Except to my playoff pool...
- geta02it

He meant you. You're the joke.
- AlexF

now now, we want your participation to be ongoing

I agree with most that the hit was clean but it was borderline charging. It can go either way with the refs typically. Lets be clear tho...someone should make Brown understand that he's getting knuckles for a hit like that....or he steps it up next chance he gets...

Of the four times a Sedin has been run hard this year, this was the 1st that I would call legal. All four times Bieksa has been on the ice...two hits from behind with a Sedin leaning forward, the Keith hit on Danny and this one by Brown...this was the first time he even did anything more than ask the player if he felt like fighting....which the answer was always no.

Bieksa has a NTC...is going nowhere. I was sick when he became our highest paid dman...a player who can only be effective with Hamhuis....and only sometimes.

This is the tough player we choose to gut our power play over in the summer.
- boonerbuck

The PP would be fine if the coaches would remove their heads from their asses... For the life of me I can't understand why we don't have:

PP1:
- Henrik on the half wall (check)
- Daniel down low (when he returns... until then - Higgins, for puck possession/cycling/give & go with Hank)
- Burrows in front of the net (best net presence on the team... fights for his ice and great hand eye coordination for tips)
- Tanev at the Right point (our best passer on D, working with Hank on that side)
- Salo at the top of the left circle (getting fed one-timers from his strong side ala Stamkos/Lemieux by Hank or Tanev)

PP2:
- Kesler along the left half wall
- Gragnani playing the Tanev role on the opposite side
- Edler playing the Salo role on the opposite side
- Ebbett/Booth in front to tip & screen? (Wow are we thin since trading Hodgson)
- Kassian or even Schroeder zipping around down low for puck possession/retrieval & cycling... Driving to the net to pot rebounds when there's a shot

Instead we set up shots from another area code & leave our best passing d-men on the bench or in the press box. If our 4th liners are only going to get 3 shifts a game, what's the harm in dressing 3 full lines and a few specialists like Gragnani (PP2), Schroeder (PP2), Malhotra (PK/faceoffs) instead?

We're getting killed by Dustin Brown and Jon Quick, so it can't just be the country.
- micah555

Fair enough. I should have said "our Americans".

How is anyone surprised by any of what's transpired? The Queens are a good team and a bad matchup for the Canucks.

How is anyone surprised by any of what's transpired? The Queens are a good team and a bad matchup for the Canucks.
- Meganuck

We thought we were good. Certainly enough better not to be on the verge of getting swept by them worse.

How is anyone surprised by any of what's transpired? The Queens are a good team and a bad matchup for the Canucks.
- Meganuck

He surfaces...

How is anyone surprised by any of what's transpired? The Queens are a good team and a bad matchup for the Canucks.
- Meganuck

As soon as the Kings lost to San Jose in OT, I knew right away that they were a bad match-up for us. I was so hoping we would match up against the Sharks.

anybody have a link to AV's comments at the presser regarding "the hit" that ian referred to in his write up.

As soon as the Kings lost to San Jose in OT, I knew right away that they were a bad match-up for us. I was so hoping we would match up against the Sharks.
- Chest Rockwell

Pretty sure that was the overwhelming consensus pick for most desireable match-up. We seem to always beat the Sharks, who seem to like beating the Kings, etc. Even though it usually comes down to favorable match-ups, you still have to beat everyone in front of you.

Pretty sure that was the overwhelming consensus pick for most desireable match-up. We seem to always beat the Sharks, who seem to like beating the Kings, etc. Even though it usually comes down to favorable match-ups, you still have to beat everyone in front of you.
- AlexF

Oh, I'm well aware of that fact. It's just that I was under the impression that the Canucks wouldn't attempt to mail it in against the Kings like they were sending a letter to Santa.

Oh, I'm well aware of that fact. It's just that I was under the impression that the Canucks wouldn't attempt to mail it in against the Kings like they were sending a letter to Santa.
- Chest Rockwell

I hear what you’re saying re Game 1 but last night I saw plenty of good effort (Canucks were the better team overall) but little playmaking creativity to divert away from perimeter shooting all night. Schneider clearly gives us the better chance to win but that card may have been used too late. With offense as ineffective as what we have we’re pretty much asking for shutouts from here on out to stand any chance.

Baby steps though. First focus on pride: win to avoid the sweep. Then if we win a couple, focus on the weakness we’ve exploited to get us those wins and, if we get to Game 7, I’d like our chances with that momentum behind us. Or we could simply lose the next game and start talking about draft picks for the next 3 months.

Hey guys! Soooooo what's new?

anybody have a link to AV's comments at the presser regarding "the hit" that ian referred to in his write up.
- mvp0207

He said it was a clean hit.

Daniel

I hear what you’re saying re Game 1 but last night I saw plenty of good effort (Canucks were the better team overall) but little playmaking creativity to divert away from perimeter shooting all night. Schneider clearly gives us the better chance to win but that card may have been used too late. With offense as ineffective as what we have we’re pretty much asking for shutouts from here on out to stand any chance.

Baby steps though. First focus on pride: win to avoid the sweep. Then if we win a couple, focus on the weakness we’ve exploited to get us those wins and, if we get to Game 7, I’d like our chances with that momentum behind us. Or we could simply lose the next game and start talking about draft picks for the next 3 months.

- AlexF

I'd be happy if we went down swinging, ever happier if we could pull off what Chicago didn't last year.

I just saw on NHL.com that Daniel has been cleared to practice and is flying to LA. You guys could use a pick me up.

I read through five (non consecutive) pages of comments and was surprised at how many of you are already breaking up the team.

Don't lose track of what happened last year in the first round. You can only win one game, one period at a time. As long as there is time on the clock, play your best and see what happens.

The Canucks are too talented to fold like a roadmap. Don't lose hope in them yet.

P.S. Although I do agree AV needs to go for that team to realize it's potential.

Daniel
- Boinker

There's not a chance he's ready, that's a desperation move to motivate the team. I wont be shocked if he doesn't even play, just is there to try to inspire them.. If he does play, he better hope he doesn't take a hard hit otherwise he could end up like Crosby and miss a year.

I just saw on NHL.com that Daniel has been cleared to practice and is flying to LA. You guys could use a pick me up.

I read through five (non consecutive) pages of comments and was surprised at how many of you are already breaking up the team.

Don't lose track of what happened last year in the first round. You can only win one game, one period at a time. As long as there is time on the clock, play your best and see what happens.

The Canucks are too talented to fold like a roadmap. Don't lose hope in them yet.

P.S. Although I do agree AV needs to go for that team to realize it's potential.
- NewToHockey

I like your thinking! Baby steps.

I'd be happy if we went down swinging, ever happier if we could pull off what Chicago didn't last year.
- Chest Rockwell

Amen brother.

I just saw on NHL.com that Daniel has been cleared to practice and is flying to LA. You guys could use a pick me up.

I read through five (non consecutive) pages of comments and was surprised at how many of you are already breaking up the team.

Don't lose track of what happened last year in the first round. You can only win one game, one period at a time. As long as there is time on the clock, play your best and see what happens.

The Canucks are too talented to fold like a roadmap. Don't lose hope in them yet.

P.S. Although I do agree AV needs to go for that team to realize it's potential.
- NewToHockey

Very well said. Luckily Mike Gillis is not as reactionary as some of our fans. There may be a few personnel changes but this team certainly won't be flipped over.

*saves this blog for ammunition*

*saves this blog for ammunition*


- _Zippy_

Just make sure you don't break wind while the fuse is lit.

Canucks are gonna come back in this series easily.
Why isn't the Caps/B's game on TV anywhere?!

Very well said. Luckily Mike Gillis is not as reactionary as some of our fans. There may be a few personnel changes but this team certainly won't be flipped over.
- AlexF

I though he was reactionary this year actually. When this team struggled early like it always does,,,Gillis rushed into the Booth trade. If he had of waited, the scoring most likely would have come around and then gave him much longer to look at better suited deals for this team. His return was good no doubt,,,but not what this team needed for this years playoffs.

Then came the Hodgson deal. What was with that? A conversation with AV about ice time after he was banished to the 4rth line for reasosns no one could figure out and...Poof...gone for a 4rth liner....no shopping around....our best 1st round pick since Bure... gone. No help for the playoffs again...

...but then there's times when he should be reactionary...like with Raymond. How they can say we need to get tougher by trading Cody and keeping the much higher paid Raymond who does nothing in the playoffs and is much softer on his feet.