Post-Game Talk: 2003 Wild 3, Canucks 2 (Letowski, Naslund)

[Wry n Ginger]

This game was a.coin flip. All about the bounces...but mother of f***ing holy dog shit God do I ever hate that style of hockey. I feel sorry for Kings fans that have to watch that crap...

 

[PavelBure10]

DeSmith has been good as of late but I wasn't too confident with him in this one. Over playing his crease catching himself out of position.

Was getting a little mad at the lack of shooting when the Canucks had chances. Hughes and Cole had to Brilliant opportunities but made passes instead. When you play trapping teams and get anywhere near the slot you shoot.

Myers does not deserve top line minutes, let alone being on a generational talents linemate. Get him off of that line.

Good pressure in the dying minutes, but shoot the freaking puck. Same thing on the powerplays, just shoot and good things will come.

Ugly game and Doughty is a diving POS.

 

[MS]

Nothing really wrong with this performance.

We were clearly the better team and outshooting/outchancing them until late in the 2nd when two scrambly goals go in and then it’s basically playing the Lemaire Devils past that point.

Don’t know why they juggled the defensive pairings and it didn’t really work.

Big problem is that there is not enough size/speed/skill on the top 2 lines. Really need Joshua back.

DeSmith has played well but looked like a backup tonight.

 

[Nucker101]

I thought the Miller line struggled, Hronek and Zadorov also not that effective. Rest of the team played decently.

Kings are amazing at defending a lead, have to give them credit

 

[God]

I don't really have a problem with the Kings playstyle. It's incredibly boring to watch but it clearly works for them.

With that said, the Canucks can absolutely beat them. The scoring chances were 17-8 after two periods and we somehow ended up down two goals due to some flukey nonsense. And stuff like that can happen at any time and is pretty unpredictable, so you can't really get too bogged down about it.

 

[LordBacon]

God damn this board is super quiet today,
Kings games really are the most boring ones.

 

[MS]

I don't really have a problem with the Kings playstyle. It's incredibly boring to watch but it clearly works for them.

With that said, the Canucks can absolutely beat them. The scoring chances were 17-8 after two periods and we somehow ended up down two goals due to some flukey nonsense. And stuff like that can happen at any time and is pretty unpredictable, so you can't really get too bogged down about it.

… and their first goal came on a bungled change where were were accidentally SH with only one D on the ice.

It’s been an ongoing thing that our finishing has been poor lately and we got away with it with Demko in net or against lesser teams but today it bit us. But we were still very unlucky/unfortunate to be trailing in this game after 2 periods.

 

[blfr]

I blame the 6 pm start. What was that all about?

 

[Rowlet]

The Canucks won the stat battle tonight, had some unlucky bounces.

No line was negative in corsi or fenwick, Canucks had more than a goal higher in xGF

 

[Bleach Clean]

I don't really have a problem with the Kings playstyle. It's incredibly boring to watch but it clearly works for them.

With that said, the Canucks can absolutely beat them. The scoring chances were 17-8 after two periods and we somehow ended up down two goals due to some flukey nonsense. And stuff like that can happen at any time and is pretty unpredictable, so you can't really get too bogged down about it.

It seems like the Canucks have the edge in scoring chances, but not in scramble plays (imo). LA is able to create second attempts in more dangerous areas, such that they can 'fluke' into goals. They're chaos is near the net. By contrast, the Canucks chances are further away.

The Kings can play low event hockey better than the Canucks can. The Canucks' edge in skill is not able to overcome it.

Edit: You either rely on whatever edge you can create in shot differential, or you change out the wingers to get better shooters in the offseason.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

As others have said, Canucks were better team imo, few bad breaks, a lapse with the line change, and thats the difference. We probably win this one 7/10 times.

I liked how physical we were in the 1st period, Podkolzin in particular really stood out in that regard.

This was a game where Hughes/Hronek should've been together. Hronek wasn't particularly effective, Hughes was fantastic but Myers did give a few bad passes at the line & didn't aid Hughes in the offense like Fil does.

Lastly this game made me realize I still hate LA. Their style sucks, they obstruct alot, & Doughty is one of the biggest divers in the league.

 

[VanJack]

Canucks were able to dominate when they upped their energy level......but when it went into a lull, the Kings pounce. If they're not the most boring team in hockey, they're close to it.

But the inconvenient truth is that the Canucks would be in for a world of trouble if they ever met this Kings team in the playoffs. A pair of teams with an absolute commitment to systems that basically close the down to the size of a closet.

But the Kings are probably better at their suffocating system, and the Canucks are with theirs.

 

[DFAC]

Thought the Canucks were the better team but had a bad line change on the first goal and unlucky with the 2nd and 3rd goals against. Can clean up some small things but overall not much to write home about

It happens, onto the next

 

[Bleach Clean]

And Tocchet says it: LA was better in the paint.

8-9 chances each and LA capitalizes in that specific area.

 

[alternate]

Sim that game 7 times and we likely move on to the next round.

 

[MS]

Sim that game 7 times and we likely move on to the next round.

Bingo, especially with Demko in net.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Podkolzin is showing really well on the forecheck, IMO. Really using his size and speed to cause havoc. Having him and Joshua on the 4th and 3rd lines in the postseason would be great.

 

[God]

It seems like the Canucks have the edge in scoring chances, but not in chance (imo). LA is able to create second attempts in more dangerous areas, such that they can 'fluke' into goals. They're chaos is near the net. By conrast, the Canucks will get chances are further away.

The Kings can play low event hockey better than the Canucks can. The Canucks' edge in skill is not able to overcome it.

Edit: You either rely on whatever edge you can create in shot differential, or your change out the wingers to get better shooters in the offseason.

Saying that LA is able to create second attempts in dangerous areas from watching the game tonight is a... stretch. The puck literally went off Soucy's skate in the most favourable way possible, and Hughes was falling down and his skate accidentally kicked the puck in a lane right out of Lafferty's reach and directly to where Kopitar was going.

The Canucks gave the Kings fits in the first two periods because they dumped the puck in and their puck retrieval system was excellent. I don't deny that the Canucks' skill hasn't been good lately, but this team is nearly first in the league because of their ability to play low event, structured hockey.

 

[orcatown]

Big strenght of the Kings is the defensive work of their centers - especially Kopitar and Danault and they took away much of the middle of the ice. Then they just pack it in on D and keep everything to the outside. Getting the lead on them is crucial. Canucks did not play bad but they have to find better ways of penetrating that defense and get to the net front.

Good

Podkolzin - went to the body all game and broke up plays in the offensive end. Pressure on the LA defense is the key to beating them and Podkolzin was probably the best at doing this, Was also good getting back in transition.

Hronek - puck movement was excellent. Great range in his play. Probably the best at breaking up or driving wide the odd man rushes the team was giving up. And there was too much of this during this game.

Hughes - got knocked down (or hacked down) on the one goal against but was important in establishing offense from the back end. Would say the best offensive player for the Canucks in this game.

Blueger - was key in providing good offensive possession in the LA end. Thought that others like Lafferty , Di Guiseppe, and Aman played good two way games as well..

Not So Good

Myers - seemed a step slow since coming back. Not tragic and made some good recoveries. However, given chances to provide more from the back end and really didn't.

Soucy - tough game. Bad penalty and made too many miscues coming out of his end. Had some trouble with LA speed.

Boeser - scored (really a fluke however- but looks good on the score sheet and hopefully selling others on his value) Very bad on first goal against and overall got little to nothing done. Looked slow in this one. Very fearful about how this player will do when speed ramps up in the playoffs

Pettersson - you wonder if his game will ever mature. Taking himself way out of the play to make futile and meaningless hits. Also, mis-timing his moves in the offense ends - like when a team mate has the puck behind other team's net and he is coming through the circle - instead of hanging back some to provide himself space, he rushes into traffic making the pass more awkward. So many little things like this where he forces the play rather than letting the play come to him. In this game he was also mishandling the puck and did not look smooth at all.

Did not like the annoucing. Late penalty on Boeser looked like a total dive. But color guy is such a p***y seemed to try defend the call. The guy is so lifeless, so lacking in personality, and so muted and oblique in his descriptions that he puts a wet blanket on even parts of the game that should be exciting. In fact, most often his annoucing just trails off into nothing. Maybe he should make a recording and sell it to people who have trouble getting to sleep. My view anyhow.

It's too bad as there are so many hard working younger people who strive or hope to make a living doing this and never get a chance b/c of the buddy system. I listen to some of these people and believe they deserve a chance instead some talentless old boy.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Saying that LA is able to create second attempts in dangerous areas from watching the game tonight is a... stretch. The puck literally went off Soucy's skate in the most favourable way possible, and Hughes was falling down and his skate accidentally kicked the puck in a lane right out of Lafferty's reach and directly to where Kopitar was going.

The Canucks gave the Kings fits in the first two periods because they dumped the puck in and their puck retrieval system was excellent. I don't deny that the Canucks' skill hasn't been good lately, but this team is nearly first in the league because of their ability to play low event, structured hockey.

That scrambly play happens in the paint (the more dangerous area). EDIT: Tocchet references this exact thing BTW.

I do agree that the Canucks had more zone time, and have been a better team on the season, but in this particular matchup they have not been as apt to create scramble plays inside the box.

Part of this may be a lack of size, but another part of it is having good enough shooters to create rebounds from distance.

Aside: What site are you using to track chances at 17-8? Tocchet said they were about 8-9 apiece, and Natural Stat Trick has HDCF as 10 to 4 for the Canucks.

 

[God]

That scrambly play happens in the paint (the more dangerous area). I do agree that the Canucks had more zone time, and have been a better team on the season, but in this particular matchup they have not been as apt to create scramble plays inside the box.

Part of this may be a lack of size, but another part of it is having good enough shooters to create rebounds from distance.

Aside: What site are you using to track chances at 17-8? Tocchet said they were about 8-9 apiece, and Natural Stat Trick has HDCF as 10 to 4 for the Canucks.

I used natural stat trick, which shows scoring chances as 17-8 after 2 periods.

In 3 games against the Kings, the Canucks have been outplayed once and dominated the other two times but are 1-2. There's nothing negative to take away from this game aside from small things to fix like the bench mishap and maybe starting the 3rd with more jump to keep LA on their heels.

 

[Peen]

Podkolzin and Hoglander’s transformations from training camp have to be feathers in the cap for what you’re trying to sell more undrafted young FAs to come sign here.

Joshua, Juulsen as other relevant examples of improvement for experienced fringe guys who became mainstays in the NHL.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

Well that sucked.

Good:
Naslund - Guy is on fire right now and amongst the best wingers in the league.

Salo - Just a rock defensively. Makes you wish he could hit the net more with his powerful shots.

Bad:
Bertuzzi - Mucking around out there trying to do much all game capped off by a stupid penalty late in the game which killed our chances of a comeback. Such a good power forward but a real hot head.

Sedins - Meh, these two are soft as brie cheese. Not really sure if they will ever develop into legit top 6 players.

Ugly:
Jovo - Overrated shit.

Dan Cloutier - Looked like it was going well until the back to back softies. The Park goal was bad but the soft wrister by Walz should never get past him.

Next game is against the Atlanta Thrashers. They better at least win that.

 

[Bleach Clean]

I used natural stat trick, which shows scoring chances as 17-8 after 2 periods.

In 3 games against the Kings, the Canucks have been outplayed once and dominated the other two times but are 1-2. There's nothing negative to take away from this game aside from small things to fix like the bench mishap and maybe starting the 3rd with more jump to keep LA on their heels.

This is the type of match-up where you will see the Canucks lead in scoring chances, per the zones those shots are tracked in, and still lose in terms of the scramble plays in front of the net. LA is excellent at this.

It's getting to the net, for either team. Tocchet said it was a coin flip with them getting the better of the scramble plays. I think that's a good read on the game.

 

[MS]

This is the type of match-up where you will see the Canucks lead in scoring chances, per the zones those shots are tracked in, and still lose in terms of the scramble plays in front of the net. LA is excellent at this.

It's getting to the net, for either team.

LA literally didn't have any of those scramble-type chances until they scored (or after their two goals), and the first one was basically a PP with a delayed penalty where we scored an own goal.

Some games both teams can put through 10 screened shots from the point and one team has 3 of them find a way in and the other doesn't get any.