GDT: [GM75] Canucks @ Golden Knights | Tue. Apr 2nd, 7:00pm | SNP | On the Road Again

[theguardianII]

I've been on this train before, but NHL teams (well, contenders I suppose) should really be getting ahead of the curve and doing load management all season.

The playoffs are really a battle of attrition and health. You want guys healthy going in. I think every competitive team should be rotating basically everyone outside of their 1D and 1C to keep them fresh. A rested, healthy, raring-to-go Quad-A guy is IMO going to be more effective in-season than a banged-up bottom-sixer or 3rd pair player anyway.

They should try to sit Hughes and see how the team does.

Nothing against Blueger, Aman and Suter, who've all filled in at the center position down in the lineup. But collectively they're not going to strike terror into the hearts of their opponents in the offensive zone.

Lindholm, on the other hand, when he gets back automatically makes the third line somewhat more of a scoring threat. And as we've seen in the playoffs, it's often the unheralded third and fourth liners who make the most impact.

Lindholm could be the center of the Pettersson line.

EP - EL - BB hopefully something like the 6-40-9 line
CG - JTM - DJ that line was good with Blueger it should be better
NH - SL - IM should have speed
VP - PS - TB enough experience to keep the puck out of the net
Lafferty is really turning up the effort level
Hoglander has an injury, the slowest he has skated in two years

 

[LemonSauceD]

Yep. Still no Demko sightings yet. No news yet. Just the coach saying "I think", "we would play him some games", "I would like him to play a few games before", "knee, knee, knee". What was wrong with his knee? No limping, no problem lifting either pad over the bench, so what is it wrong with his knee, which one?

Just wait. If it is his hip it can be frozen to play but they would have to save it for playoffs then another operation. Schneider, almost the exact same time lines and injury descriptions during the season.

I don't think Demko plays more than two games. Then they can act surprised. It's not like they can do much at this time but every team he faces will now make him move left and right even more.

So Vegas is on a roll with guys coming back from injuries. They want home games and there is an outside chance of finishing 1rst and better for 2nd. They have a very easy schedule.
Vancouver just played what should have been a very easy game, it isn't like they have been world beaters and were surprised by Anaheim, that was a struggle.
This game could be defining.

Vegas 7 Canucks 3

Demko won’t be eligible to play until April 6th against LA. He’ll back up for that game and play next Monday against Vegas at home. He probably plays 4 of the 5 games remaining then and sits for that one Calgary game.

If it was his hip again he wouldn’t be close to returning at all. I’ve never seen someone injure their hip (let alone someone who has a history of hip problems) return to play within a month.

 

[theguardianII]

Demko won’t be eligible to play until April 6th against LA. He’ll back up for that game and play next Monday against Vegas at home. He probably plays 4 of the 5 games remaining then and sits for that one Calgary game.

If it was his hip again he wouldn’t be close to returning at all. I’ve never seen someone injure their hip (let alone someone who has a history of hip problems) return to play within a month.

4 to 6 weeks

 

[geebster]

Demko won’t be eligible to play until April 6th against LA. He’ll back up for that game and play next Monday against Vegas at home. He probably plays 4 of the 5 games remaining then and sits for that one Calgary game.

If it was his hip again he wouldn’t be close to returning at all. I’ve never seen someone injure their hip (let alone someone who has a history of hip problems) return to play within a month.

I'm a doctor and while I don't generally find it responsible to speculate on people's health publicly, my two cents from watching him is it's his knee. I have never seen a groin or hip injury that didn't alter gait and Demko was fine with that in the brief clips we have.

Again though, could be anything, we really can't truly know, other than to say the team docs would be fired if they let a franchise goalie play on a significant groin or hip injury. So this isn't likely significant or serious

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Just win, please. We've actually won our last 3 games in Vegas, to my surprise, although Vegas has still beaten us more often.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I know he’s just stepping in because Lindholm is out and Boeser left practice for a bit, but I’ve seen enough Bains this year. I’d much rather have PDG bang dudes and chaos mayhem on the forecheck on the 4th line.

Agreed. I really don't understand why Bains is getting so many gifted opportunities in the top six when it took forever and a day for Tocchet to finally move Hoglander up. Nothing Bains brings right now warrants it. The kid definitely has a future but not right now.

 

[geebster]

What are you doing pants-wise for the game?

Well its Vector's bday so that should answer your question.

 

[TruGr1t]

Agreed. I really don't understand why Bains is getting so many gifted opportunities in the top six when it took forever and a day for Tocchet to finally move Hoglander up. Nothing Bains brings right now warrants it. The kid definitely has a future but not right now.

Desperate to find some depth offensive pop somewhere, I'd imagine. Hoping some of Bains' recent AHL scoring will translate, but it hasn't.

Offense has really dried up for Lafferty and PDG has been a bit of a blackhole all season. Aman just doesn't have the offense at the NHL level.

Suter is needed at centre with Lindholm out, but I'd expect him to swap back into the top six (or Lindholm) if everyone is healthy.

 

[Vector]

 

[Vector]

 

[helloconga]

i’m in vegas today to cheer on the boys… feels weird flying in to watch a hockey game rather than the usual activities but i’m excited to watch what potentially could be a playoff matchup.

Go Canucks Go!

 

[Vector]

The Demko bit is weird because Tocchet said he wouldn't be traveling with the team.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

The Demko bit is weird because Tocchet said he wouldn't be traveling with the team.

He was photographed getting off the plane yesterday, too - I believe Tocchet also said he was progressing better than hoped. Cause for optimism, although I hope he doesn't rush back.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

That blueline...

 

[Vector]

 

[Nucker101]

Bet the mortgage on Vegas

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

Man Kelly Sutherland has been around for ages

 

[Lawzy]

 

[Nick Lang]

I hope the Canucks try playing Silvos and Topolio.

I have a feeling they will need a Hill, Binnington, Roy, Ward, Murray or bubble Demko again, you get the idea, for the playoffs.

Any of the last games could be a preview of a playoff match up.
If any of these team are locked in then the Canuck might see a team that is resting a bit before the big push. Mind you that could be the Canucks now.

All these line changes and sitting out of players is really odd if they don't have boo boo's.

Ummm, what? They are going to sit Demko and DeSmith for Silovs or Topolio in the playoffs?

Are you high 24/7 ... ? I'm jealous.

Just saying you come up with some pretty outside the box thinking.

 

[valkynax]

I did a bit of rudimentary digging online about NHL refs and accountability. The best I could find is some insiders saying yeah everything is reviewed and there are consequences. But no one will let the public know.

So basically, yeah, refs are being held accountable, but we're not gonna tell anyone about it, you just gotta trust us. If that's not enough how bout a pinky swear and a boy scout pledge? Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Oh wait hang on, let me bust out my invisible typewriter.

 

[StreetHawk]

With a max of 16 games in 1 night, I'm guessing that there are the equivalent of 18-20 crews to ensure enough coverage for all of the games.

In the PO, 8 series, so only half would make it through. Maybe they keep 12 crews to ensure that there is a backup ref in the event one gets hurt in a PO game thus they can continue on with 2 officials.

End of the day, are there enough officials that are going to graduate from the AHL, CHL, NCAA or even Europe that you can constantly be bringing in 3-4 new crews a season and turnover the officiating group of the poor performing ones that would be a clear improvement?

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

Who are the longest tenured refs currently

 

[Vector]

Who are the longest tenured refs currently

Here's the list of every NHL referee and linesman.

Steve Kozari - 2003
Gord Dwyer - 2003
Francois St Laurent - 2003
Justin St. Pierre - 2003
Wes McCauley - 2001
Kelly Sutherland - 2000
Kevin Pollack - 1999
Dan O'Rourke - 1999
Chris Lee - 1999
Eric Furlatt - 1998
Chris Rooney - 1996

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

Here's the list of every NHL referee and linesman.

Steve Kozari - 2003
Gord Dwyer - 2003
Francois St Laurent - 2003
Justin St. Pierre - 2003
Wes McCauley - 2001
Kelly Sutherland - 2000
Kevin Pollack - 1999
Dan O'Rourke - 1999
Chris Lee - 1999
Eric Furlatt - 1998
Chris Rooney - 1996

I remember when St. Pierre was the new hot ref.

 

[Three On Zero]

I remember when St. Pierre was the new hot ref.

Hot you say?