Pre-Game Talk: GAME #20 - Canucks vs. Kings

[Pip]

I want to see Hansen-Kesler-Kassian

I agree, Kassian seems perfect for the spot, just needs to be more responsible in his own end

 

[HighAndTight]

Even when we win I feel the Canucks have been a boring team to watch. There have only been a cpl of games all season that I've totally been entertained. Something is wrong with this current team. Maybe it's the system they play, maybe there are some internal issues that we don't know about or maybe it's just the fact that the window has closed. Either way, I am not liking the way the team plays. I watch every NHL game that is on TV and the Canucks style of play is terrible to sit through.

We don't have a style of play at all. We try and play the other teams game, no matter what they are doing. Then if we get a lead, we sit on it.

 

[Pip]

agreed, but then dunno why we're not seeing

Booth-Kes-Higgins
Raymond-Schroed-Hansen

the first had chemistry last year, the second this year.
yet for some reason they were all jumbled up last night (and so far) ...dont even know who played with who, other than the Sedins

I do also like this, doesn't hurt the 3rd line too much, but also hopefully allows Kesler's line to be more effective. Would do this if Kassian can't prove to be up for a top 6 role this season

 

[Biggest Canuck Fan]

agreed, but then dunno why we're not seeing

Booth-Kes-Higgins
Raymond-Schroed-Hansen

the first had chemistry last year, the second this year.
yet for some reason they were all jumbled up last night (and so far) ...dont even know who played with who, other than the Sedins

Cause AV is an idiot! He should've been fired in ther off season and there is still time to right the ship. Unless AV and the coaching staff gets their act together, it won't matter who GMMG trades for... this team is 1st or 2nd round fodder.

 

[Bieksallent]

I said this last night, but I don't know how people can watch Sportsnet. The coverage is just awful in every possible way. There's no in depth analysis before the game, during the game, between periods, after the game, or between games. It's just these dumb narratives and Shorthouse and Garrett never dig deeper than half-baked theories about fatigue (that always seem to excuse the Canucks, even if it contradicts the last half-baked theory).

It just seems poorly produced and lazy to me. Ugh.

The Canucks just signed a six-year extension with them for a reason. They don't want their broadcast partner to be overly critical of them. Wasn't Larscheid ushered out a year earlier than he wanted because of his approach to broadcasting? I don't think he's much better than what we have now (I.e. over-the-top emotional response like you see in the post-game threads), but he at least called the team out when they were playing poorly.

Agreed, though, it's terrible but so are pretty much all regional broadcast crews. Shorthouse's smugness towards both the team (they're above reproach in all but the most obvious cases) and general attitude rub me the wrong way too.

 

[ginner classic]

Even when we win I feel the Canucks have been a boring team to watch. There have only been a cpl of games all season that I've totally been entertained. Something is wrong with this current team. Maybe it's the system they play, maybe there are some internal issues that we don't know about or maybe it's just the fact that the window has closed. Either way, I am not liking the way the team plays. I watch every NHL game that is on TV and the Canucks style of play is terrible to sit through.

Like a lot of teams....there is no time to practice this year so when you get into a funk it can last for a significant number of games. Hot and cold streaks this year seem to last for longer than normal.

 

[Tiranis]

Even when we win I feel the Canucks have been a boring team to watch. There have only been a cpl of games all season that I've totally been entertained. Something is wrong with this current team. Maybe it's the system they play, maybe there are some internal issues that we don't know about or maybe it's just the fact that the window has closed. Either way, I am not liking the way the team plays. I watch every NHL game that is on TV and the Canucks style of play is terrible to sit through.

Just posted something similar in the AV thread. Good to know I'm not the only one that has been bored by this hockey for a while.

I'm having a lot more fun watching the AHL roster of the Senators and the power-house Lightning this season. Fun hockey most of the time. (Chicago is playing well too but I dislike them so it's hard to get into it.)

 

[Outside99*]

It started with AV taking Kassian off the first line because, while he was scoring, the Sedins weren't(Even though they looked good together.)

I feel like there are obvious combos that almost everyone here wants to see tried for an extended time, yet aren't happening. The power play is still crap and using that damn umbrella.

Or at the very least give Kassian PP time and secondary ice-time with the Sedins like Samuelsson was getting.

 

[Bieksallent]

Like a lot of teams....there is no time to practice this year so when you get into a funk it can last for a significant number of games. Hot and cold streaks this year seem to last for longer than normal.

It's not just this year though. The Canucks haven't been a consistently good offensive team since the Boston game in January '12 for whatever reason. I'd really love to know how that caused such a shift in their approach and the results.

 

[MikeK]

Just posted something similar in the AV thread. Good to know I'm not the only one that has been bored by this hockey for a while.

I'm having a lot more fun watching the AHL roster of the Senators and the power-house Lightning this season. Fun hockey most of the time. (Chicago is playing well too but I dislike them so it's hard to get into it.)

You are definitely not alone. Most of the people I watch games with feel the same way. The Canucks have been flat out boring and this is even when we win. I am not buying the argument that it's a shortened season and there haven't been enough practice time either. I try and catch every NHL game on TV when possible and I don't have the same opinion about most of the other teams. The Canucks are just flat out boring. No energy, no life. Sooner or later the question needs to be asked on whether the coach has been here too long or maybe some of the players. Right now they remind me of the old Wild team of the early 2000's.

 

[HighAndTight]

Or at the very least give Kassian PP time and secondary ice-time with the Sedins like Samuelsson was getting.

Kassian and Schroeds have chemistry, but aren't on the PP together, with all our other forwards on the first unit...Okay....

Booth finally playing the LW after all this time, but not putting him with Kesler and Kassian, but putting him on the PP....Okay...

 

[arsmaster*]

We're still a big draw in the tsn.ca article comments section. LOL

Some people are pretty sad.

 

[Biggest Canuck Fan]

It's not just this year though. The Canucks haven't been a consistently good offensive team since the Boston game in January '12 for whatever reason. I'd really love to know how that caused such a shift in their approach and the results.

Henrik said it... they are going to win games 2-1 and that is how they have to play. Endof story. GMMG built a team the opposite of this, but the coach is trying to get most of the square pegs to fit into round holes, and we are seeing the result. A 'confused, frustrated, but talented enough to win most games' hockey club.

Last night was another notch in the belt.

 

[Biggest Canuck Fan]

You are definitely not alone. Most of the people I watch games with feel the same way. The Canucks have been flat out boring and this is even when we win. I am not buying the argument that it's a shortened season and there haven't been enough practice time either. I try and catch every NHL game on TV when possible and I don't have the same opinion about most of the other teams. The Canucks are just flat out boring. No energy, no life. Sooner or later the question needs to be asked on whether the coach has been here too long or maybe some of the players. Right now they remind me of the old Wild team of the early 2000's.

That's a really good observation. I agree with this. The team does it's best when they press the attack, but they are being caught on the transition and it is killing them.

 

[NYVanfan]

That's a really good observation. I agree with this. The team does it's best when they press the attack, but they are being caught on the transition and it is killing them.

yeah ...I had not really been admitting this to myself... but def found myself last night in particular thinking back to how damn exciting all those games were in '10-'11. When we never blew leads, came roaring back many times, and completely dominated teams so many times ... that was fun to watch

they have really not been the same team for the past year..... goaltending has been the one clear stand-out.

i dont fault them for not playing 'their game' versus the Coyotes; those guys are masters of grinding, and will burn you if you try and open them up. Hell, we were feeling good at beating nashville at their game just a few nights ago.

The problem last night was errors. Lapierre with 2 bad ones and Edler with another; all 3 ended up in the back of our net. So maybe there's a bit of a focus & resolve issue too, but like I said, don't really fault them for last night, they're going to lose some games.

I really think we need to upgrade Ballard for a guy like Visnovsky ....have a feeling that would make all the difference (but I know we need a RHS...)

 

[Pip]

Gallagher on 1040 @ 8:30 (paraphrased)

We need to be patient with Kassian and not give up on our young players, give him good minutes and don't overreact to a few bad games.

We need to replace Schroeder, he has disappeared lately and we can't afford to have roster players dissapear.

Double standard?

 

[Tiranis]

Gallagher on 1040 @ 8:30 (paraphrased)

We need to be patient with Kassian and not give up on our young players, give him good minutes and don't overreact to a few bad games.

We need to replace Schroeder, he has disappeared lately and we can't afford to have roster players dissapear.

Double standard?

Doesn't make sense. 3rd line is creating chances every game. They'll score soon enough. Doesn't really matter what Gallagher says anyway, Schroeder is here to stay or they wouldn't be waiving Volpatti and Ebbett.

 

[Pip]

Doesn't make sense. 3rd line is creating chances every game. They'll score soon enough. Doesn't really matter what Gallagher says anyway, Schroeder is here to stay or they wouldn't be waiving Volpatti and Ebbett.

yup, he also didn't mind out fourth line last night so....

 

[y2kcanucks]

Gallagher on 1040 @ 8:30 (paraphrased)

We need to be patient with Kassian and not give up on our young players, give him good minutes and don't overreact to a few bad games.

We need to replace Schroeder, he has disappeared lately and we can't afford to have roster players dissapear.

Double standard?

Does Gallagher ever listen to himself? Or maybe he just doesn't like Schroeder because he's small?

 

[slappipappi]

Isn't Anaheim in the Pacific? Didn't we destroy them 5-0 on their home ice?

That was clearly not a "destroy" game. I actually thought we looked better the next night when we lost 4-1 to the Sharks.

You tend to look better when the puck is going in. In a small sample size, it doesn't guarantee you've played great.

 

[Tiranis]

That was clearly not a "destroy" game. I actually thought we looked better the next night when we lost 4-1 to the Sharks.

You tend to look better when the puck is going in. In a small sample size, it doesn't guarantee you've played great.

We were out chanced 21 to 6 at ES. That game was all goaltending and special teams.

 

[arsmaster*]

We were out chanced 21 to 6 at ES. That game was all goaltending and special teams.

We scored 5 goals.

How many other times this year have we scored 5 goals. Schneids held the fort for the first period, after that the game was a breeze.

 

[Outside99*]

Kassian and Schroeds have chemistry, but aren't on the PP together, with all our other forwards on the first unit...Okay....

Booth finally playing the LW after all this time, but not putting him with Kesler and Kassian, but putting him on the PP....Okay...

Posters complain about systems but can we start with friggin' lines and using players properly? . Booth doesn't have the highest hockey IQ out there, to make him effective you have to keep it simple for him, then you maximize his talent. moving him around is not going to work.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Isn't Anaheim in the Pacific? Didn't we destroy them 5-0 on their home ice?

Ya -5-0 wasn't that a Schneider shutout?

Last nights game was pretty disappointing the Canucks need help upfront pronto-Gillis
should be making deal-at least I hope so--

He said, "Our first games vs pacific teams is now 0-3-1."

Our first game against Anaheim was the season open. How did that go?

 

[Tiranis]

We scored 5 goals.

How many other times this year have we scored 5 goals. Schneids held the fort for the first period, after that the game was a breeze.

Because their goaltending was horrible. We were outplayed by a big margin everywhere but in goal.