Reasons to be optimistic
by hailstop on May 6, 2010 11:34 AM PDT
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I know that most of us are pretty down after last night's game. However, there are a few reasons to be optimistic, as Chicago does still have to win 2 more games.
1. The Canucks really haven't challenged Niemi at all the last couple of games. It's the Hawk defense (especially Seabrook and Keith) that are doing the job. It's not like he's this amazingly hot goalie (ref: Game 1).
2. The Canucks defense has done a pretty good job on Kane, Sharp, Hossa and Toews. What's killing us are the supporting cast.
3. The passing has been awful the last couple of games...it was like watching pinball. Part of this probably is that the Canucks are getting to far apart going up the ice. This can be dealt with.
4. Last night notwithstanding, Luongo has played a long stretch of good hockey. Just because he had a bad game last game doesn't mean he's going to stink the rest of the way too.
Edit After Game 4: Ummm...forget everything I just said.
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Another reason to be optimistic
The overconfident Hawks are back. Along with their fans.
And fortunately, unlike Game 1, a win by us in Game 4 won’t wake them up the same way. We’ll save that for Game 5, when they’ll be back in Van facing elimination in our barn in Game 6.
Book it.
Knights, Canucks, Dolphins, Jays and Raptors all the way.
we are feeling more optomistic right now
but trust me, we know that there is still quite a bit more hockey to play and you are a dangerous team
I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.
- Rodney Dangerfield
I'm still slightly terrified that the team might be feeling overly confident
But they finished the game strong last night, and Saturday’s hangover finally gave up the ghost, so tendrils of optimism have come creeping back in.
Time for some thrillin' heroics!
by shinkicker on May 6, 2010 1:38 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Wait...
who’s overconfident?
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two comments
1. Some fans are idiots (see below), but “the overconfident Hakws”? I’m seriously interested in ANY quotes or anecdotes that support this assertion.
2. “Book it.” Is this an invitation to a wager? Based on your confidence level, sounds like you’re up for even money on the Nucks taking the next two. Lemme know if I got this right.
Gentlemen! I have invented...this thing!
Not trying to be a troll or anything but...
1. Niemi played really well last night (see 16 shots in first period) the Hawks had no business getting out of that period up 2-0 and the only reason they did was because of Niemi.
2. Kane, Sharp, Hossa, and Toews have a combined 12 points in 3 games. All G’s and A’s combined the whole Hawks team has 28 points, thats 43% of the point production…wouldn’t say they shut them down per say.
He didn't say anything about
shutting them down. He said we have done a pretty good job so far.
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by Section 312 on May 6, 2010 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions
Also,
can Niemi repeat that performance? Yeah he faced 16 SOG, but most of them were fairly easy low shots, which he is good defending against. It’s the high, over-the-shoulder shots that kill him, and there weren’t too many of those last night.
Either way, this is more like the series everyone was harping about; it is far from over. The Canucks will be pissed after that game, and since they’ve shown the ability to win at the UC already, they will do so in a convincing manner. This is an awesome rivalry between these two teams.
Thing is, these aren’t the Canucks of yesteryear.
Chuck Norris has counted to infinity... twice.
Sean Z, regarding Andrew Alberts: "And of course credit goes to Alain Vigneault for sticking with this guy. When most of us wanted his nuts stapled to the bench."
Niemi doesn't really need to
The operative thinking in Chicago has been since day one this season: “We don’t need an elite goal tender to win with this roster. We just need someone who is good enough.” And Niemi has often been good enough, and sometimes brilliant. His close to the season is plenty of evidence that Niemi is capable of stringing brilliant performances between the pipes together. But he doesn’t even need to. The difference between Games 1 and 2 and 3 has been less about Neimi and more about the defense waking up and closing off the crease. In the past two games I haven’t really seen Niemi have to make many multiple stops, usually the canucks only get one shot off before the puck gets knocked out of harms way.
And while Anahiem returns to the locker room, Todd Bertuzzi is cuffed and returns to the squad car.
by Detroit Must Die on May 6, 2010 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s only 2-1, win the next one and there’s no issue, lose it and then we may have a problem. Don’t see why people are so pessimistic when it’s only 2-1
I’m with you Andrew. I was very excited about this team going into the playoffs. There is very little difference between now and the LA series. Granted, Chicago is a better team.
But in a seven game series against a high calibre team, you’re gonna lose some games. It’s all about the adjustments made following a loss that make the difference. Canucks have proven their ability to adapt to different situations and come back from being behind. They’ve not let the highs get too high, which is great. They can also handle the lows.
The most worrying thing for me is lack of composure last night. It cost us. Get their heads screwed on straight for Game 4 and we should be OK. If not, well….it won’t look too promising. No grenades to jump on yet though.
I do love this team and am in it for the long haul. For better or for worse.
Shove it in your addendum.
What the Canucks lack is SMART physicality
The hawks have beat up Luongo like a red headed step child. But they’ve done it SMART. one extra slap with a stick here, one extra nudge there. It’s not only getting in Luongo’s head, its getting into the entire team’s head. The Blackhawks aren’t looking for the glamourous sniper shot goals, they’re hunting for biscuits, and even the small guys like Kane, Versteeg, and Bolland aren’t afraid to get in the middle and mix it up.
What’s stopped the Canucks from pursuing a similar strategy? well for one their not physical enough, and as I’ve watched the blue jersey’s tend to get pasted by Big Bad Seabrook and co. in front of the net. Plus Bolland (who proves its the bite of the dog and not the size) is on the sedin’s like a cheap suit. Plus there is no will to do it.
The Canucks don’t want to mix it up in a game situation, they want to look for the glamourous goal. The only time this team will get tough is in boneheaded, detrimental, and (dare i use a Kesler term?) cowardly extraciricular scraps. Burrows is a piece of scum. Defend him all you want, and i’ll admit he’s got some skill, but for the playoffs, in crunch time, he’s nothing but a sissy, cowardly piece of scum. I wouldn’t want him on my team. You can complain about Buff all you want (and I won’t do much to defend him, because I think he’s a player with an amazing amount of potential and no drive, I HATE that) but he’s got your whole team, city, and fanbase worked up and he LOVES it. That’s playoff, winner take all, mentality.
No offense, but what strikes me about this Canucks team is that they lack killer instinct. They don’t have anyone who has the determination and physicality to put the puck in the net at any cost. No one who’ll take the beating and bang home the dirty goals. This series is far from over, and the skill at the offensive end might get the Canucks into the next round, but they will never win it all with a team like this. When it counts they can’t get tough, when they get tough its in boneheaded situations.
Until the Canucks get SMART and physical they are going to get pushed around by the teams that are already willing to play hockey in the trenches.
Honestly, at this point in the series, Nashville was a scarier opponent. Nashville is big, tough, smart, disciplined, and the way they play is for the tough goals hammered home in the crease.
And while Anahiem returns to the locker room, Todd Bertuzzi is cuffed and returns to the squad car.
by Detroit Must Die on May 6, 2010 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I love Burrows.
But someone hand the mike to this dude, he is fucking us all up with some truth.
"But yeah…like CC…I harbour no ill will." - VancityDan
by Chuckles Canuckles on May 6, 2010 10:45 PM PDT up reply actions
The 4th game is over-rated.
What counts is the number of wins a team gets, not what games they get them in.
Let’s just say that the Canucks win one of the next two games. They’re down 3-2 regardless.
Van is terrible
Guys you have a bad team, your defense is garbage, your goalie is a headcase, and the Sedin sisters are a no show because dave bolland is bangin them on top of an orca. Buff is gonna be back in the kitchen servin up some buff burgers and his secret buff sauce. Loogie I hope your hungry, well you dont have much choice. Bon Appetit
by CaptainByfuglien on May 6, 2010 1:22 PM PDT reply actions
Sorry guys, it bothers us as much as it does for you.
F’n trolls
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I actually laughed at that. Does that make me a bad person? :)
by Sean Zandberg on May 6, 2010 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Haha no, I don’t think so. It’s like that “it’s so bad it’s good” philosophy. It’s so ridiculous, it’s awesome :)
My thoughts exactly
The only thing that’s worse than actual trolls are those who get so offended by a “troll” that is so hilariously asinine.
by HungryHungryPanda on May 6, 2010 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions
question
what was the reason for throwing trash on the ice at the end of the game?
by CaptainByfuglien on May 6, 2010 1:44 PM PDT reply actions
Just feeding the Hawks. They must have been hungry at that point
by Sean Zandberg on May 6, 2010 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Well if the saying goes “You are what you eat” then I’ll bet Buffy was chewing on the non-food items. I heard someone’s douche was thrown on the ice but the health police couldn’t find it.
I’m kidding of course. Stop throwing crap on the ice!
by Sean Zandberg on May 6, 2010 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions
i found it very ironic
b/c i’ve lost count of how may times an SCHer has suggested we throw McNuggets on the ice at the goal to make Buff go stand in front of it (when he’s been in one of his lazy stretches throughout the year).
by puppetmasterp on May 6, 2010 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s about as intelligent as signing up to a site just to troll it, huh? We all hate jackass douchebags from both sides here.
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by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 6, 2010 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
This thing could still end in 6 games (7 is still my bet) - with either team moving on
It all depends on which team plays how more of the remainder “up” instead of “down”. We’ve seen both modes from both teams so far.
And the SCH Hawks fan cite is far from overconfident (if you exclude the doofuses with less than 10 total comments). We are much more into spending all our time worrying about the sky falling at any moment.
Confusion will be my epitaph.
The Sky is Falling!Shit,
I thought we fixed that back in April, Where is my shotgun, can of gas, and matches, I’m running for my cliff!
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by Toews-makes-funny-faces on May 6, 2010 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions
To know your opponent is half the battle...
I have to admit I am a little bit stunned by your first two observations. I’m thinking you really don’t get it yet do you? You still seem to think the Hawks are trying to beat the Canucks the way the Canucks are trying to beat the Hawks. That simply isn’t the case.
It’s the Hawk defense (especially Seabrook and Keith) that are doing the job.
The Canucks are an offensive team that rely on their “name” goalie for defense. The Hawks are a defensive team that rely on their total team defense to make the difference. Keith and Seabrook ARE the real differences between these two teams not the offensive players or the goalies.
Also the two way players: Toews, Sharp/Hossa, Bolland and Madden. Basically, when twos play twos the Hawks have a distinct advantage on the defensive side.
What’s killing us are the supporting cast.
The Canucks are going the way the twins go. When they score the Canucks are winning, when they don’t the Canucks are losing. Chicago doesn’t even have a number one line.
For the season, if you take away empty net goals the Hawks actually scored more goals than the Canucks. The reason that is is because the Hawks make up the difference in their top line scoring with more team depth scoring.
I’m sorry but to act optimistic that the Hawks are beating the Canucks in exactly the way they are trying to beat the Canucks isn’t something to be overly optimistic about…
The Sedins will break out soon enough. Seems that a team can only shut them down for so long – eventually it seems they just can’t be contained. Look at round 1 – Scuderi and Doughty did a pretty good job at shutting them down for the first 3 games, but game 4, third period is when they really broke out, and they never looked back after that. They were pretty dominant from that point forward, and I’m confident they can solve Keith and Seabrook and do it again.
And when we start getting some real chances on Niemi, we’ll start scoring goals again. He’s made a couple decent saves but what he’s done so far pales in comparison to what Quick did those first 3 games. Niemi is average at best.
And please, let’s not let the Hawks get under our skin again. Even the Sedins lost it last game – aside from the obvious Daniel vs Bolland near-fight early on, the Sedins were throwing their weight around at every opportunity for a while and seemed more focused at times on hitting then on actually getting the puck. Seemed like we were getting awfully frustrated that game, and that’s not what we want. Let’s keep our composure like we did in games 1 and 2 – it’s effective and will only piss off the Hawks, if anything. Let’s let them get rattled and thrown off their game from their emotions, not us. Speaking of which, WTF is Rypien doing on the ice if he’s not gonna fight? I know he was trying to start something at the end of last game but aside from that he’s been pretty passive, which annoys me because he doesn’t have a whole lot of real hockey skills. If he’s not gonna fight or be physical, please let him watch from the press box and put Grabner back in the lineup. AV seems to play favorites when it comes to Rypper. Course he makes for incredibly entertaining fights, but when he’s not doing that… why is he there?
Anyways… I think we can win Game 4 for sure if we keep our cool, stop being tentative on the PP, work on our passing and start shooting high on Niemi. And I have faith we’ll do most of those things. A slightly better showing from Lu would help too, but that’s not why we lost yesterday, and unless he goes on a mental vacation like he did earlier in the year, he’ll be fine.
GO CANUCKS GO!!!
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Also, Wings are up 4-zip on the Sharks right now, which I fully expected (I called 5-1 final). What I didn’t expect was FOUR GOALS FROM JOHAN FUCKING FRANZEN!!! And in all within less then 6 minutes… holy shit!!! Man that guy is So. Fucking. Clutch.
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Is anyone else watching this game? Absolute insanity, this is.
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anyone going to say it?
ok i will. He has more goals on his own in one period than we did in the entire game as a team.
also…that’s nuts.
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by Yankee Canuck on May 6, 2010 5:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Hello, pool points.
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meanwhile....
…. the Habs just scored 2 goals to go up 3-2 on the pens
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good game.
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things canucks need to change before game 4...
1. Get demitra off the point on the powerplay, put O’brien in his place because pinching in at the blue line and keeping pucks in is the only thing he does well as a d-man and im sick of seeing chicago get 2 on 1s and breakaways on the PK.
2. Someone needs to teach AV what line matching is and why it is important, especially at home, i’m as big a ripper fan as anyone but having him and SOB out against Toews, Kane and Buff is a recipe for disaster.
3. Heard some hate for burrows but i think he is the key for the canucks in this series, give him another shot on the sedin line as samulesson has done nothing so far and he can at least bring some toughness to that line (keep burish off daniel maybe).
4. Give Alberts more ice time, match him with edler and maybe the two of them can push buff out of the crease. i swear he has been their best d man the last two games, bieksa and o’brien should be out there way less 5 on 5, bieksa maybe not at all he has been terrible.
Sorry for the long rant but the canucks also need to stop bitching to the refs about these crease goals, either luongo needs to flop everytime he is touched like he did in that game against LA to draw some penalties or the team has to start giving some of it back to “auntie” niemi, otherwise this series will be over by game 5.
a few problems with that logic
Watching 82+ blackhawks games a year: With Hossa, Toews, Sharp, and Madden on the PK, the Blackhawks are going to get SH opportunities no matter what you do, so live with it. They lead the NHL in SHG by a mile, and that wasn’t just blind luck. The last PK the Canucks played against isn’t even comparable to the Blackhawk’s, which is probably the best one in the NHL.
Burrows adding toughness? If by toughness you mean cowardly jabs after the whistle that incur penalities then i guess he’d add toughness…
…its amazing what having an actual blueline corps can do for a team. That might be on the to-do list.
And while Anahiem returns to the locker room, Todd Bertuzzi is cuffed and returns to the squad car.
by Detroit Must Die on May 6, 2010 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions
i agree burrows is a bit of a punk, no argument there, and maybe toughness isnt the right word, but at least he can get involved in that aspect of the game so daniel sedin doesnt have to take a penalty in the middle of a crucial canucks PP. he is also more willing to get in front of the net and do some of the dirty work to score goals, where as sammy likes to work the perimeter and fire the shot from outside, a plan that is clearly not working against seabrook and keith.
also can’t disagree the canucks r realistically at least 2 decent d-men away from being a legit cup contender at this point, somebody to fill willie mitchell’s role and another guy with some offensive abilities to play the PP. still, the fact remains worse teams have went on good playoff runs in recent years (Eg. edm ’06, cgy ’04) so im still optimistic we can come back and make a run this year.
i’m always conflicted when we play the blackhawks as they are comprised of so many western canadian players, clearly u guys have a good team, but if luongo can string together a few good games and the sedins start scoring, i think we have the depth offensively to make it an interesting series.
Agreed.
This series is far from over. The Canucks, while not perfect, are too good to go quietly into the night.
I honestly think that their biggest deficincy is smart, physical, players. The blackhawks excuted their plan against Luongo to near perfection for the last 5 periods. I think the reason Vancouver hasn’t responded in kind is because they do not have the personnel to do it. Bolland is obviously getting under the Sedin’s skin, and he’s doing it smart, he hasn’t really taken detrimental penalties in the process of doing it. The way the blackhawks chip away at luongo might earn the ire of people around here, but its a good strategy being executed well…primarily because the hawks have the forwards that can cause nightmares in the middle and the canucks don’t have the dmen to move them.
Its too early to call, but the Blackhawks can’t let Vancouver off of the ropes. Game four will be big, a Canucks win changes the complexion of the series. A Hawks win, with the Canucks facing elimination in front of a UC crowd foaming at the mouth could be potentially disatrous.
I think the Hawks need to close this series out as fast as possible and move on, They do have one of the most complete rosters and seem to be primed for a run. What worries me is that this playoffs they haven’t been able to bring consitent energy levels. I won’t put it past the hawks to lay an egg in game 4 and let the canucks escape. They need to stick the knife in the throat tomorrow and then twist it on sunday. We’ll see about that though.
And while Anahiem returns to the locker room, Todd Bertuzzi is cuffed and returns to the squad car.
by Detroit Must Die on May 6, 2010 8:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree the hawks agitators have done a good job in getting the canucks off their game so far, and their lack of large physical players does create matchup problems, but it is simply not how the canucks are built.
the hawks (from the few games i’ve seen in the last couple of years) are a team built on power and size for the most part. the canucks are clearly built on speed (and goaltending supposedly). either style can be effective and can win games, depending on which team can best impose its will, as we have seen from the lopsided results in all 3 games so far.
believe it or not the canucks do have some smart players, i think as far as hockey sense goes they are at least as proficient as most of the hawks, but like u said the last 5 periods have been owned by chicago in both momentum and results.
the one positive i can take into the rest of the series is when ur boys decide to be a little late to the game the canucks can really get some chances, it is rare to see a team that starts worse then vancouver. however van has been unable to outplay chicago in the 3rd for the most part in this series, which has been their calling card all season. it is almost like they don’t know how to hold a lead against a tough opponent since they have been making 3rd period comebacks all year.
as ive heard repeatedly in the last few days, the playoffs are about adjustments, my only hope is the canucks staff is able to make the correct adjustments that reflect their team’s style. the leaders of the team need to step up, kesler needs to show some of the game he did in the olympics, edler needs to start hitting, and the sedins need to knock off the bullshit and score some goals.
Actually the blackhawks have been lopsidely dominating third periods.
I’m not sure where you’re coming from on this, but look at shot differentials, especially games 2 and 3, all blackhawks.
In game two the Canucks only managed 6 shots, despite having 3 powerplays in the third and coughed up 2 goals and the lead, all in the third.
In Game three the Canuck’s push dried up again and the blackhawks iced the game with two 3rd period tallies.
The Nucks have been getting better starts to the game, however, over the last 5 periods, the hawk’s dominance of the Canucks has been at the end of the game. The blackhawks are actually built, more or less, along the same premise as the Canucks, they play the same wide open, full throttle game, however, with the hawk’s everything is generated from the defense and not the forwards. Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, and Campbell really get everything started for the blackhawks, long tape to tape passes, good presence in all three zones, sustaining forechecks. The Hawks have every bit as much speed and skill on the ice as the canucks. Kane is probably the best puck handler that either team has. It just so happens that they have some size and grit to go along with it. Toews, Bolland, Madden, Hossa, Ladd: these guys aren’t particularly large players, they just play with strength that is really behond their size.
And while Anahiem returns to the locker room, Todd Bertuzzi is cuffed and returns to the squad car.
by Detroit Must Die on May 6, 2010 9:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I might be interpreting this wrong but
I thought he was saying that 3rd period comebacks were usually the Nucks thing, and it just hasn’t been happening against us. Granted, we’re only three games into the series.
Only 12 hours til puck drop! Twelve long hours
Time for some thrillin' heroics!
by shinkicker on May 7, 2010 6:44 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
that blueline is going to let pucks leak and turn it over high in the zone. You’ll have to live with the rushes, but that’s what the Canucks have Sideshow Bob for, isn’t it?
And while Anahiem returns to the locker room, Todd Bertuzzi is cuffed and returns to the squad car.
by Detroit Must Die on May 6, 2010 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions
From the Copper and Blue, of all places:
3. Daniel Sedin – Daniel was on the ice for Jannik Hansen’s goal (I liked Hansen last night as well) and seemed to be the most physically involved of the Sedins so I gave him the nod as a star. It must have been particularly encouraging for Canuck fans to see the Sedins own the puck at even strength against the very same line that contained them in Game Two (Dave Bolland, KrisVersteeg and Andrew Ladd) because that bodes well for the future. The results themselves – including the +5 SC’s and +15 Corsi (Henrik was +18) – shouldn’t be discouraging even though they didn’t score. The Sedins have been shooting the lights out all playoffs so you kind of knew that a dominant game would go unrewarded eventually. They were fantastic offensively but couldn’t get anything to go into the net. Ask Alexander Semin about nights like that, he had about seven of them in a row.
I’d say that’s reason to be optimistic.
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