Chip McCleary: 2/17, Blues at Canucks - GDT Game 15 of 48 - or, "Blues and Canucks fans still don't like each other."

Nice preview.



The correct lines are:

D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Burrows
Higgins– Kesler – Kassian
Raymond – Schroeder – Hansen
Volpatti – Lapierre – Wiese


You just have Schroeder's and Kesler's wingers mixed up.

Thanks; lines changed accordingly. I saw that was the pairings Friday night, and figured Higgins and Kassian were the 3rd line and Kesler was there just to get him eased in; that's the only reason I didn't have him paired with with the two. However, I'd probably have still shown that as the 3rd line pairing.

Will be interesting to see how long before there's a questionable call (made or not made) that sends one team's fan base into a fit. I've got the over/under at 5 1/2 minutes right now, but that may be incredibly optimistic given past history.

Thanks; lines changed accordingly. I saw that was the pairings Friday night, and figured Higgins and Kassian were the 3rd line and Kesler was there just to get him eased in; that's the only reason I didn't have him paired with with the two. However, I'd probably have still shown that as the 3rd line pairing.

Will be interesting to see how long before there's a questionable call (made or not made) that sends one team's fan base into a fit. I've got the over/under at 5 1/2 minutes right now, but that may be incredibly optimistic given past history.
- Chip McCleary

I think the coaching staff really likes how the speedy line with Schroeder and Raymond have played together so far.

I'm also curious to see how the refs will call this game tonight, a special teams battle favours the Blues and if it's a loosely called game then it will probably be a tight one goal game. I really like the Blues overall depth, both of these teams are pretty deep so this should be a good game.

Completely legitimate "too many men" call there, and Vancouver converts on the PP with Kesler sniping one in. Nothing wrong with the Blues PK there, just good execution by the PP.

Canucks 1, Blues 0.

Someone needs to put a shock collar on David Backes, and zap him every time he hits someone from behind - because he's doing that WAY too often right now.

GOAL! Big-time gaffe by Kesler, who turns the puck over just outside the blue line; Perron picks it up, makes a nice touch-pass to Backes who fires a shot on net; the rebounds bounces out into the slot, and Oshie whacks it home.

Blues 1, Canucks 1

GOAL! Big-time gaffe by Kesler, who turns the puck over just outside the blue line; Perron picks it up, makes a nice touch-pass to Backes who fires a shot on net; the rebounds bounces out into the slot, and Oshie whacks it home.

Blues 1, Canucks 1
- Chip McCleary

Oshie always seems to score against the Canucks, same with Steen who will probably score sooner or later in this game.

Damn, the Sedins look good tonight - and yet again, I wonder what it is that people see in Allen that suggests he's going to be even a backup in the NHL. Sure, Jackman and Schwartz combined to fail to clear the puck, but holy cow did Allen look terrible positionally in that sequence.

Canucks 2, Blues 1

GOAL! McDonald buries it into an empty net after Tarasenko rings one off the post; Luongo is unable to get back up to slide over to cover.

Blues 2, Canucks 2

Nice check on Luongo by Backes.


Backes seems to really be on the refs good side.

Nice preview.



The correct lines are:

D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Burrows
Higgins– Kesler – Kassian
Raymond – Schroeder – Hansen
Volpatti – Lapierre – Wiese


You just have Schroeder's and Kesler's wingers mixed up.
- Nucker101

I like the Schroeder kid a lot. I wanted the Blues to draft him. He has tremendous vision. I hope it has kept up at this level. He looked good in a highlight I saw the other day.

Did the Sedins and Luongo teach the team to flop around like European soccer players? Even little McDOnald who too a hit to the chops kept battling and sadly there was no call.

Nice check on Luongo by Backes.


Backes seems to really be on the refs good side.
- Nucker101

Yeah getting pushed into the goalie's a penalty. Yeah like when he got the major for no reason.

I like the Schroeder kid a lot. I wanted the Blues to draft him. He has tremendous vision. I hope it has kept up at this level. He looked good in a highlight I saw the other day.

Did the Sedins and Luongo teach the team to flop around like European soccer players? Even little McDOnald who too a hit to the chops kept battling and sadly there was no call.
- BluemanGuruu

Yeah Schroeder has been solid, his two way game has been surprising and he's pretty strong on his skates for a kid his size. The refs have been pretty bad both ways, Oshie got away with holding on the PP after that call on Hamhuis. I haven't seen much flopping at all, not sure where you're getting that from. The Blues are obviously a bigger, stronger team so of course the Canucks will be physically outmatched on some shifts.

Yeah getting pushed into the goalie's a penalty. Yeah like when he got the major for no reason.
- BluemanGuruu

Meh, he sure didn't make any attempt to avoid the collision and for a big guy he got pushed pretty damn far.

Damn, the Sedins look good tonight - and yet again, I wonder what it is that people see in Allen that suggests he's going to be even a backup in the NHL. Sure, Jackman and Schwartz combined to fail to clear the puck, but holy cow did Allen look terrible positionally in that sequence.

Canucks 2, Blues 1
- Chip McCleary

Did you see that pass???? He may have cheated just a bit but wow severe over statement. He has very quick reflexes. He could be really good one day if he gets a shot at the right time. He seems to read the plays well. He's not too far away. He's better than Elliott.

But all night that back door. The Canucks are always hunting for the back door and they like using their back hand to do so. To look up before you get the puck and read the play and then not look and hit that pass right there wow.

Meh, he sure didn't make any attempt to avoid the collision and for a big guy he got pushed pretty damn far.
- Nucker101

I don't know about you but I have a rewind button and I can watch in slow mo man. I will be honest and I try to be objective because I cannot stand hockey refs. Some of the dumbest imbeciles to breath on the planet. Anyway, yeah he did try to avoid it. And we both know Lou can be a bit over dramatic as far as a strong wind causing him to flop around like a fish out of water.

At first blush I was thinking uh oh. Then I was thinking nah he would have went into to hard not to be pushed. And sure enough he was and did roll a bit to his right.

The mystery i how an obvious interference call becomes a tripping call from a hip check.

I don't know about you but I have a rewind button and I can watch in slow mo man. I will be honest and I try to be objective because I cannot stand hockey refs. Some of the dumbest imbeciles to breath on the planet. Anyway, yeah he did try to avoid it. And we both know Lou can be a bit over dramatic as far as a strong wind causing him to flop around like a fish out of water.

At first blush I was thinking uh oh. Then I was thinking nah he would have went into to hard not to be pushed. And sure enough he was and did roll a bit to his right.

The mystery i how an obvious interference call becomes a tripping call from a hip check.
- BluemanGuruu

Fair enough, from the replay angle I saw on the Sportsnet feed it sure seemed like he got pushed pretty easily. Yeah, that Hamhuis "tripping" call didn't make sense but it was a penalty so at least they got that right.

Yeah Schroeder has been solid, his two way game has been surprising and he's pretty strong on his skates for a kid his size. The refs have been pretty bad both ways, Oshie got away with holding on the PP after that call on Hamhuis. I haven't seen much flopping at all, not sure where you're getting that from. The Blues are obviously a bigger, stronger team so of course the Canucks will be physically outmatched on some shifts.
- Nucker101

I like to catch some Canucks games during the season when I get a chance(you are two hours behind me), because I love watching the Sedins pass. And the team is solid and plays the right way except they have a tendency to dive a bit. Because how deadly they can be on the power play I suppose. Though all of sudden in the finals against Boston interference and hooking weren't called. Thus you were robbed of a Cup.

Chip McCleary: 2/17, Blues at Canucks - GDT
Game 15 of 48 - or, "Blues and Canucks fans still don't like each other."
- Chip McCleary

"Kekalainen is known more for being an excellent player evaluator from his previous NHL stops in Ottawa and St. Louis, where he was largely responsible for the Blues' drafting David Backes, David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Patrick Berglund and Alex Pietrangelo as well as trading for Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight and Scott Mellanby."

he also helped the sens draft Spezza, Hossa and Havlat

there's your list

pretty impressive list

Yeah that Allen guy just doesn't seem to have it. Bailed them out there a few times. All started with a Jackman meatball.

"Kekalainen is known more for being an excellent player evaluator from his previous NHL stops in Ottawa and St. Louis, where he was largely responsible for the Blues' drafting David Backes, David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Patrick Berglund and Alex Pietrangelo as well as trading for Keith Tkachuk, Doug Weight and Scott Mellanby."

he also helped the sens draft Spezza, Hossa and Havlat

there's your list

pretty impressive list
- Habitants98

I've got to look up his second round drafting in Ottawa. In St. Louis it wasn't that great.

I like to catch some Canucks games during the season when I get a chance(you are two hours behind me), because I love watching the Sedins pass. And the team is solid and plays the right way except they have a tendency to dive a bit. Because how deadly they can be on the power play I suppose. Though all of sudden in the finals against Boston interference and hooking weren't called. Thus you were robbed of a Cup.
- BluemanGuruu

I agree that the diving at times is embarrassing, it all started with the first Hawks series when the Hawks were getting away with tons of interference and slashing so I guess the team decided that they needed to get the refs attention to get calls. That being said, last year the team really started to clean up their act(other than Kesler) and it's even better so far this year, heck even Kesler hasn't done it through his first 2 games.

SSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBBBBBBBBBBIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE!
What a goal!

I agree that the diving at times is embarrassing, it all started with the first Hawks series when the Hawks were getting away with tons of interference and slashing so I guess the team decided that they needed to get the refs attention to get calls. That being said, last year the team really started to clean up their act(other than Kesler) and it's even better so far this year, heck even Kesler hasn't done it through his first 2 games.
- Nucker101

It's a shame the refs can't just call a better game. The make up stuff is crap especially when they miss the obvious stuff.