Post-Game Talk: Vancouver 2, Vanderhoff 1 (SO): You're worthy, you're worthy!

[Nuckles]

Would rather see Schroeder with Kesler and Booth, which would also be one of the fastest lines in the NHL. He can make cross ice passes tape to tape at high speed. Kesler and Booth will love him.

My only problem with that is that we'd have no 3rd line center (unless one of our goalies gets traded to fill that need).
As of right now, I'd keep Schroeder with Raymond.

Sedin - Sedin - Kassian
Booth - Kesler - Burrows/Higgins/Hansen
Raymond - Schroeder - Burrows/Higgins/Hansen
Burrows/Higgins/Hansen - Malhotra - Lapierre
Extras: Weise, Volpatti, Ebbett

Pretty damn good depth.

 

[Jyrki]

Wasn't that Henrik?

You're right, but both twins worked Keith.

 

[StringerBell]

My only problem with that is that we'd have no 3rd line center (unless one of our goalies gets traded to fill that need).
As of right now, I'd keep Schroeder with Raymond.

Sedin - Sedin - Kassian
Booth - Kesler - Burrows/Higgins/Hansen
Raymond - Schroeder - Burrows/Higgins/Hansen
Burrows/Higgins/Hansen - Malhotra - Lapierre
Extras: Weise, Volpatti, Ebbett

Pretty damn good depth.

I like that Higgins-Burrows-Hansen line a lot. I have hipster status in the GDT's from last week to prove it

 

[serge2k]

2-1 Good Guys. w00t!

Little miffed about the people so down on the Sedins and the Ballard/Tanev pairing after this. It *is* the Blackhawks after all. Sure we all hate their guts, but they've got lights-out good players up front there. Kane, Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Sharp (although he did nothing tonight)...players like that are going to get their chances. They're damn good at what they do. Sometimes, they'll make something out of nothing. Personally, I thought the team played the best game it's played this season. The Avs just aren't in the same category as the Hawks, certainly not when they're missing their entire top line.

I thought this was a great game. Not just a great game for us, but a great game period. Skill vs skill, rapid turnovers, quick ups, lots of twists and turns, Bolland left in a huff, what's not to like?

--Sedin line: cool beans. It's hilarious to see Kassian rubbing off on the Sedins like that. Actually saw them throw the body down low a few times. Thought they owned the puck in the O zone as well as they have in any game so far this year. Got owned several times in their own zone as per depressingly usual, but still, we're progressing. Kassian, another point. That kid's gonna be something really special, mark my words.

--Higgins--Burr--Hansen line: Best game from Higgsy by far this year. Hansen was buzzing and doing his Honey Badger thing, but you can tell he just doesn't have the hands to be a regular scoring threat. Burr was goodish. Props for scoring after the whistle blew to piss the Hawks off.

--Raymond--Schroeder--Weise: Okay, I'm glad Weise got a nice self esteem boost from playing Gretzky in the Dutch after-work-before-dinner-on-weekdays league during the lockout, but can we please get a 3rd skill guy out there on this line? MayRay looked easily the best out of this group tonight. Mad props to Shredder for scoring in the shootout.

--Volpatti--Manny--Lappy: Were they there? Noticed Manny starting to beast it on faceoffs, but Volpatti was barely noticeable, and I couldn't believe Lappy was out there in the SO. I was so sure we were going to lose as soon as OT ended. Happy to be proven wrong of course, but c'mon, there's no way Lappy should be in the SO unless the number of shooters is in double digits. WTF, AV...

--Ballard/Tanev: shaky sometimes, but let's not forget who the opponent was. Still light-years ahead of last season for these two. We're actually picking out little errors with these two, not constantly trying to ignore the colossal ****ups. Evolution.

--Edler/Hamhuis: Hamhuis' best game this season by a huge longshot. Actually remembering how to play hockey, which is nice. Edler, another goal. Still not comfortable on the right side. Being turnstiled by Eberle is one thing, but Saad...?

--Special Kev/Garrison: Well...we won. Garrison still shaky, but finding his game slowly.

--Lu: God. Flopping like a salmon swimming upstream to spawn on Kane's goal, but rock solid otherwise. Amazed that he stopped everything in the SO. Loved him hanging with Kane's every move. Someone should've got him a twitter account two years ago. All that "Tim Thomas the nice, likable guy" ********* would've died on the editor's desk.

w00t!

Think Thomas mostly killed that himself.

 

[The Bob Cole]

Is this a joke? Can't believe some of the responses here... We saw this team get decimated when Ebbett was in the lineup in the faceoff dot. Manny is one of the tops in the league, yet again and has been 65%+ past couple of games. It seems trivial, but puck possession is a huge part of the game and it means a lot to this team. Unless we're replacing Manny with someone who can put up the same faceoff numbers and throw a few hits and score a goal or two, I don't see how we can really upgrade on him. Who is a feasible target at a reasonable price?

 

[serge2k]

Keith got dropped hard by Daniel himself and we got the W. That's enough.

Exactly.

Keith is not a guy who is going to answer for his cheapshots. Daniel got him, good enough for now.

Just wait, he will have a target on him every game. Sooner or later someone will really nail him.

 

[deadinthewater]

I like that Higgins-Burrows-Hansen line a lot. I have hipster status in the GDT's from last week to prove it

Maybe do:

Booth - Kesler - Shroeder
Higgins - Burrows - Hansen

 

[CCF23]

Is this a joke? Can't believe some of the responses here... We saw this team get decimated when Ebbett was in the lineup in the faceoff dot. Manny is one of the tops in the league, yet again and has been 65%+ past couple of games. It seems trivial, but puck possession is a huge part of the game and it means a lot to this team. Unless we're replacing Manny with someone who can put up the same faceoff numbers and throw a few hits and score a goal or two, I don't see how we can really upgrade on him. Who is a feasible target at a reasonable price?

Yeah...In a 4th line role, Manny is still an asset. He doesn't have what it takes to be the 3rd line guy anymore, and is overpaid for sure, but it's still a luxury to have him there to take those defensive zone faceoffs. He's also still useful on the PK.

 

[FloydTheBarber]

Isn't earmuffs kid a little old to still be sitting on his dads lap?

I guess it means he gets in for free as he's treated as a infant who shares a seat, but I think it's time he can sit on his own and drop the earmuffs.

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

Sedin-Sedin-Kassian
Booth-Kesler-Burrows
Raymond-Schroeder-Hansen
Volpatti-Malhotra-Higgins

 

[StringerBell]

Maybe do:

Booth - Kesler - Shroeder
Higgins - Burrows - Hansen

Yes please.

 

[Samzilla]

Sedin-Sedin-Kassian
Booth-Kesler-Burrows
Raymond-Schroeder-Hansen
Volpatti-Malhotra-Higgins

No Lappy?

 

[orcatown]

Is this a joke? Can't believe some of the responses here... We saw this team get decimated when Ebbett was in the lineup in the faceoff dot. Manny is one of the tops in the league, yet again and has been 65%+ past couple of games. It seems trivial, but puck possession is a huge part of the game and it means a lot to this team. Unless we're replacing Manny with someone who can put up the same faceoff numbers and throw a few hits and score a goal or two, I don't see how we can really upgrade on him. Who is a feasible target at a reasonable price?

Actually 1 win versus 6 losses on face offs tonite and most of those losses were totally clean losses. And who is this player throwing hits or scoring a goal or two. Certainly not Manny. I don't know whether Malhotra has had a meaningful shot on net this year

A reasonable price? 2.5 cap his for a player who does one thing. He is one of the worst contracts in the League. Maybe the worst.

Has often as not causes big trouble in our end as they have to try to hustle him off the ice soon as the face off is over.

Who do replace him? - LaPierre who was 8 and 2 tonite and who can at least play after the puck is dropped.

To suggest we don't recognize the pathetic play of Malhotra and not try to remedy the situation is ridiculous. And to suggest the bad play of Ebbett somehow justifies the tragic play of Malhotra is goofy. They are both bad and both need replacement.

 

[Crows*]

Actually 1 win versus 6 losses on face offs tonite and most of those losses were totally clean losses. And who is this player throwing hits or scoring a goal or two. Certainly not Manny. I don't know whether Malhotra has had a meaningful shot on net this year

A reasonable price? 2.5 cap his for a player who does one thing. He is one of the worst contracts in the League. Maybe the worst.

Has often as not causes big trouble in our end as they have to try to hustle him off the ice soon as the face off is over.

Who do replace him? - LaPierre who was 8 and 2 tonite and who can at least play after the puck is dropped.

To suggest we don't recognize the pathetic play of Malhotra and not try to remedy the situation is ridiculous. And to suggest the bad play of Ebbett somehow justifies the tragic play of Malhotra is goofy. They are both bad and both need replacement.

I agree. I love manny as a person and respect him beyond belief, but he is done.

 

[Intoewsables]

Sedin-Sedin-Kassian
Booth-Kesler-Burrows
Raymond-Schroeder-Hansen
Volpatti-Malhotra-Higgins

Rather see something like this:

Sedin - Sedin - Kassian
Higgins - Kesler - Burrows
Raymond - Schroeder - Booth
Malhotra - Lapierre - Hansen

Higgins and Hansen more or less interchangeable. Weise can draw in on the fourth line if needed.

Give the 2nd and 4th lines the tougher defensive matchups and shelter the 3rd line.

 

[Hollywood Burrows]

Isn't earmuffs kid a little old to still be sitting on his dads lap?

I guess it means he gets in for free as he's treated as a infant who shares a seat, but I think it's time he can sit on his own and drop the earmuffs.

Okay I've been angry about this all season. That sopranos extra lets his 13 year old sit in his lap, the kid almost always wears the sweater of the visiting team. I don't even need to mention the earmuffs, that's just weird ****. Whenever this guy doesn't come to the game the seat is invariably occupied by an affliction-wearing waxed hair halfwit. Another example of the worst home crowd in Canada (I said it).

 

[The Optimist]

Winning the game takes absolute precedence over any sort of "retribution". We were in a one goal, or tie game, why are we going to take liberties and put ourselves in a position to lose the game?

The problem is the Canucks took penalties regardless. They were just lazy ones like trips and hooking.

 

[VanCanucks53]

Isn't earmuffs kid a little old to still be sitting on his dads lap?

I guess it means he gets in for free as he's treated as a infant who shares a seat, but I think it's time he can sit on his own and drop the earmuffs.

You really don't like that kid do you?


But I agree. I know he's a kid but holy it's annoying. Your behind the bench always wearing the other teams sweater? Don't come to games then or choose one team. Sometimes he'll wear a Canucks jersey too. Don't get their deal. I heard he's good friends of Aquaman though. Maybe I'm wrong but I swear I read that somewhere.

 

[Nuckles]

I agree. I love manny as a person and respect him beyond belief, but he is done.

I feel really bad for him.
He would have been a big boost to our lineup in the cup finals, we may have had a much better chance if he hadn't suffered that injury.

But man, he really isn't that good anymore.

 

[Pip]

Winning the game takes absolute precedence over any sort of "retribution". We were in a one goal, or tie game, why are we going to take liberties and put ourselves in a position to lose the game?

I feel like if Schroeder keeps playing as well as he has at both ends of the ice he should stick when everyone is healthy. Something like:

Sedin - Sedin - Kassian
Booth - Kesler - Burrows
Raymond - Schroeder - Higgins
Weise/Manny - Lapierre - Hansen

swap booth and Higgins imo

 

[biturbo19]

Rather see something like this:

Sedin - Sedin - Kassian
Higgins - Kesler - Burrows
Raymond - Schroeder - Booth
Malhotra - Lapierre - Hansen

Higgins and Hansen more or less interchangeable. Weise can draw in on the fourth line if needed.

Give the 2nd and 4th lines the tougher defensive matchups and shelter the 3rd line.

I'd love to see something like this when Kesler is back.

a)it'll help Kesler ease back in without big offensive pressure. people ignore the fact that he's going to be stupendously rusty...and with Kesler, i think that tends to manifest in his offensive game. just let him play a shutdown role alongside solid defensive players...let the dirty nasty smash-mouth crease-crashing goals abound...hopefully build Kesler's confidence up in the process.

b)Schroeder with Booth seems like a great fit...and whether it's Raymond or Hansen, you get an added defensive conscience there to help the youngster out...while playing a role much like what we see from the Schroeder line right now.

No matter what, under AV in particular...we're going to need a designated go-to 'shutdown' line...it's not gonna be the Twins or the 4th line with Cyclops Manny at the helm flanked by Peppermint man. So let it be the '2nd line'...with Schroeder and Booth playing an offensive role...Raymond or Hansen there just adds even more scary speed and that line will mop up in transition.

 

[Lonny Bohonos]

Okay I've been angry about this all season. That sopranos extra lets his 13 year old sit in his lap, the kid almost always wears the sweater of the visiting team. I don't even need to mention the earmuffs, that's just weird ****. Whenever this guy doesn't come to the game the seat is invariably occupied by an affliction-wearing waxed hair halfwit. Another example of the worst home crowd in Canada (I said it).

im wondering if the kid if is autistic.

 

[Angry Little Elf]

im wondering if the kid if is autistic.

I asked around reddit, apparently he lives in North Burnaby. and his family is "really nice"

 

[Smokey McCanucks]

It was definitely nice to secure the two points, but I don't feel very good about the victory. I was hoping for a statement game from the Canucks, and this was definitely not the case. In fact, tonight just reiterated that a lot of the problems from the past few years remain.

1) Keith Situation - The Canucks had a chance here to send a message to the rest of the league and they failed miserably. I can't believe there weren't even any scrums involving Keith. Outside of a couple guys on the 4th line failing to bodycheck Keith early in the game, it almost seemed like someone told the team to forget about Keith. If I had to guess, I would say AV and the rest of the coaching staff are to blame for the Canucks looking incredibly soft.

2) Defend Any Lead At All Costs - I guess the Canucks thought that they could hold a 1-0 lead against an explosive Chicago team for 40 minutes. This ridiculous strategy is like a bad movie that's been on repeat for the past couple of years, but even more so this season. It's incredibly boring to watch and not very effective. We all know AV isn't going to change though, so we will be stuck with this garbage until he is inevitably fired.

Overall, happy for the victory, but it's obvious that the same glaring problems remain. Unless something changes, I'm going to find it hard to be optimistic about our chances in the playoffs.

I thought it was pretty obvious what happened there, it wasn't AV saying anything, it was Daniel and Henrik. And they did the job on the ice so what can you say but props to them? That's their style, no BS, all class.

 

[McLlwain]

Reading through the last 20 or so pages of this thread after finishing watching the game was pretty hilarious.
I'll admit I didn't expect us to win in the shootout either, though.

Overall I think the Canucks played a pretty smart game.
In the first period the Hawks looked intimidated. They were more busy trying to avoid getting hit than actually making plays. Hence the Canucks with some really nice scoring chances.

The Canucks left the neutral zone to Chicago, focussed on defending in their own end, which was smart against a team that was supposed to have the edge in terms of speed. I think it worked pretty well until that one give-away by Garrison that led to the tying goal.

Hawks took matters in their own hands after realizing the Canucks weren't out headhunting and started to look like the team that didn't go pointless in any game this season. That had to be expected at some point during the game. Especially after they were trailing.

I didn't think it was such a bad game by the Canucks at all. The Hawks deserve the loser point.

Wow, Luongo. What a performance. He has reached November level. I don't want to be in AV's shoes right now to pick the starter for the next game...
(Gotta love how Lu chirped Kane there!)

After reading the pre-game thread and all the blood thirst I can see why most people here are disappointed with the way this game went. Well, I didn't expect the Canucks to go headhunting, so I had no problem with this game being as tame as it was.

We beat one of the hottest teams in the league in the most unexpected way (aka the shoot out). I can absolutely live with that. 90% happy camper here.