Post-Game Talk: Vancouver Millionaires vs. Detroit Winged Wheelers - We Still Suck

[Bleach Clean]

So you're going to use one overachieving team to try and prove your point. This roster is incredibly average without Kesler dude, and this is coming from a guy that wants AV gone as soon as possible.

By what metric? You will have to show how this roster is inferior to make a claim like that. As outlandish as it is to make in the first place.

I'm Tiranis on this one: No comparison on the rosters for me either.

 

[Hal 9000*]

The difference is: Ottawa goalies are dominant.

No, Their D are playing things tight and simple. They dont allow the cross and keep everything to the outside and/or bad angle shots. Things that Boston did to us and same thing we should be doing.

 

[Jyrki]

This team is absolutely pathetic when playing from behind. They play like a bunch of spazzing kids who have no sense of direction. That's what happens when you have a coach who doesn't do jack**** to spark the team or adjust to the realities of the game.

The fact that GMMG also hasn't done anything wrt goaltending is repulsive. We have a GAPING hole down the middle and an OBVIOUS surplus on net. We've had it since he decided it would be a great idea to trade Cody for a winger. Our lack of depth is exposed with each passing game; we shouldn't even be having this conversation this far into the season.

Oh yeah, and keep playing Alberts over Ballard. Not only it makes him harder to move but we stand less of a chance every game! Are we failing for MacKinnon and I didn't get the memo yet?

#fireav
#firegillis

 

[orcatown]

And that is what a bad team looks like. Pity the poor suckers who paid to see this mess. Well organized team plays a dysfunctional one and this is what you get. Team eked out a win in Columbus and lucked out against a depleted one in Nashville. But to me, the team is in real rough shape

The Good

Really a matter of finding the least bad. Suppose you can credit Burrows with scoring but he had some awful stretches, especially in the second. Give Bieksa credit for giving it a go but you can see he is limited. Even the regular contributors such as Hansen were lugging in this game.

The Bad

Weise - like out he spins around backwards and goes gliding out of the play all the time. Just a brutal player with zero skill that doesn't even hit much. Should not be in the League

Pinizzotto - can't skate well enough to stay in the play. By the time he caught up to the play it was going the other way and then he was uselessly skating after it again. Was not all that good with the Wolves and looks out of his depth when the game speeds up.

Luongo - third goal was one he had to have. Made some decent saves but that clunker third goal led directly to the meltdown.

Edler - weak in his own end and terrible on the PP. Soft as mushy snow per usual. Is he the biggest disappointment on the team????

The Ugly

Hamhuis - just got abused by Datsyuk all game and was very feeble in getting the puck out of his zone. Why he was out on the late 5 on 3 is anyone guess. Just kept pounding the puck aimlessly off the end boards.

Ebbett - "Scooter" thudded to the ground tonite. Looked hopeless and was pushed out of the play with ridiculous ease. One of the slowest players to ever play center for the club. Has the leg drive of a midget

Other thoughts

I guess most people liked the unis and certainly wouldn't have matter, in this game, what the team was wearing but I thought the whole thing created a kind of circus atmosphere that really wasn't conducive to a concentrated effort. Maybe the team makes a few bucks in uniform sales but might also think about playoff revenue.

Team is on the edge of the abyss and if they can't get this situation straighten out quickly they're done. And maybe this isn't the worse thing. With the injuries mounting and our reserves obviously of little use, if they are going to fall, it would be best to fall hard. Get the right draft choices, get a healthy line back, and sign the right free agents and this could be a quick turnaround. Just limping into the playoffs, with the way the lineup is and the way the team is playing, doesn't really help any long term prospects.

 

[Tiranis]

By what metric? You will have to show how this roster is inferior to make a claim like that. As outlandish as it is to make in the first place.

I'm Tiranis on this one: No comparison on the rosters for me either.

It's not just one team anyway. Phoenix has Mike Smith in net (the guy who can't be an NHL goalie anywhere else), one top D and one good offensive D, and a bunch of grinders, and they're in the exact same position we are. It's not like one can even use the excuse that AV is coaching this team to be fun to watch. Right now we're no more enjoyable than the Coyotes.

 

[CanadianPirate]

There's a part of me that hopes the Canucks get a few more injuries and just fall apart. They could be that good team that has a bad year, drafts a superstar young player, and ends up back at the top of the league a year later (I hate when other teams do that).

I expect Booth to be out for the balance of the regular season (only 6 weeks), so Gillis at least has a ton of cap space to play with.

I feel guilty for feeling like it but I'm starting to agree. Sell Luongo at the deadline or the draft and get a high draft pick by tanking. Those two things should inject more young talent.

 

[Angry Little Elf]

I expect a shakeup in the coming weeks, if not, management has failed us.

 

[Zack Kassian]

There's a part of me that hopes the Canucks get a few more injuries and just fall apart. They could be that good team that has a bad year, drafts a superstar young player, and ends up back at the top of the league a year later (I hate when other teams do that).

I expect Booth to be out for the balance of the regular season (only 6 weeks), so Gillis at least has a ton of cap space to play with.

how about no more injuries and just fall apart if thats what you want. I'd rather squeeze into the playoffs and have ebbett score 40 goals as we sweep every round

 

[EpochLink]

I expect a shakeup in the coming weeks, if not, management has failed us.

This week, the team is sinking

 

[deadinthewater]

No, Their D are playing things tight and simple. They dont allow the cross and keep everything to the outside and/or bad angle shots. Things that Boston did to us and same thing we should be doing.

It just makes me hate how our D is playing. With guys like Hamhuis, Edler, Garrison, Tanev, etc. we should have one of the top units in the league, but somehow we're looking like one of the worst (not necessarily saying they were awful tonight).

 

[Tiranis]

Also, our ability to drag some games into OT flatters us. Minny has 2 more wins than us. Somehow they're getting a career year out of Matt Cullen and a bunch of other guys.

 

[Jyrki]

Luongo - third goal was one he had to have. Made some decent saves but that clunker third goal led directly to the meltdown.

This is what bothers me the most - our goalies aren't even entitled to making a mistake every few games because the team in front of them is so pathetic mentally that they turn into mush the moment a bad bounce makes it past their own goal line.

Just look at the Kings in their last playoff run - Quick let in a few brutal goals, including a center-ice drive, but not for a moment did the team take the foot off the pedal because the scoreboard titled against them. They kept doing what they had to do and it worked out very well in the end.

The team is way too comfy with Schneider and Luongo, thinking they will bail out Bieksa every time he makes a dumb**** play, Edler whenever he makes a stretch pass through traffic and Alberts whenever he gets beaten wide. It's ******* revolting

 

[Angry Little Elf]

This week, the team is sinking

A trade, a firing. Anything. Please.

 

[petrishriekandgo]

Team is on the edge of the abyss and if they can't get this situation straighten out quickly they're done. And maybe this isn't the worse thing. With the injuries mounting and our reserves obviously of little use, if they are going to fall, it would be best to fall hard. Get the right draft choices, get a healthy line back, and sign the right free agents and this could be a quick turnaround. Just limping into the playoffs, with the way the lineup is and the way the team is playing, doesn't really help any long term prospects.

Injuries are killin' these guys... the Booth/Kassian pairing was really starting to pay dividends and wear other teams D down. That's gone now... can't see Booth back until the playoffs with, probably, a high ankle sprain.

Basically missing their 3 largest, best skating forwards against a puck possession team like Detroit will be an uphill battle every time.

It's almost getting to the point now of what moves could Gillis make? Jensen would be nice to see but could he keep up with the play at this point? Play him on the 3rd line and then let him be a PP specialist? I dunno.

What I'm hoping for is... if it's true that everything evens out, then we should have the best PP and healthiest forward unit in the playoffs.



We just have to get there... these next 8 games in 14nights are REALLY going to tell the tale for this season. Can't say I'm too optimistic at this point... just don't see the fire/fight. Can Bieksa, Burrows, Hansen, Higgins be enough of an energy catalyst through these games? Hansen can't possibly do much more, can Kassian?

Oy...

 

[deadinthewater]

Just look at the Kings in their last playoff run - Quick let in a few brutal goals, including a center-ice drive, but not for a moment did the team take the foot off the pedal because the scoreboard titled against them. They kept doing what they had to do and it worked out very well in the end.

I'm sorry, but when were they ever behind? Despite that one goal.

 

[CanadianPirate]

What were the d pairings? From what I saw Garrison and Hamhuis were playing together. Were Edler and Bieksa together again as well? If so...why? Seems like the team needs to be balanced a little and playing the two best defensive defensemen together and the two best offensive defenseman seems stupid. Ballard and Garrison played well together the one game they got the chance.

 

[palindrom]

No, Their D are playing things tight and simple. They dont allow the cross and keep everything to the outside and/or bad angle shots. Things that Boston did to us and same thing we should be doing.

are Ottawa goalies just average, but the D make them look good?

 

[Dado]

Get the right draft choices...

I'm not sure there's enough cliff left to fall off of to get a really high pick...? Especially given how bad the other teams in the running are...

 

[Jyrki]

I'm sorry, but when were they ever behind? Despite that one goal.

Not necessarily from behind, but even when the other team seemed to have momentum. They simply didn't fall apart.

 

[Bieksallent]

I'm not sure there's enough cliff left to fall off of to get a really high pick...? Especially given how bad the other teams in the running are...

4 points separate us from the bottom 10 of the league.

 

[petrishriekandgo]

Oh... and with tonights results the Canucks sit in 7th place in the conference. WHAT would a PP goal do for this team?

Son of a ....

 

[Bad News Benning]

I don't know why everyone wants to tank. Even if we tank we still won't be able to tank with the talent still left on the roster. The difference between the 10th overall pick and picks 16-25 isn't that beneficial where I cheer my team not to make the playoffs.

Honestly I'd be more inclined to tank if everyone was playing to their potential but there are a lot of guys on this team who haven't played up to their abilities so far this season. How many players can you say are playing to or exceeding expectations? maybe one or two guys. Id fire the coach before I give up on the season. With Kesler back and one or two additions this is still a very very dangerous team capable of making noise.

 

[Jack Tripper]

next week's schedule is just plain nasty...canucks picked arguably the worst portion of their regular season schedule to start playing their worst hockey of the year

assuming that not much changes tactically (and really it shouldn't, coaching staff is clearly out of ideas), and the goaltending continues to allow 1-2 softies per game, the team could get a real shock at their position in the standings 10 days from now

 

[Hal 9000*]

are Ottawa goalies just average, but the D make them look good?

Their goalies are fine. I don't think Anderson and Bishop are better than Luongo and Schneider though. I think it comes down to coaching and discipline.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

This is what bothers me the most - our goalies aren't even entitled to making a mistake every few games because the team in front of them is so pathetic mentally that they turn into mush the moment a bad bounce makes it past their own goal line.

Just look at the Kings in their last playoff run - Quick let in a few brutal goals, including a center-ice drive, but not for a moment did the team take the foot off the pedal because the scoreboard titled against them. They kept doing what they had to do and it worked out very well in the end.

The team is way too comfy with Schneider and Luongo, thinking they will bail out Bieksa every time he makes a dumb**** play, Edler whenever he makes a stretch pass through traffic and Alberts whenever he gets beaten wide. It's ******* revolting

A prime example is Carey Price in Montreal. He's had a number of weak games. How do the Habs respond? Against Pittsburgh, they bombed out six goals in what was ultimately a losing effort. They just recently rallied from down 3-1. When was the last time this team bailed out Luongo or Schneider? And therein lies our problem. We put enormous pressure on both of them to have a near letter perfect game because we are not going to cushion their bad night with a couple goals.

AV is almost arrogant in how he assumes we can overcome any slide and this is only a minor setback. What is so bloody frustrating is I witnessed Montreal attempt the "Defend the lead" style of hockey for too long. They sucked then as much as we do now, and AV cannot see it.