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As if losing to a half-staffed Ducks team the game before wasn’t enough, there was no reason for Roberto Luongo to have to suffer the embarrassment of being strung up on the cross last night.

Luongo has shown that he “can” bounce back and win games after crapping the bed, but you have a backup goalie for a reason Alain… USE HIM!

Giving half the team the night off and then leaving Luongo in while he gets his face rubbed in crap by a rival should never happen.

Last night, any small chance of Luongo coming back next season died and it wouldn’t at all surprise me if there was a Patrick Roy-like meltdown behind closed doors. I know if I was him, I would have had a few words for the coach after being hung out to dry.

I know it was only a few minutes, but Joe Cannata should have been sent in after the fifth goal.

It’s as simple as that for me. You don’t leave one of the greatest players in franchise history hung out to dry like AV did last night. If the last image of Roberto that Canucks fans are left with is that piss-poor effort last night; that is complete crap my friends.

But oh well, no need to cry over spilled milk. As Zack Kassian said, this team is pissed off and that bodes well for the playoffs.

Bring on the Sharks.

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Corrado

He was one of the only players on the Vancouver that showed any kind of a pulse last night. The guy has definitely shown that he should be in Vancouver’s top six for the playoffs. He has been Vancouver best D over the past three games and I love the nasty little edge he plays with. He played another 20+ minutes and had our hits. All in all, the kid looks like a 10-year vet.


Playing the right way

A lot of people have commented recently about some of the player’s and coach’s comments about playing the right way. But what exactly is playing the “right” way? Since Vancouver has always patterned their system and franchise after the Red Wings, my guess is the right way is how the Red Wings used to play during their dominant years.

When you watched the Red Wings during those dominant years, it was often said that you could never tell what the score was by how they played. Whether the Red Wings were up five or down five, the system and work ethic was always the same.

I recently looked at the Fenwick possession numbers for Vancouver and it would appear that they have not been playing the right way when they are up. Currently these are their Fenwick possession stats…

Tied game- 51.98
Up one goal- 45.60
Up two goal- 43.80
Down one goal- 59.42
Down two goal- 61.71
Season total- 51.80

If Vancouver wants to have any chance in the playoffs, they need to play much better when they are up. These numbers also tell you exactly why we have seen this Canucks team blow so many leads in the third period.

Vancouver needs to stop sitting back when they have the lead and start putting their foot on the gas. The Blackhawks by contrast are at 55.91 when up by one and 55.00 when up by two; and people wonder why they are the best team in the NHL.

The Canucks playoff success will be decided by how they play with the lead. It’s really that simple. If they keep their foot on the gas for 60 minutes, they’re going to the finals. If they take their foot off the gas, they’ll be out in the first round.



Well that's a wrap.

Ian


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