Post-Game Talk: Stars def. Canucks - 3-1 (Miller) | Not Clinched

[AzNightmare]

We need Pettersson to perform offensively. Rarely seldom do we see him score any big goals against top teams. That's been the issue. I miss last year's version of him.

He's been reduced to just a cog in the PP that just passes the puck around. JT's the only one with a threatening shot. Hughes is the player the drives the play and creates chances. The other players just retrieve and pass it back to one of those 2...

And it was so evident Suter really looks like a bottom player with 0 creativity. Literally just fetch the loose puck and pass it to someone.

 

[DimitriL07]

Quinn needs to feast on the Ducks. Josi is kinda scaring me

 

[CanucksSayEh]

You talking Horvat and Kuz?
I mean we saw what the team was like for the last 8 years without a good defence, which is what Hronek helps to provide.
And Kuz wasn’t scoring unfortunately, as much as we all love the guy.

Im totally fine with the Hronek deal, and understand that you can't force Toch to play Kuzy out of his funk, but those were our 2 best shooters from last year. You can't just not replace that and expect things to be okay.

There were a number of players available before the season and at the deadline.

Gillis made the same mistake, trading away a clutch goal scorer in favor of more '2 way depth'. It was the goals that dried up in the playoffs, and that team never won a round again.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Put the Lotto line bavk together, cowards.

 

[AzNightmare]

Not sure what Canucks can do in the off season now in terms of cap space or who's available. But they really need some reliable trigger men that can score clutch goals.

 

[Petey But Really Jim]

Gillis made the same mistake, trading away a clutch goal scorer in favor of more '2 way depth'. It was the goals that dried up in the playoffs, and that team never won a round again.

What are you referencing here?

 

[Pogotheclown]

Since they loose all tight games against good teams, they shouldn't be seen as a contender.

Unfortunately, since they overpay their good players, the potential for further developement gets halted.

To bad.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

What are you referencing here?

CoHo and Sammy Phalsson. Eerily similar to Kuz/Lindholm situation.

It only took 1 injury after that and the goal scoring, especially on the PP, disappeared.

Many forget how close that series was in each game too, just the smallest difference maker on special teams could have stretched that to a 7 game series.

 

[David71]

should have gotten another top 6 foward. the PP still stinks. it will be their downfall for the playoffs no matte who they face. tocchett has gotta stop mixing and matching. they have a few days off here to fix it. work on the pp. or else they will get an early exit in round 1.

 

[Wry n Ginger]

Dang..another call/bounce game is taken away.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

CoHo and Sammy Phalsson. Eerily similar to Kuz/Lindholm situation.

It only took 1 injury after that and the goal scoring, especially on the PP, disappeared.

Many forget how close that series was in each game too, just the smallest difference maker on special teams could have stretched that to a 7 game series.

Pahlsson was more a replacement for Manny, which was a hole they never really filled. (Though Lappy did a good job in the '11 playoffs). Coho was a whole other thing entirely.

The biggest difference in the series was starting without Daniel Sedin. If he was healthy we could've won imo - not saying guarantee but they looked alot better in game 4 when he came back.

 

[Jyrki]

Pretty clear we need Demko to shut it down when we're playing tight checking games. Not a slant on DeSmith per se but we just need Top 5 goaltending because it looks like we struggle too much to score without room and our special teams haven't been reliable lately.

Didn't help that lines went on a blender, maybe Tocchet is trying to see what'll work for the playoffs but we're not home free just yet.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Elias Pettersson has the best one-timer in franchise history, and our powerplay has found him maybe 5 good looks all year. Watch a Colorado powerplay and see how often they get MacKinnon his one-timer looks from the left hash. Ovechkin literally has stood in the same spot for 20 years. Our powerplay scheme is just bad. It needs a total rework.

Looking back longingly at the times people gave Jason King crap.

 

[God]

Stop finding excuses for this team. Its many games in a row now we lost vs contenders that take us seriously. This is of SERIOUS concern for the managers if their plan is to get far into the playoffs.

3 losses in a row against contenders preceded by 3 wins in a row against contenders with one blowout against Winnipeg.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

Pahlsson was more a replacement for Manny, which was a hole they never really filled. (Though Lappy did a good job in the '11 playoffs). Coho was a whole other thing entirely.

The biggest difference in the series was starting without Daniel Sedin. If he was healthy we could've won imo - not saying guarantee but they looked alot better in game 4 when he came back.

Keeping Coho, or trading him for an actual roster player, very likely weathers the storm until Danny's return, making that into a 7 game series. They just needed 1-2 goals, and to not give up any shorthanded.

Regardless of how the trades or roster spots worked out, this team, like in 2012, subtracted goal scoring when they should have been loading up. That 8th seed Kings team had more balls to go all in then the 1st place team.

Hertl was right there for the taking, would be a perfect winger for either JT or EP, and now we very likely end up playing against him! Shades of Jeff Carter...

 

[Petey But Really Jim]

Elias Pettersson has the best one-timer in franchise history, and our powerplay has found him maybe 5 good looks all year. Watch a Colorado powerplay and see how often they get MacKinnon his one-timer looks from the left hash. Ovechkin literally has stood in the same spot for 20 years. Our powerplay scheme is just bad. It needs a total rework.

Sami Salo would like a word. and hurt himself expressing such

 

[David71]

move podkolzin to the first unit pp. take out suter he is not the answer

 

[CanucksSayEh]

EP's one timer is awful.

In a skills comp, he can shoot hard, but in game, he's like that mighty ducks kid. His skating is so awkward, that he cant get his feet set, and needs an absolute perfect pass or he will just send it back. His wind up is Tebow levels of slow.

Even with Hughes feeding him the puck, he's only good for 3-4 goals per year from that spot on the PP. Guys like Drai and Ovie get them by the dozen.

Should be in the bumper instead.

 

[B-rock]

EP's one timer is awful.

In a skills comp, he can shoot hard, but in game, he's like that mighty ducks kid. His skating is so awkward, that he cant get his feet set, and needs an absolute perfect pass or he will just send it back. His wind up is Tebow levels of slow.

Even with Hughes feeding him the puck, he's only good for 3-4 goals per year from that spot on the PP. Guys like Drai and Ovie get them by the dozen.

Should be in the bumper instead.

This!!

It boggles the mind why he can’t setup for a one timer like those guys can. It’s wild.
You watch Drai and he can literally be a foot above the goal line and in the corner and still one time it with pinpoint accuracy.
It’s been mentioned here before but everyone knows OV is going to shoot from his spot and yet he scored hundreds of goals from that area. Didn’t need to be a perfect setup, he could wire it as long as it was close to his wheelhouse.

Pettersson never looks ready for the pass or can’t adjust to get it off if it’s not directly on target. Instead it’s a hesitation and then back to Hughes or looks for a tap in on the back door but the pass goes through less than 1 in 10. Maddening to watch.

 

[orcatown]

Even game. Big time chances both ways throughout much of the game. Overall helter skelter around both nets but the Canucks need to find more ways of putting the puck in the net. Lot of line experimenting that I don't really get. PP looks pretty at times but can't score. Like to see Joshua out instead of either Suter or Boeser. Right now we don't have a net presence.

Good

Garland - most effective forward. Seemed to generate the most offense.

Hronek - could find faults but he was covering for a lot of lapses around his net. Lot of errors by the forwards defensively in this game and many of the d-men forced into difficult situations.

Joshua - not bad for first game back. As like before the injury, he broke up a lot of plays in the oofensive end.

Not That Good

Myers - hasn't pushed the puck up ice much since returning and looked little flat footed at times. Neither him or Soucy were clearing the front of the net as well as they should. Could say the same about others including Hughes. Thought Hughes was over played in this game.

Suter - needs to be in a less offensive role.

Others

Pettersson - just not happening for him right now. Sort of seemed to slip at times and get off balance. Biggest problem is that he can't seem to get any separation to make a play. Always making the play under duress. Worked hard in his zone but he is ending up playing too much in his own end (not all his fault) and even here seems endlessly playing in traffic.

Podkolzin - don't see him taking the next step this season. Lots of hard work and right in the play but needs to develope the his confidence and be smoother in handling the puck. Still at that level where you are forcing things and not looking like you have a definite purpose (or the next play thought out) when you have the puck. Playing a bit like playing by rote. Keeps you in the system but doesn't always allow you the kind of free lance play that leads to better scoring opportunities.

Bains - little bit the opposite of Podkolzin. He does see the ice well and can be creative but lacks some of the physical elements and speed to carry out plays. Thought he was involved tonight and not out of place. His ceiling remains a concern.

Reffing was iffy both ways. However, Canucks somehow need to get less high sticking penalties. Seems like those only ones that get called on regular basis (probably b/c they are the easiest) and the ones the most likely to get called in the playoffs

 

[Bleach Clean]

Close game, PP isn't going, stick penalties, and a few break downs and it's over.

I did like seeing Hoglander-Pettersson-Boeser-Hughes-Hronek play together. Maybe they load Pettersson's line as the match-up line and then play Miller off with the remaining wingers, like the following:

Hoglander-Pettersson-Boeser
Suter-Miller-Podkolzin
Joshua-Blueger-Garland
Mikheyev-Lindholm-Lafferty

The bottom6 match up against anyone, the Pettersson line takes on the opposition's best with Hughes-Hronek, then Miller gets the lesser assignment to create.

I also like Pettersson more on the bumper than on the right side half-wall. He gets more touches this way, and he can create a bit more. He just needs to stop looking for his shot first. Mix it up.

Suter being on the right side half-wall is far from ideal, but it is what it is.

@orcatown - Playing by rote, nice.

 

[Cancuks]

Remember when Hughes, Pettersson and Miller were on pace for 130 points? When Hronek was on pace for 80? Miller has really been the only consistent one. The rest have all faded including Hughes. Even Makar looks like he'll take over the scoring lead soon. Unfortunately these players will need to learn in future seasons to pace themselves and not go all out for 40 games and then just fade as the season wears on. We'll be bounced in the first round.

 

[thekernel]

Close game decided by an awful call. Once the arm went up and I saw the replay, I knew exactly what was coming. There is no justice it seems

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Just moments after such a blatant non- on Hronek for the same f***ing thing is what g

Close game decided by an awful call. Once the arm went up and I saw the replay, I knew exactly what was coming. There is no justice it seems

Gets me going man, f***ing joke

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

We have played 2 decent games in a row despite sabotaging our lines.

Bains and Lafferty are not top 6 players. Stop this nonsense immediately. I get we want 3 balanced scoring lines but it's not going to happen.

Powerplay is just setting up Hughes at the point or taking an unscreened shot. Any bumper formation is being easily covered due to our inability to control the puck or retrieve the puck down low.

We need powerplay coaches asap.

we have fffffffing sergei gonchar

wtf is going on here?