Game 58: Maple Leafs At Canucks Preview: It's Like That And That's The Way It Is
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 17, 2012 9:29 PM PST
in Game Preview
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Print| LEAFS |
CANUCKS | ||||
 |
AT |  |
|||
| Time | Sat. 4:00 PM PST |
TV | CBC |
| Season Series | 1-0 Canucks |
Last Meeting |
5-3 Canucks Dec.17/11 |
| The Enemy | Pension Plan Puppets | Scoring Leaders | H. Sedin: 12-46-58 Kessel: 30-32-62 |
| Leafs |
Category | Canucks |
| 29-23-6 | Season Record | 36-15-6 |
| 8th |
Conference Position | 2nd |
| Won 1 |
Streak | Won 2 |
| 13-14-2 |
< Road Record / Home Record > |
17-6-4 |
| 5-4-1 |
Last 10 | 8-0-2 |
| +2 |
Goals For / Against +/- | +43 |
| 2.98 (6) |
Goals Per Game Average |
3.10 (3) |
| 2.95 (25) |
Goals Against Per Game Average |
2.35 (6) |
| 0.99 (14) |
5 On 5 GF/GA | 1.19 (6) |
| 19.3 (7) |
Power Play % |
22.1 (1) |
| 76.9 (29) |
Penalty Kill % |
86.3 (6) |
| 50.7 (10) |
Faceoffs % | 51.9 (5) + |
| 1429 (6) |
Hits |
1267 (17) |
| 932 (5) |
Blocked Shots |
680 (28) |
| 680 (1) |
Giveaways |
397 (20) |
| 420 (11) |
Takeaways |
364 (20) |
| 9.6 (6) |
PIM's Per Game Average |
14.3 (28) |
| NHL.com |
The Leafs have not made the playoffs since 2004. They have not beaten the Canucks since 2003 (9 losses in a row). Elliott Pap wrote a piece about Leafs nation on Friday, bringing up the silly point that the Leafs have no Ontarian - born players on their team while the Canucks have Hodgson, Malhotra and Bieksa.
It's easy to point at the Leafs and laugh over the last several years. The same could be said about the Canucks. Whether you make the playoff dance or not it doesn't matter if you don't win the Stanley Cup. Who really cares if you finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th or 28th best if you don't bring home the big prize?
Mike Gillis seemingly complained about hearing that
Vancouver will never be known as the Center Of The Hockey Universe because the Leafs own that perch. That's probably because it's the truth. Many fans of any team that isn't the Toronto Maple Leafs gripes about the whole COTU thang. Well, get over it. It is what it is. When you have enough history that runs that deep, that long, you earn that right and it goes with the territory. Pre-1970 Canada had the Habs and the Leafs as NHL teams. That was it. Imagine all the generations of Leafs fans that were already in place all across the country by then. I have the fortunate experience of being a fan of both the Canucks and Leafs. So the Toronto Sports Network and COTU thing is easy for me not to care about. Oh, and I can imagine someone will bring up the 4:00 PM start thingy too. COTU!!!!
I like Leaf fans, not only because I am a Leaf fan myself (it will never go away), but also because I love the sound of them at Leaf home games. Even if the team is sucking they are loud and passionate as hell. It's a beautiful thing. The live experience of a Leafs or a Habs game live is unreal. Constant noise. Constant passion. You don't hear that in Vancouver. That's the way it is.
Anyway...
Another big game for both teams. The Canucks need to keep pace with the Red Wings, who just won their 22nd straight home game and have a 4 point lead over the Canucks for top spot in the West. The Leafs are clinging to 8th spot in the East by only one point ahead of the Capitals, who play at the same time on Saturday.
Let's see if the Sedins can get back on the scoreboard again. They are pointless in 3 games now. Hank was pointless in 4 straight in late January, and was pointless in 3 straight only once last season. This is the worst regular season "drought" for Dank since his own 3 game drought in March of last year. It's just a matter of time....
PROJECTED ROSTERS
David Booth - KesLORD -Mason Raymond
Jannik Hansen - Maxim Lapierre -Chris Higgins
Manny Malhotra -Cody Hodgson - Byron Bitz
Alex Edler - Sami Salo
Lupul - Bozak - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - MacArthur
Connolly - Lombardi - Armstrong
Boyce - Steckel - Brown
Aulie - Phaneuf
Liles - Franson
Gardiner - Schenn
INJURIES
-For both teams via TSN. Leafs are without Carl Gunnarsson. Canucks are without Keith Ballard, who is now projected to be out until after the trade deadline. Dale Weise is questionable for the game vs the Leafs.
TRENDS
- Maple Leafs are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Maple Leafs are 3-8 in their last 11 road games.
- Maple Leafs are 2-6 in their last 8 Saturday games.
- Maple Leafs are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Maple Leafs are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Maple Leafs are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
- Canucks are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. Northeast.
- Canucks are 10-2 in their last 12 Saturday games.
- Canucks are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Canucks are 8-3 in their last 11 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
- Much more at Covers.com.
VIDEO
The last meeting:
No matter what, Canucks fans can always rub this in the Leaf fans' faces:
Mats Sundin ceremony from last Saturday:
Mats Sundin murders Brad May:
Mats Sundin scores a 6 point night against Vancouver's Farm Team:
Mats Sundin's first goal as a Canuck:
Mats Sundin scores against the Hawks in the playoffs:
Mats Sundin buries the Leafs in the shootout:
Mats Sundin!
Mats Sundin!
The title of this preview post is brought to you once again by Run DMC:
Go Canucks Go!
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3-2 Leafs
Yes I am a Numbskull. But the Nucks will halt the Motown home win streak at 23.
First and last game predictions.
"Either you give it right back or the next thing you know everyone and his brother will be trying you on for size." - Doug Harvey
by reggiedunlop on Feb 17, 2012 10:24 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
you don’t think the Sharks can do it on Sunday huh?
Contributor at Nucks Misconduct
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 17, 2012 10:42 PM PST up reply actions
after losing to Tampa and Carolina...
…eh, probably, but who knows.
on an unrelated note, does anyone see on the Yahoo! Sports recap this idiot user ‘Alex S’? guaranteeing the Sharks will win the West, how the Canucks suck, how Crosby and the Penguins will win the cup next year…kid has waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time on his hands
"Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men." - Boondock Saints
Tall order for the Sharkies, imo. Fifth road game in eight days, noontime EST start, Niemi called out and benched against Carolina. Todd McLellan is an unhappy camper at the moment.
"Either you give it right back or the next thing you know everyone and his brother will be trying you on for size." - Doug Harvey
by reggiedunlop on Feb 18, 2012 8:58 AM PST up reply actions
4-1 Canucks
Hodgson with the GWG
Totally agree with reggie…Sharks blow it and Van goes in and ends it.
Nuck’s Misconduct Bishop, 1st United Church of Luongod. "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." Gandhi. I think he was a Canucks fan...
@Vancitydan Writer at Nucks Misconduct
8-3 Leafs
Kessel GWG + 5 more
We're getting sick of him, he's just shouting congress tart
by PKSube on Feb 17, 2012 11:36 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
Are you giving up on the SPW competition already?
Contributor at Nucks Misconduct
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 17, 2012 11:42 PM PST up reply actions
Loud and Passionate as Hell?
Have you ever been to the ACC? It might be one of the quietest buildings in the league. I go to about 3 Leaf games a year and the only time that building gets loud is when the Go Leafs Go chant starts and even then its only about half the crowd. Truthfully Vancouver and Toronto are about the same for their arena experience.
well it doesn’t come across that way on tv. The Rogers Arena crowd is the same on TV as in live. The ACC is way louder on TV than the Rog.
Contributor at Nucks Misconduct
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 18, 2012 1:39 AM PST up reply actions
And I can tell ya that the Montreal games live are the shiz. Lots of buzz there
Contributor at Nucks Misconduct
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 18, 2012 1:40 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah, I think those bastards are silly, but there’s zero denying how much they enjoy being at the rink.
by Passive Voice on Feb 18, 2012 10:32 AM PST up reply actions
The 4pm start is an outrage! East coast bias! blah blah blah ; )
4-3 Canucks, Kesler GWG
They once made a Kevin Bieksa toilet paper, but it wouldn't take shit from anybody.
"To make our way, we must have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity. We must gear ourselves to work hard all the way. We can never let up." -Ralph Bunche
4-2 canucks dank gwg
you can't wear your heart on your sleeve, if you're just gonna leave...
by kiyotok on Feb 18, 2012 1:07 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Since I have been predicting shutouts and only one goal has been allowed
one ‘snack’ goal and one pretty legit goal, both over halfway into the game, I’ll keep that streak going
3-0 Canucks, AMFB
"Now, we must all fear evil men. But there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men." - Boondock Saints
4-3 Canucks, Cody Hodgson.
Hodgson on Hansen--
"I've never played with a guy who creates so many offensive turnovers.
I really enjoy playing with him."
4-3 Canucks
Daniel with the winner (and a hattie!)
Contributor to Nucks Misconduct
Editor of Hockey in Society
5-1 Canucks
COHO!!!!
<3 Boobies!
notafullcolon CS: Well obviously I meant we were snorting blow off hookers at the time of the goal
I acknowledge
no game with such a ridiculous start time. In PST, no less. Good day to you.
oh alright. 6 -4 Canucks, Hank wins it.
Warm winds blowing, heating blue sky, and a road that goes forever...
by Smoboy41 on Feb 18, 2012 11:09 AM PST via mobile reply actions
5-2 Van
GWG Manny…and then he tells Tony G to shove it.
Lead writer of nothing, commenter on everything.
4-1 Canucks
Captain Hanky GWG.
"I'll play on one leg, I don't care." - Ryan Kesler
@1stLineCenter
Nucks Misconduct's official black guy and first line center
by Chuckles Canuckles on Feb 18, 2012 12:53 PM PST reply actions
NM Meet-up in Toronto
There will be 20-30 Canucks fans taking over a bar in downtown Toronto for this game. I am incredibly pumped!!! I will take pictures and post a recap in the coming days.
Contributor to Nucks Misconduct
Editor of Hockey in Society
very cool
Contributor at Nucks Misconduct
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 18, 2012 2:19 PM PST up reply actions
5-3 Nucks
Dank gwg
"Because some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn."
5-3 Canucks
Burrows
Live from the meett-up in Toronto
The sexiest Canucks Fan in Mississauga, Ontario. Or something like that.
by jabraham on Feb 18, 2012 3:12 PM PST via mobile reply actions
5-3 Canucks
Burrows
Live from the meett-up in Toronto
The sexiest Canucks Fan in Mississauga, Ontario. Or something like that.
by jabraham on Feb 18, 2012 3:14 PM PST via mobile reply actions
4-2 Nucks
Booth with GWG.
“The Toronto Maple Leafs — who appear to be Canada’s Team based on the sheer number of surviving seniors who remember when they were good.”
Thanks Vancouver Sun, I almost pee’d when I read that.
I guess when you have the highest ticket price in the league, its no wonder your #1 in revenue. What’s the definition of futility again?
5-1 canucks, higgins
under the wire, phew. Wearing the cursed jersey so if we lose I accept full responsibility.
"John Garrett food jokes are always good" - @notafullcolon
Dropping F-bombs since the early 70's.
'Nucks Misconduct Sr. VP of Inappropriateness and Questionable Conduct, second director of immaturity. @Twitchy67
4-3 Canucks
KesLORD GWG
Let's Go Pens! Let's Go Nucks!
People with zero backbone need not apply.
On twitter as OneTuffLadyDen
by HockeyFanInColorado on Feb 18, 2012 4:05 PM PST reply actions
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