank wore the A for a couple games this season when Glass Man Salo was injured.
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by Chuckles Canuckles on Apr 7, 2010 1:42 AM PDT up reply actions
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
yeah, stand corrected.
"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!?"
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