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Vancouver Canucks Blogger •
I was going to write this blog yesterday and talk about being prepared for a team you humiliated and the ramifications of a 5 day break at home. I'm glad I didn't as what happened last night in Calgary really shook my reality. If the Flames were a team looking for revenge and such it certainly didn't appear that way after 20 minutes.
So if you get blown out do you get up for the re-match? If you owned the team the last game and they are coming into your barn will you be ready for the attack? Calgary should have been ready last night but faded after 20 minutes. Vancouver should have been ready in St. Louis but never showed up against a team that was clearly going to be ready for them. How do you call this match? How would you set the betting line?
It's one thing to come back from a 7 day road trip and play a game two days later after getting the reality of life away from the rink thrown back in your face- many teams have lost focus in this situation. It's another to come back and have a 5 day break with a charity event in the middle and then face the team you embarrassed on their home ice. With the ups and downs of the Canucks this season I don't know what to expect.
What we do know is that Daniel Sedin will not be back, Sunday most likely but not tonight. We also know that Raymond and Henrik are playing some of the best hockey of the entire roster to date right now and once again they will be relied upon. The impressive thing that seems to be happening with Vancouver now is when one player cools off like Samuelsson another picks it up such as Henrik or Raymond. Then it's nice when the the whole team comes together as it did last Saturday night.
If the Canucks are to move beyond .500 hockey the positives from last Saturday need to be reinforced and used as a starting point to string some wins together over some good opponents. The next five games are all against team with better or equal records so this home stand will be a good measuring stick for the club. I think it will either prove or dispel my theory that many of the Canucks fortunes are due to the play of the 3rd and 4th line's play.
It certainly hasn't hurt the team to have guys such as Hansen return but more importantly it appears there is some strength on the bottom 2 lines that has been sorely missing this season. The addition of Matt Petinger has helped along with the solid play of Tanner Glass. These three guys have made a big impact on how teams plays against the Canucks. With some speed and desire to check and hit the opposition does not get a free pass against our bottom six, something I feel was exploited with great success. This lineup is far from complete but I see no reason to change much in the bottom six soon with the lines looking as follows:
Hansen Rypien Bernier
Pettinger Johnson Glass.
The only move I can see coming is Wellwood to the press box upon the return of Daniel. I think Kyle is only in the line up because Hordichuk has become such a liability on the ice and has been outplayed by all on the bottom six. SOB is out too with Schneider coming in and I like that as well. SOB needs to see the game better and perhaps a bit of time the press box will help so he can play better.
The next 5 games are not going to be easy but it's past the middle of November and if this team is going to move onto winning ways we need to see some evidence now. Injuries are almost no longer an excuse and all players know the system-it's time to put it all on the ice. November has typically been a good month for the Canucks and we may be starting late this year but there is no reason they can't finish it strongly.
Enjoy the game!
So if you get blown out do you get up for the re-match? If you owned the team the last game and they are coming into your barn will you be ready for the attack? Calgary should have been ready last night but faded after 20 minutes. Vancouver should have been ready in St. Louis but never showed up against a team that was clearly going to be ready for them. How do you call this match? How would you set the betting line?
It's one thing to come back from a 7 day road trip and play a game two days later after getting the reality of life away from the rink thrown back in your face- many teams have lost focus in this situation. It's another to come back and have a 5 day break with a charity event in the middle and then face the team you embarrassed on their home ice. With the ups and downs of the Canucks this season I don't know what to expect.
What we do know is that Daniel Sedin will not be back, Sunday most likely but not tonight. We also know that Raymond and Henrik are playing some of the best hockey of the entire roster to date right now and once again they will be relied upon. The impressive thing that seems to be happening with Vancouver now is when one player cools off like Samuelsson another picks it up such as Henrik or Raymond. Then it's nice when the the whole team comes together as it did last Saturday night.
If the Canucks are to move beyond .500 hockey the positives from last Saturday need to be reinforced and used as a starting point to string some wins together over some good opponents. The next five games are all against team with better or equal records so this home stand will be a good measuring stick for the club. I think it will either prove or dispel my theory that many of the Canucks fortunes are due to the play of the 3rd and 4th line's play.
It certainly hasn't hurt the team to have guys such as Hansen return but more importantly it appears there is some strength on the bottom 2 lines that has been sorely missing this season. The addition of Matt Petinger has helped along with the solid play of Tanner Glass. These three guys have made a big impact on how teams plays against the Canucks. With some speed and desire to check and hit the opposition does not get a free pass against our bottom six, something I feel was exploited with great success. This lineup is far from complete but I see no reason to change much in the bottom six soon with the lines looking as follows:
Hansen Rypien Bernier
Pettinger Johnson Glass.
The only move I can see coming is Wellwood to the press box upon the return of Daniel. I think Kyle is only in the line up because Hordichuk has become such a liability on the ice and has been outplayed by all on the bottom six. SOB is out too with Schneider coming in and I like that as well. SOB needs to see the game better and perhaps a bit of time the press box will help so he can play better.
The next 5 games are not going to be easy but it's past the middle of November and if this team is going to move onto winning ways we need to see some evidence now. Injuries are almost no longer an excuse and all players know the system-it's time to put it all on the ice. November has typically been a good month for the Canucks and we may be starting late this year but there is no reason they can't finish it strongly.
Enjoy the game!
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