Canucks At Kings Game Preview: How The Orca Got His Groove Back
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 4, 2011 5:00 PM PST
in Game Preview
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Print| CANUCKS |
KINGS | ||||
 |
AT |  |
|||
| Time | Sat. 1:00 PM PST |
TV | Sportsnet Pac |
| Season Series | 2-0 Kings |
Last Meeting |
4-1 Kings (Oct.15/10) |
| The Enemy | Jewels From The Crown, Battle Of California | Scoring Leaders | D. Sedin: 32-47-79 Kopitar: 20-43-63 |
| Canucks |
Category | Kings |
| 40-16-9 | Season Record | 36-24-4 |
| 1st |
Conference Position | 5th |
| Lost 1 |
Streak | Won 1 |
| 17-9-4 |
< Road Record / Home Record > |
20-10-1 |
| 5-5-0 |
Last 10 | 7-2-1 |
| +56 |
Goals For / Against +/- | +23 |
| 3.18 (3) |
Goals Per Game | 2.69 (16) |
| 2.29 (3) |
Goals Against Per Game | 2.41 (4) |
| 1.26 (3) |
5 On 5 GF/GA | 1.11 (6) |
| 24.3 (2) |
Power Play % |
17.5 (15) |
| 86.0 (2) |
Penalty Kill % |
84.0 (6) |
| 32.0 (8) |
Shots Per Game | 29.2 (23) |
| 30.1 (14) |
Shots Against Per Game | 27.5 (2) |
| 81.0 (3) |
Winning % When Scoring First | 73.7 (11) |
| 90.0 (3) |
Winning % When Leading After 1 | 80.0 (11) |
| 0 (30) |
Winning % When Trailing After 1 | 23.1 (15) |
| 90.6 (8) |
Winning % When Leading After 2 | 100 (1) |
| 55.3 (1) |
Faceoffs % | 50.8 (10) |
| 11.2 (12) |
PIM's Per Game Average |
12.0 (15) |
| NHL.com |
After the Preds beat the Canucks somebody mentioned something to Shane O'Brien about the Canucks being the better team. He responded: "They probably say that every time they lose. That's the way they are. They're a confident, cocky bunch. They're the best team in the West and they're going to have a mark on them the rest of the way and into the playoffs. They can think what they want. We got the two [points] tonight and we'll be seeing them down the road." (More on that at The Province). Thanks SOB for reminding me why I am so glad you are no longer a Canuck. However, he makes a few good points. Maybe there are a few cocky players on the Canucks but we are not led to believe that through what they say to the media. "Composed" and even "confident" describe them better. It's hard not to be confident when you are sitting on top of the NHL standings. When SOB mentioned that the Canucks "were going to have a mark on them the rest of the way" I think he is correct. Teams get up to beat the big dogs, and the Canucks, despite their win 1 / lose 1 record for almost a month are still the big dogs.
Unfortunately, these big dogs now look to be struggling to find the back of the net. The top 3 lines have taken turns taking the brunt of the scoring load while the goaltending has been stellar. But nobody bailed out Roberto Luongo Thursday night. There were times that Pekka Rinne made stellar and even flukey saves but the bottom line is that there was not enough push from enough of the forwards to get the job done. The top line, which will now see even more checking on the road, is being too fancy and not dirty enough. There is no click on line 2 or line 3. The best forwards I saw on Thursday were Mason Raymond and Jannik Hansen. But there was no gel. No finish. Not enough forechecking. Not enough sandpaper.
Are the Canucks coasting or struggling? I think I'm seeing both. This is the danger of being the top team in the standings in the West and in your own division by a somewhat / huge comfortable margin. Panic? Hell no! These guys will get it going again. Does a 5-game road trip help? MAYBE. But the Canucks have kicked ass at home all season, and so the 500 record at the Rog lately isn't all that impressive. It all starts in Los Angeles Saturday afternoon. The Kings, who you know hate our guts for eliminating them from the first round last season, are rolling again and will play us with a vengeance. Look at their stats above...another defensive team! They do not allow many goals against per game, shots against per game or power play goals against per game. Hell, their last game was a 1-0 win over the Coyotes. The have won 3 of their last 4 at home, with a 7-4 loss to the Wings being the anomaly. Let's see another anomaly shall we?
After a 5-8 record in January and a loss of a playoff spot, the Kings went 8-2-3 in February to climb back in. They are currently in 5th spot in the West but 2 points away from 10th spot. It changes every day. They are in a dog fight. So here we go again: Canucks face another desperate team. Let's see if they can find their scoring ways again starting in L.A.
-BTW:
-The Sedins have scored a combined 1 goal and 3 assists in 2 losses against LA this season.
-Dustin Brown has scored 2 goals and 1 assist against the Canucks this season.
-Dustin Penner has scored 1 goal and 2 assists against the Canucks. He hates us. Filthy Hobbitses!
-Justin Williams has scored 2 goals against us this season.
LINKS
-Well there we go: "Canucks Confident Bunch Heading Into 5-Game Road Trip."
-Canucks' power play is drying up.
-You may not know that hits (of which he had 5, I believe) and take-aways (I counted several, at least 3, one leading to a scoring chance) are critical aspects of any game. (Quisp from Jewels From The Crown defending Dustin Penner's play in his first game as a King.)
-Huge perma-smiles on our faces and injuries to our livers...
Nucks Nation Invasion! Great stuff.
PROJECTED STARTING GOALTENDERS
WHO'S HOT / COLD
No no no. The last meeting:
Yes yes yes. Canucks eliminate Kings, 2010 Playoffs
I don't give 2 shits about your history!
Go Canucks Go!
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3-2 Canucks
Sammy gwg.
Nucks Misconduct co-writer, also on Twitter.
Joke/sarcasm detector broken 99% of the time.
4-3 Canucks
Kesler
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
fuck you, Hodge! :)
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 4, 2011 5:11 PM PST up reply actions
They're playing Bernier??
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
I don’t know yet
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 4, 2011 5:19 PM PST up reply actions
that’s why I calls it “projected”
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 4, 2011 5:21 PM PST up reply actions
6-2 Canucks
Son of Sam relives the 2010 Playoffs and chases Jon Quick.
He'll chase him
When they put him in after Bernier is torched!
Yeah!
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
hahaha
I love Jay Onrait
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
he
always brings the lulz. always
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 5:49 PM PST up reply actions
him and OToole
best part of TSN
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 5:50 PM PST up reply actions
All of this has happened before
and it will happen again.
3-2 Nucks, Son of Sam GWG.
This surprised me. Goddamn the West is tighter than a nun.
After a 5-8 record in January and a loss of a playoff spot, the Kings went 8-2-3 in February to climb back in. They are currently in 5th spot in the West but 2 points away from 10th spot.
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 5:56 PM PST reply actions
5-1 Ehrhoff
Don't drink and park, accidents cause people!
If it ain't got a packet, go home and whack it.
I'm just a loser geek, crazy with an evil streak! -- everclear
5-3 Canucks- GWG- MayRay
Goin’ to this game- Will be watching from behind the net the Canucks shoot at twice…
Holy fuck
Kovi wins it in OT for NJ…
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 6:29 PM PST reply actions
I think
Toronto will make it before them.
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 8:11 PM PST up reply actions
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
VOR!
HAHA
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 4, 2011 8:41 PM PST up reply actions
lol
I dont think either will make it though
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 9:14 PM PST up reply actions
the Ring is treacherous! It will hold you to your word!
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 4, 2011 9:18 PM PST up reply actions
I will through into the lava
from whence it came!
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 10:20 PM PST up reply actions
Awww shit! Speaking of fire…
Flames win again!
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 4, 2011 10:24 PM PST up reply actions
Fuck
Fucking fuck
Morrow on Twins: (shakes head) "You know what they're going to do and you still can't do anything about it"
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner.
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center (Twitter's 1st line center also).
by Chuckles Canuckles on Mar 4, 2011 10:31 PM PST up reply actions
5-2 Vancouver
Burr with the GWG and the comeback hattie. And if we win this one 3-0 with raymond getting the first one i’ll punt a kitten. And then cheer.
"What the fuck's a 'Beeber'???"
Dropping F-bombs since the early 70's.
'Nucks Misconduct Sr. VP of Inappropriateness and Questionable Conduct, second director of immaturity.
3-1 Canucks, Burrow's left buttock with the deflection-winner.
"We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats. They invade our space, and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds, and we fall back. Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far, no further! And I will make them pay for what they've done!" - Captain Jean-Luc Picard
2-0 Nucks
Kesler FTW
SCH's Most optimistic poster and head of Kool-Aid distribution
NM's Most thoughtful Hawks fan and closet Canucks fan
4-2 Daniel
"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
OK, here goes...
4-1 Kings, Anzeeeeeee Kooooopitaaaaaaaaaaar
If the pattern holds
we are due for a win since we lost the last game.
But seriously, I expect good things from this road trip.
4-3 Nucks
Keslord FTW
Big Daddy Volpatti, aka Voltron, High Voltage, AVP, etc. NOT peppermint. F*ck.
Guns don't kill people...uh uh. I kill people...with guns.
"All your faceoffs are belong to us." - Semi_Colon
Shane’s quote only makes me remember why his teammates like him so much. What he said wasn’t wrong. We’re playing like we’re confident and cocky, and we probably do have that reputation with teams coming into our building. We can change that if we feel like it.
Nucks Misconduct's Prophet of the KesLORD and Senior Meme Correspondent
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinhathaway/
3=1 Canucks.
Kesler
Nuck’s Misconduct Reverend/ Church of the kesLORD, The firm of Smug & Preening is looking for a few good men ( and women! ). "When you watch that, you don’t want to be the guy who messes up. You make sure you pull your weight around here." Malhotra on the Wonder Twins 2/22/11
4-2 Canucks Kesler
"Ironic isn't it, that the very strings I played then are made from the very gut of the animal this song is about" - David McGahan
3-1 Canucks
Malhotra!
two sips from the cup of human kindness and I'm shitfaced, just laid to waste.
by Smoboy41 on Mar 5, 2011 8:09 AM PST via mobile reply actions
and while I'm here
What is the deal with Americans and daytime hockey? I don’t get it.
two sips from the cup of human kindness and I'm shitfaced, just laid to waste.
by Smoboy41 on Mar 5, 2011 8:11 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I loves me some daytime hockey. USA! USA!
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Mar 5, 2011 10:24 AM PST up reply actions
so that it doesn’t interfere with their evening basketball or baseball.
Nucks Misconduct co-writer, also on Twitter.
Joke/sarcasm detector broken 99% of the time.
thanks, Rudy!
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 5, 2011 11:49 AM PST up reply actions
3-1 Kings
Williams.
Prove me wrong boys
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
so much negativity
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Mar 5, 2011 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
Got me a point though!
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
For being a traitor.
"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
Deperate Opponents
This business about the Canucks facing a desperate team trying to make the playoffs every time out is starting to wear a trifle thin. What kind of team are they expecting to meet in the playoffs? If they can’t beat them now what makes us think that they will be able to beat them then? Good teams win and 50/50 isn’t quite winning. I would accept the argument that we have done well and are coasting a bit before the playoffs with far more equanimity if this franchise had a long tradition of winning. But it doesn’t and, until it does, Canucks fan’s sphincters will be tightening a little more with every unimpressive outing.
Good teams don't win them all
Even a 55 win season has 29 losses. Sometimes you will have stretches of bad play.
While I don’t like the “desperate team” excuse either, I would think that the Canucks would start to play desperate in the playoffs. They just don’t need to right now. They know that there’s nothing to be proven by doing well in the regular season – it’s the playoffs that matter
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
I’m not using desperate teams as an excuse. It just is what it is. What does that have to do with my sphincter?
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 5, 2011 11:52 AM PST up reply actions
I do not want to comment or know
What may or may not be going on with your sphincter!
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
NM's Chief Lady Pleaser. Just ask eightyseven.
says the colon
SCH's Most optimistic poster and head of Kool-Aid distribution
NM's Most thoughtful Hawks fan and closet Canucks fan
Apologies if I offended your sphincter. I was merely suggesting that if one has watched the Canucks for forty years it is difficult to endure periods of uninspired play without feeling the odd twinge of discomfort caused by flashbacks to days gone by. I think that it probably takes years of consistent success to build up a confidence that the team will know the right way to play and execute it when the going gets tough. There hasn’t been a lot of that in Canucks history but I will acknowledge that over the past years (say Pat Quinn onwards) the organization is moving in that direction. Long live the Aquilinis!
3-1 Canucks/Danny with gwg
"Why are we so quick to blame? What is the attraction in that?" - Carmela Soprano
win!
Nucks Misconduct Contributor
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
by Sean Zandberg on Mar 6, 2011 11:19 AM PST up reply actions
Canucks 3-2
Raymond = gwg
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.'
This Is An Early Game
Yikes almost forgot!
high scoring game today
3—4 Canucks
Keslord finally gets it DONE
Cheers for the Pens! Cheers for the Canucks!
Crosby for Hart.......Letang for Norris.........Keslord for Selke
I'm just addicted to hockey and wouldn't have it any other way.
Follow me on Twitter as PensFanInDenver
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