Post-Game Talk: Game #29: Canucks 3, Hurricanes 2 - Edler was a +2!

[Wetcoaster]

The silver lining and thing that keeps me optimistic in those games vs those elite teams , the canucks outplayed those teams in every game except for the first game of the year vs the sharks. They are in these games and leading in thirds. If they keep competing like that vs those teams, the wins will come. And most importantly come playoff time, the canucks will be a tough team to face because of that work ethic ans aggressiveness they are showing vs top teams.

It's all about the process, amirite???

 

[Lundface*]

No one is saying this. What I, and others, are saying is that wins like this aren't that impressive. We can't beat playoff teams which suggests that we either won't make the playoffs, or if we do it'll be another quick first round exit like we've been accustomed to for the past two years.

Last year in half a season Vancouver beat Chicago 2-1, lost 4-3, won 3-1
Last year Vancouver also beat LA 5-2, lost 3-2, won 1-0.

They weren't a powerhouse last season, but still proved they could beat the very best in the league. You live in some delusional place where every other team beats both non playoff and playoff teams.

Sorry that they can't impress you nostradomus. This isn't even close to the 2011 team, let that sink in for a while. If they are going to win it will take hard work, good goaltending and some luck. If you choose not to believe in luck and that every team that wins was just so mighty and all powerful thats up to you, but do yourself a favor and stop watching.

As I pointed out, even with this team in a major slump, they lost to the powers in Chicago, San Jose, LA after having leads in the third. With even one save from their goaltender they beat those teams. You really don't understand this game if you can't wrap your head around the fact that it doesn't take much to win or lose, especially in the league now with "parity".

 

[canuck4life16]

He's saying we beat the Sharks recently.

Honestly, we deserved to beat Chicago and LA as well. Very frustrating losses in those games. Outlook right now is a lot different if we don't blow those games.

Don't forget Phx if that count.....and we could also beat the pens too....but we did beat the Blues though

 

[VeteranNetPresence]

Because the had the lead in the third period and were the better team?

but they lost the lead so they couldn't have been that much better

 

[canuck4life16]

It's all about the process, amirite???

baby steps from the bottom to the top

 

[Wetcoaster]

but they lost the lead so they couldn't have been that much better

Tortorella disagrees.

“It's a crazy game when it comes to results,” Tortorella said in the morning. “You've got to be really careful coaching the results. I'm going to coach the team on how we're playing. Our team has played well, but we haven't gotten the results."

 

[y2kcanucks]

but they lost the lead so they couldn't have been that much better

I don't see the banner for winning the Cup either. We led that series and blew it too, but apparently leading before the end of a game or series is good enough? Fact of the matter is this team hasn't been good enough. Even against a bad Hurricanes team we didn't look like we were head and shoulders above them. This team, as it sits in the standings, is just about where they should be.

 

[Jimson Hogarth*]

I know its been said bust Sestito was a solid find for what he is...I remember reading he was really working hard on his skating, and its shown-he's really able to catch players now and lay solid, clean hits. Very good to see a forward who can legitimately lay someone out on the ice for the Canucks

 

[Lindt]

Agreed. This team's offense cannot support below average or average goaltending. It's a team built around elite goaltending and will fail without it.

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

Good to see we played well! Did Booth play well again?

EDIT: By looking at the highlights the refs did a terrible job of managing the play with goalies. Took so long to blow whistles. Also I love it when Lack goes after players in his crease. Lack and Ericksson.

 

[MikeK]

I don't see the banner for winning the Cup either. We led that series and blew it too, but apparently leading before the end of a game or series is good enough? Fact of the matter is this team hasn't been good enough. Even against a bad Hurricanes team we didn't look like we were head and shoulders above them. This team, as it sits in the standings, is just about where they should be.

I really agree with you on this point. I said at the beginning of the year that this team was a .500 hockey club and nothing has changed.

If our fan base took a step back and looked at this team from the outside they would all likely see an avg team with aging players whose best hockey is definitely behind them. We are definitely at a point where there are going to have to be changes made this off season to the player personnel. I don't see a difference in results this season from the past 2, except maybe that we will probably miss the playoffs this year as apposed to last year where we should have but played in a weak division and reaped the benefits of it. No such luck this year.

 

[Wetcoaster]

Good to see we played well! Did Booth play well again?

EDIT: By looking at the highlights the refs did a terrible job of managing the play with goalies. Took so long to blow whistles. Also I love it when Lack goes after players in his crease. Lack and Ericksson.

Eddy Lack victory celebration:

 

[Wetcoaster]

 

[Lundface*]

I really agree with you on this point. I said at the beginning of the year that this team was a .500 hockey club and nothing has changed.

If our fan base took a step back and looked at this team from the outside they would all likely see an avg team with aging players whose best hockey is definitely behind them. We are definitely at a point where there are going to have to be changes made this off season to the player personnel. I don't see a difference in results this season from the past 2, except maybe that we will probably miss the playoffs this year as apposed to last year where we should have but played in a weak division and reaped the benefits of it. No such luck this year.

You aren't in an exclusive club.

Consensus around here was this is a middling team, with the cap going down the team made no changes to an already average team besides a heavy downgrade in goaltending. They were helped by the division, but elite level goaltending also made them look better than they were.

Just like at the start of the year, most predicted this would be a lower playoff seed if they made it. Exactly nothing has changes since then, except maybe people starting to realize the numbers the last few seasons have been pointing to a decline in Luongo's abilities moreso than a few bad games.

 

[Orca Smash]

I don't see the banner for winning the Cup either. We led that series and blew it too, but apparently leading before the end of a game or series is good enough? Fact of the matter is this team hasn't been good enough. Even against a bad Hurricanes team we didn't look like we were head and shoulders above them. This team, as it sits in the standings, is just about where they should be.

Not that i have issue with this viewpoint, but i dont agree with you bringing up us not looking good enough against bad teams even when we win.

Even elite teams dont blow away lesser teams, i think some teams have trouble getting up for those games or whatever the reason, l.a. lost to calgary last night. I know its an awful excuse but its just how it goes. I know l.a. is a much better team then the flames but that loss was brutal last night. The kings just did not seem to put in the effort. The hawks nearly lost to the flames as well and were blown away by nashville.

What will impress more is not blowing out or looking great against weaker teams, it will be consistent wins over good or bad teams.

 

[Orca Smash]

I really agree with you on this point. I said at the beginning of the year that this team was a .500 hockey club and nothing has changed.

If our fan base took a step back and looked at this team from the outside they would all likely see an avg team with aging players whose best hockey is definitely behind them. We are definitely at a point where there are going to have to be changes made this off season to the player personnel. I don't see a difference in results this season from the past 2, except maybe that we will probably miss the playoffs this year as apposed to last year where we should have but played in a weak division and reaped the benefits of it. No such luck this year.

This is not an outside viewpoint, this forum is riddled with upset fans even after a win, your in the majority.

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

Lack's punch at 3:15 I wish Luongo would do some of that. Hope Kesler goes on a hot streak and Booth as well.

 

[opendoor]

Agreed. This team's offense cannot support below average or average goaltending. It's a team built around elite goaltending and will fail without it.

I don't really buy that. Even just average goaltending would put them in much better shape.

Here are some team stat rankings at even strength so far:

SF/60: 4th
SA/60: 6th

GF/60: 8th
GA/60: 19th

SV%: 26th


Change that sv% to something around the median and right there the Canucks would've allowed 10 fewer GA and would be 6th in the league in GA/G. Their PK has been excellent and their PP seems to at least be going in the right direction (about 20% over the last month) so it's really just goal prevention at even strength that's really killing them right now.

 

[Steveorama]

So we have played almost twice as many games against good competition as the Kings. That's a promising stat.

Another interesting stat: LA has won 6 games where they have scored 2 goals or less. Canucks have won 0.

 

[Jyrki]

Just noticed Jordan Staal has 10 points in 27 games. 30 points pace

he'd be barbecue if he was with the Canucks.

 

[Royal Canuck]

Good win, not much of a competition but it's good to grab a win wherever you can.

 

[Wetcoaster]

A picture of the "crowd" at today's game:

The "sea of red" is different from the Flames, eh?

 

[Saturated Fats]

Better game, Lack and Tanev stood out to me as having particularly good games, and you have to credit Kesler for 2 goals. We give him a lot of guff when he doesn't score, so we should give him equal-types praise when he does.

 

[Wetcoaster]

Mike Komisarek trolls the Canucks bench after drawing Richardson into an ill-advised glove drop.

 

[Wetcoaster]

Props to Lack from goalie expert analyst Kevin Woodley:

Kevin Woodley ‏@KevinisInGoal
Component of Lack's game I really like but have yet to mention: catching pucks in front of pads. Every time does it is one less rebound