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

[Bleach Clean]

I don't even want to know what the lines will look like on Saturday...

Daniel - Henrik - Kassian
Raymond - Shroeder - Booth
Higgins - Burrows - Hansen
Weise - Lapierre/Ebbett - ?

I like that 2nd line. I think they can pot a few. And that's what this really is all about: Scoring. Kesler's a great player, but I'm not sure he was really helping the team score at ES. Booth has looked far more dangerous. So in that sense, I like that 2nd line's ability to score in the here and now, more than I would if Kesler was centering it.

The 1st line should not be broken up. It's the only line going right now. No need to replicate the mistakes made with the defense by constantly switching the forwards too.

The 3rd line should be the heavy checking line, with Lappy in the middle.

Kassian needs to figure things out on the 4th line with Ebbett and Weise before he's given more responsibility at this point.



Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Raymond-Schroeder-Booth
Higgins-Lapierre-Hansen
Weise-Ebbett-Kassian

 

[deadinthewater]

^
Looks good. Lapierre better get his head out of his ass though.

 

[Crows*]

hahahahahahahhaahhaah luuuuuuuuu

Hey @coachironmike if you need any advice figuring out this twitter thing let me know........... Big fan!

https://twitter.com/strombone1/status/306972732132843520

 

[Bleach Clean]

^
Looks good. Lapierre better get his head out of his ass though.

Yeah, he does. Unfortunately, there's no choice as the C depth is shallow right now. He's got to step up.

Kassian as well. Just so they can sub him with the Sedins every now and again, to give that line a different look.



For the D, I hope they go with the following:

Edler-Tanev
Hamhuis-Garrison
Alberts-Ballard

And just stick to it.

 

[deadinthewater]

Yeah, he does. Unfortunately, there's no choice as the C depth is shallow right now. He's got to step up.

Kassian as well. Just so they can sub him with the Sedins every now and again, to give that line a different look.



For the D, I hope they go with the following:

Edler-Tanev
Hamhuis-Garrison
Alberts-Ballard

And just stick to it.

Yes, they need to stick to something on D. Can't keep switching it very damn game, it just makes it that much harder on an already struggling D unit. I don't know why Edler/Tanev were split up... they played great and Edler's on his natural side.

But knowing the dumb defense coach, expect something totally Pejorative Slured.

 

[Zombotron]

But knowing the dumb defense coach, expect something totally Pejorative Slured.

I guess you could could call him...

bone-headed?

 

[WonderTwinsUnite]

I guess you could could call him...

bone-headed?

 

[mossey3535]

The Canucks came back from a 2 goal deficit against Chicago with less time left, so it is possible. Agreed though, the 3rd goal was much more of a difference maker.

Schneider has definitely regressed. He's still a young goaltender and will be more prone to ups and downs than a seasoned vet like Luongo, who's numbers are fairly consistent throughout his career. Schneider isn't hot enough right now to consistently bail out mistakes on the D. Luongo was, at least until that Detroit debacle.

As for the forwards, I was holding out hope that for Kesler and Booth, it was simply a matter of shaking off the rust. Now it sounds like Kesler is going to be out again until close to the playoffs. At least he had 5 points in 7 games. Booth needs to step it up, he's pointless in 4. It would be nice if Kassian returned to early season form too, but a lot of that was playing with the Sedins.

How has he regressed? I've been a big Luongo fan since his WJC appearance and I'm still a big Schneider fan.

From a goaltending standpoint he hasn't regressed at all. Regression means you've gotten worse at something. Is he playing poorly right now? Yes. Does that mean he's regressed? No.

 

[vanuck]

The Sedins seem to play more defensively (good practice for the playoffs) and hit more while Kassian is on their line. Plus, they can teach Kassian a thing or two about consistency (hard to take nights off with the Sedins busting their ***es every game.

The only problem with Burrows as a centre was faceoffs.

Agreed, but I'd really prefer not to see Ebbett centering his own line if possible. Not ideal, but I like Burrows + Lapierre at center over Lapierre + Ebbett.

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

https://twitter.com/canucksrool

That is my Twitter if anyone wants to follow. Anyways I think the Canucks will be fine on Saturday. I really think they should find a player that can take on a 2nd line role and then play along side with Kesler when we returns maybe this could be our game changing 2nd liner?

 

[Jyrki]

https://twitter.com/canucksrool

That is my Twitter if anyone wants to follow. Anyways I think the Canucks will be fine on Saturday. I really think they should find a player that can take on a 2nd line role and then play along side with Kesler when we returns maybe this could be our game changing 2nd liner?

blake wheeler

would take an arm and a leg to get him out of 'peg though

 

[Royal Canuck]

I think it's a good thing.

The boys need to relax after a rough patch of games and get reset for the next few.

 

[BrandonL]

Not sure if I want to see Alberts and Ballard playing together regularly next game, thought they were awful together against the Coyotes.

I would probably go with Edler - Tanev as my first pair, and then split the rest of the time between Alberts - Hamhuis and Garrison - Ballard.

I thought Hamhuis did a pretty good job of babysitting Alberts last game.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Not sure if I want to see Alberts and Ballard playing together regularly next game, thought they were awful together against the Coyotes.

I would probably go with Edler - Tanev as my first pair, and then split the rest of the time between Alberts - Hamhuis and Garrison - Ballard.

I thought Hamhuis did a pretty good job of babysitting Alberts last game.

Garrison and Ballard also played pretty good together the one game we actually kept it. Alberts needs someone who is a rock, and while Hamhuis has not played well this year. He is far better suited than Ballard, who likes to be reckless.

 

[CP]

I don't even wants to know what the lines will look like on Saturday...

Daniel - Henrik - Kassian
Raymond - Shroeder - Booth
Higgins - Burrows - Hansen
Weise - /Ebbett - ?

I do....GMMG want to blow your mind:

Sedin Sedin Booth
Higgins Burrows Jensen
Raymond Schroeder Kassian
Weise Lapierre Hansen

Hamjuice
Tanler
Ballison

Schneider
Luon9o


The next stretch of 16 games in 28 days is the going to be exhausting. I expect we'll see a whole bunch of new faces in the line-up this month as injuries pile up.

The Canucks depth will soon be tested

 

[Crows*]

This could refocus them defensively. Hopefully bieksa comes back soon.

 

[Orca Smash]

I would go

Sedin Sedin kassian

Higgins Burrows Booth

Raymond Schroeder Hansen

And whoever you want to put on the 4th.

You could switch hansen and booth as alot of people have done, and it would make sense, my issue is that the only chemistry i have really seen from any line beyond a sedin line is hansen with raymond and schroeder, I have not seen that yet from booth on that line. I just dont think we mess with something that was working.

 

[medhatcanuck]

Our team looks really good right now! Bring on the Stanley cup champs!

 

[Taelin]

Jason Botchford @botchford

Ron MacLean: "I'd re-activate Manny Malhotra, I don't believe this nonsense he needs to be protected." #team1040

Time for another character assassination by MacLean.

 

[Proto]

Ron MacLean never has a negative opinion about any team but the Canucks. I wish Gillis had a little bit more Brian Burke in him, because I've love to see him go on air and watch Ron MacLean get served.

 

[Nuckles]

https://twitter.com/News1130Sports/status/307199026858708992

Victor Oreskovich is done with hockey - he's a financial advisor in Toronto.

The Panthers won the Ballard trade because of this

 

[PRNuck]

https://twitter.com/News1130Sports/status/307199026858708992


The Panthers won the Ballard trade because of this

Man it's too bad he never (or wouldn't?) learn to fight, he was a big dude.

 

[Aphid Attraction]

I would go

Sedin Sedin kassian

Higgins Burrows Booth

Raymond Schroeder Hansen

And whoever you want to put on the 4th.

You could switch hansen and booth as alot of people have done, and it would make sense, my issue is that the only chemistry i have really seen from any line beyond a sedin line is hansen with raymond and schroeder, I have not seen that yet from booth on that line. I just dont think we mess with something that was working.

I do not like that second line. Booth on the wrong side with a winger as center and a 3rd liner. I am one of Booths biggest fans, but would

Raymond Schroeder Burrows work as a second line, and have
Booth Ebbitt??? Hansen as the third. Would love to upgrade Ebbitt

 

[dave babych returns]

Well, it should be illuminating seeing what comes out of this break from a coaching standpoint.

Obviously the team will be in tough with the injuries they're facing but you would think a few days of rest and practice should mean that this team executes on the gameplan about as well as can be expected come Saturday.

 

[Alflives*]

I would go

Sedin Sedin kassian

Higgins Burrows Booth

Raymond Schroeder Hansen

And whoever you want to put on the 4th.

You could switch hansen and booth as alot of people have done, and it would make sense, my issue is that the only chemistry i have really seen from any line beyond a sedin line is hansen with raymond and schroeder, I have not seen that yet from booth on that line. I just dont think we mess with something that was working.

Agreed. Burrows is a natural center. He should be playing there for certain. Plus, that allows Kassian to play where he should, with the Sedins.