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Another game, and another lackadaisical effort by the Canucks as they were downed 4-2 by the Coyotes. The game came pretty much as expected, the Canucks usual regular season compete level Vs the trap of the Coyotes.
The game wasn't much to talk about other than Dale Weise getting beat up again, so let's just fast forward to the highlights in this one: the interviews after.
AV- baffled as usual with how to beat a team when they clog up the neutral zone. Here's what generally works for most teams when a team forces you to dump it in. You take your big physical players and you hammer them over and over again on the forecheck. That will generally cause turnover and lead to goals.
Here is the ice-time for Vancouver's forwards
Booth- 12:56
Kesler- 19:07
Raymond- 15:22
D. Sedin- 20:06
H. Sedin- 21:35
Burrows- 21:44
Kassian- 6:52
Schroeder- 13:13
Weise- 6:27
Lapierre- 8:46
Higgins- 16:49
Hansen- 15:57
You wanna know why Vancouver couldn't beat the trap? Because the guys on this team who are best suited to play against a trap team were also the four guys (Weise, Booth, Kassian and Lappy) who were on the bench the most.
Now I'm not saying you have to scale back on your skill and finesse guys completely, but you have to get you physical players out more against a trap team in order to cause turnover. Halfway through the game, Vancouver should have increased Kassian, Booth, Lappy and Weise's ice-time and went to a more dump and chase type system instead of continually sending your skill guys out to run into a wall.
Kassian is likely the best guy to play against this style of team. he didn't even play seven minutes ad you're wonder why you lost. Give him 15 minutes and I bet it's a different game.
But hey, it's only one game, maybe after being beaten by the trap for the 1600th time AV learned something.
Kesler- Mumble, mumble, mumble…we played well… mumble, mumble, mumble… that's hockey, you can't always win.
I like Kesler a lot and I think he is pretty funny guy most of the time, but he has got to be the worst post-game interview after a loss. Honestly, I wouldn't talk to him after a loss because I's pretty pointless.
Schneider- "I'm getting a little tired of being an average goalie… I'm sick of giving up 3 a night."
Love the fire. They are 2-2-2 in their last six, but it was nice to finally see someone on the team get mad about playing like a half ass team. Losing should not be okay, EVER. It seems like there are far too many players in that locker room are okay with loosing as long as you get into the playoffs.
That needs to change and it sounds like Cory is hoping to change that soon. If I'm running things, Schneider gets the next five starts to get on a roll and we'll take it from there.
Troy Brouwer
I just wanted to take a second to address Troy Brouwer and his comments. Who the hell does Brouwer think he is anyways? You're a third-line player at best bud, and in the past few months you have made dumb remarks about two players that have done a hell of a lot more with their careers then you likely ever will.
News flash Troy, you were playoff team with Semin and you're not a playoff team without him. Chances are that even if he was half-assing it, he was still big part of your team so STFU.
Maybe the real reason the Caps are bad this year is because of Mr. Brouwer being more outspoken in the locker room this year and it's him that is upsetting the team chemistry?
Ice Girls- Florida Panthers
No wonder they sell out games.
That's a wrap
Ian
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