Vancouver led the league in points at Christmas, Can they continue this run into the New Year?

[JaegerDice]

The new 2014 Avalanche

 

[Divine]

Vancouver leads the league in games played like vegas who is the defending cup champ and canucks are 2 points up on them. Easteen teams also get to play crap teams like columbus or buffalo. Even teams like sens which arent good. Not sure how your point is valid now that we are at the half way mark? Again you can keep making up excuses on why canucks are a number 1 team and pretenders but the result speak for themselves

Here - I'll make it easy for you.

1.) The 3 worst teams in the league are currently in the Western Conference.
2.) The Canucks have played the most games in the league.
3.) The Canucks are not the first place team based on points percentage.

Debate those points how you wish instead of making up your own arguments to argue against.

 

[Shane Diesel]

The new 2014 Avalanche

The crash is going to be fun.

 

[LemonSauceD]

And the Senators were supposedly a playoff team and are now last in the East.

What does a team that hypes itself up have to do with anything? One of the goalies the Oilers started against the Canucks is getting lit up in the AHL currently.

There’s a massive difference between being simply a playoff team and being a “cup favourite”.

 

[Video Nasty]

Really fun squad to watch, for the few games I’ve tuned in for. 1st in goals scored, 6th in goals allowed, 1st in goal differential, 2nd in points percentage, “on pace” to have 9 players pot at least 20 goals. Always love when there’s a fresh fresh at or near the top of the standings.

 

[Divine]

There’s a massive difference between being simply a playoff team and being a “cup favourite”.

Yeah, and Carolina was rated above the Oilers yet they're currently out of the playoffs.

Some teams disappoint - not sure what that's got to do with anything. Do we evaluate teams based on their own internal hype or based on their results?

 

[bandwagonesque]

No, it wouldn’t.

Why would they be better than their current record suggests for losing a game against an NHL team?

Instead of playing the Sharks 3 times, the Canucks could have played the Leafs 3 times and had 0 points.

The quality of teams the Canucks have faced is average.

 

[jackjohnson]

They are 2-1 against San Jose and therefore have a better record if those games are excluded. Do you understand how this is relevant to the claim you've made?

These geniuses go all mathematician on us talking about PDO and shooting percentage yet they become like elementary school dropouts when they mention canucks playing sj and how beating them twice is the reason why canucks are number 1 in the league. I mean the mental gymnastics is amazing.

 

[Shane Diesel]

These geniuses go all mathematician on us talking about PDO and shooting percentage yet they become like elementary school dropouts when they mention canucks playing sj and how beating them twice is the reason why canucks are number 1 in the league. I mean the mental gymnastics is amazing.

How so? Beating bad teams and having an unsustainable PDO are perfectly in line with the criticisms being levied at Vancouver.

 

[jackjohnson]

How so? Beating bad teams and having an unsustainable PDO are perfectly in line with the criticisms being levied at Vancouver.

Canucks arent the only team that has faced bad teams. Its really funny to argue that unless canucks are playing in an alternative universe where they are the only team in the league to face bad teams lol

 

[Shane Diesel]

Canucks arent the only team that has faced bad teams. Its really funny to argue that unless canucks are playing in an alternative universe where they are the only team in the league to face bad teams lol

No one has made the argument otherwise. Solid strawman though.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Yeah, and Carolina was rated above the Oilers yet they're currently out of the playoffs.

Some teams disappoint - not sure what that's got to do with anything. Do we evaluate teams based on their own internal hype or based on their results?

So what is it? Canucks are beating bad teams who were supposed to be good? And is that supposed to be disappointing?

The grasping at straws is insane. Oilers suck. That’s all I know.

 

[jackjohnson]

No, it wouldn’t.

Why would they be better than their current record suggests for losing a game against an NHL team?

Instead of playing the Sharks 3 times, the Canucks could have played the Leafs 3 times and had 0 points.

Well the leafs faced buffalo, a terrible team and got ventilated by 9 goals. So not sure what your point is? Canucks getting 0 points facing the leafs 3 times is a joke in itself since laughs havent beaten canucks at vancouver for many years now.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I am ignorant about PDO stats and I wouldn't wish to learn about it. You need to factor in that they have keep the puck possession in the offensive zone longer than anyone else without even shooting. I have noted that they have made extra passes only for them not shooting with another extra passes or puck has gone awry for them. Even they were in a shooting position only for them to opt for a pass that frustrate me as a fan at times. As for defensive zone, they do not chase, They are playing in a zone defense and most of opponent shots are kept to outside in the perimeter and danger shots in the slot are usually saved and that factored into the high shots against.

No offense intended but every year a team thinks they can game PDO/have PDO figured out because their team is somehow more special than every other team has been before

Every year they learn the hard way.

And I don't say that to detract from the Canucks who are a clearly awesome team without the additional stat bumps, when I say 'regression' it doesn't mean they'll tank.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

The new 2014 Avalanche

Let’s hope so. Bringing the Cup back to Canada in the next 7 years would be great!

 

[jackjohnson]

No one has made the argument otherwise. Solid strawman though.

You made that argument when you mention it. Why bring it up? What is your point??

 

[Profet]

Also Canucks are top of the league in games played. Their points/game are not leading the league.

 

[jackjohnson]

Also Canucks are top of the league in games played. Their points/game are not leading the league.

Yeah but the standing takes into account points only

 

[kranuck]

No one has made the argument otherwise. Solid strawman though.

Haters have been making exactly that argument.

 

[Profet]

Yeah but the standing takes into account points only

You can only win the games you play.

Just think this thread is cocky when you look at the teams around them in the standings.

 

[kranuck]

Also Canucks are top of the league in games played. Their points/game are not leading the league.

Right, just 2nd overall.

Such a difference.

 

[jackjohnson]

Its really funny to argue when it comes to official NHL standings but here we are.

You can only win the games you play.

Just think this thread is cocky when you look at the teams around them in the standings.

That is not the canucks fault. You can blame the NHL on why some teams have played 5 less games. I just look at the standings and see Canucks on top.

 

[Shane Diesel]

You made that argument when you mention it. Why bring it up? What is your point??

I have no clue what you're even asking. Vancouver has played a weak schedule all while being bottom ten in CF% and xGF%. Past history has shown that's not a recipe for success. That's the point.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Here - I'll make it easy for you.

1.) The 3 worst teams in the league are currently in the Western Conference.
2.) The Canucks have played the most games in the league.
3.) The Canucks are not the first place team based on points percentage.

Debate those points how you wish instead of making up your own arguments to argue against.

in answer to point 1, i think too much emphasis is placed on games against bad teams when downplaying a good team's record. beating bad teams is just what good teams do while middling team often lose the plot and fail to beat bad teams. for example, leafs are 1-4 against the 5 worst teams in the league with some decisive defeats. leafs have also lost twice to buffalo, who will be in the bottom 5 before long. if you project that record forward, leafs have 3 more losses to the shark and ducks to look forward to plus a few more beatings from the sen and sabres.

in answer to point 2, the canucks now have the most off days in the league to the end of the season, which should help not hurt them.

in answer to point 3, the other teams with games in hand still have to play them to match the win percentage of the canucks. would rather have the wins in the bank myself.

 

[RipsADrive]

Quiet indeed.