Post-Game Talk: Canucks 1, Blues 0 - PGT starts at post #593

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

I know the comparison isn't perfect, but the Toronto Raptors made a trade earlier this season, moving their one true marquee player, with the idea of tanking. Since that deal they're winning like .650 percent of their games.

So not even one percent?

 

[Cogburn]

I was encouraged by this play. Of late, 1-0, or any kind of shut out, point to the goalie and the goalie alone playing out of his mind. While Lack was certainly strong in net last night, our whole team seemed more on the ball. Fewer broken/hail mary plays, a little bit of swagger from our physical players, and all that was missing was a Burrows goal, assisted by Henrik and Daniel.

Burrows, I think, is a magician, and this is all a meta joke, to see how close he can get to scoring, without actually scoring. The man did everything right, had a post or two, a robbery save, and he is still playing 100% in all other facets.

 

[BobbyJazzLegs]

Didn't we outshoot them 34-20? Not bad with that lineup.

Booth and Kass were a blast.

 

[Pure West]

This was more how they were playing in November/December. Rock solid defensively, some decent shot totals without a ton of quality chances, not a good PP, not manygoals, some aggressiveness on the forecheck and for the most part having the majority of puck control. I think the break clearly did them some good.

Booth/Kassian and Richardson were awesome, and the Sedin line actually showed some life in the third. They seemed to be actually getting to the loose pucks earlier and with a little more confidence. Burrows obviously doesn't have it yet, and I think we'll know when he gets in aggressively and starts winning some puck battles. Its not just the lack of goals for him.

Eddie of course.....great.

 

[Barney Gumble]

I really wish we hadn't lost 7 straight. It's going to be a dog fight to get in now, but at least the stretch should be entertaining, and that's what sport is supposed to be - entertainment.

One could look on the bright side of things (no matter how dim that light is )....*if*, and that's a big IF we make the playoffs; we'll have to be one of the hottest teams in the league during this "home stretch". While it doesn't mean we'd go for a deep run the post-season (or even win one playoff series) - I wouldn't want to be an opposing team facing such a team. Compare that to previous seasons, where it was assumed the team would just 'flick a switch' and suddenly start playing like a playoff team. Luongo will have to be red hot (as I don't expect the offense to change much). Never really want to face a hot goalie.

 

[Hammer79]

Considering goal differential is actually pretty good for predicting future success, I don't see what's wrong with that. You seem to be implying that it's just there to add 'excitement' which isn't true at all.

I agree that goal differential has value, I'm saying that the site owner increases the variable that weighs it to get the exciting swings.

http://www.hockeyanalytics.com/Research_files/Win_Probabilities.pdf

Start on page 10.

So PythagenPuck looks like:
Pr(Win) =GFE / (GFE + GAE)
where
E = (GFg + GAg) P
The optimal (post WWII) P was .458.

IE the 'P' value he's plugging in is deliberately high to produce the exciting swings.

 

[GPNuck]

BTW did anyone else want to punch Craig Buttons stupid face when he was saying " fact is Vancouver's just not a very good hockey team..."

 

[BobbyJazzLegs]

BTW did anyone else want to punch Craig Buttons stupid face when he was saying " fact is Vancouver's just not a very good hockey team..."

When do you not want to punch Craig Buttons stupid face?

 

[Evidence]

I know the comparison isn't perfect, but the Toronto Raptors made a trade earlier this season, moving their one true marquee player, with the idea of tanking. Since that deal they're winning like .650 percent of their games.

It doesn't always work like you want. I think Torts can get this team playing the right way, and get us into the playoffs. And we saw last night we can hang with playoff teams, playing playoff style of hockey.

I really wish we hadn't lost 7 straight. It's going to be a dog fight to get in now, but at least the stretch should be entertaining, and that's what sport is supposed to be - entertainment.

The Raptors marquee player is Derozan, trading Rudy Gay was a net positive because he was shooting something terrible like 38% and was a volume shooter averaging 18 field goals a game as a raptor. One of the most overrated players in the nba.

 

[arsmaster*]

The Raptors marquee player is Derozan, trading Rudy Gay was a net positive because he was shooting something terrible like 38% and was a volume shooter averaging 18 field goals a game as a raptor. One of the most overrated players in the nba.

Well then it ties in perfectly with the Kesler trade narrative.....high volume shooter, with a poor shooting percentage

 

[Barney Gumble]

While I agree the D coaching was certainly horrible in that series, I don't think the Sedins + Burrows are bad players to put out in that scenario in general. Being good two-way players you have to expect them to be able to handle that type of situation some of the time. What AV messed up in your example was the timing of who he wanted out there IIRC.

I think it was horrible to be putting out the Sedins in an outmanned situation (you knew with 100% certainty that the Sharks would be pulling the goalie) considering they hadn't had meaningful PK duty in years.

 

[DL44]

I loved a lot of what i saw this game.

The Richardson line created havoc for the Blues the first half of the game especially - Backes couldn't get anything going.

Sedins and Burrows finally looked good together for... i think the first time this yr.
The Sedin line had a funny night... they weren't in classic form, but they managed to get a lot of great chances from winning puck battles you thought they had no chance of winning.. They got pinned i think for 2 shifts, but otherwise played in the right zones a lot of the night.
Our top line greatly out chanced theirs.

The only player to show up for the Blues seemed to be Oshie. Pie-JBo pairing had some active sticks disrupting a tonne of prime chances.

What can ya say about the 4th line?

The thought that crossed my mind when Torts called the timeout - oh he's going to the well too often... but hey.. it worked to boost some energy.. Call timeout - roll the 4th line out there, then Kassian, then Higgens, more 4th... regained the energy and took over the period again..

The D. Looks so much different with the good Bieksa in the lineup. Hamhuis was flying... the one play where he looked like he shot out of a cannon to backcheck on a play he was caught up ice... you saw why TC had him as the insurance policy.

Lack - great.

Schroeder.. thought he was gonna cost us the game... but he managed to end the night in neutral in terms of scoring chances for and against it seemed..

I liked Edler game.. no pucks went in off him. Hopefully the Olympics returned some of his confidence.. sure looked like a different Edler last night vs the one from a month ago. A positive sign.

Last night wasn't a night where i was really worried about the lack of scoring from this team... its the games where they don't generate scoring chances that kill me.
a - it was great to see them get a bunch.. and even better was how they didn't give St.Louis more than a couple/few shifts of sustained pressure...


Sooo... One game. 2 points. Now put a few together.


Tonight: Go Oilers, Go Flames, Go Jets, Go Canes!

 

[Basso]

Why the hell did we win this game! Tank already !