GDT: GAME #30 - Canucks @ Roadrunners - March 21st, 1977, 7:00 - Sports Network Pacific

[Nuckles]

Kesler, Booth, Malhotra (3-5 highest paid forwards), Kassian, Higgins possibly now, Pinnizotto isn't on the trip for whatever reason. Sestito was hurt I guess but took the skate so I'd imagine he'll play, although who knows if he would if there were other healthy options.

So 5. Potentially 6 or 7.

Isn't Bieksa playing hurt?

Eek, forgot about Malhotra.
This is insane.

 

[BeardyCanuck03]

‏@benkuzma
Higgins tweaked back in #Canucks practice, won't play. Pinizzotto is ill and will join team, D-man will play up front tonight.


Hilarious...

 

[King of Anarchy]

Tonight it is

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
Raymond - Schroeder - Hansen
Ebbett - Lappy - Weise
Sestito- Gordon - Barker?

Man.. I should be in Phoenix tonight. Where else can you watch two NHL teams and an AHL team play live for $15 bucks?

 

[HAMMY5]

Love this AHL team we roster so impressive to watch... gawd damn injurys Fack!


WE ARE ******

 

[y2kcanucks]

Tonight it is

Sedin - Sedin - Burrows
Raymond - Schroeder - Hansen
Ebbett - Lappy - Weise
Sestito- Gordon - Barker?

If we had to run with that lineup for any sort of length it would be amazing to win any games at all. Wow

 

[ItsAllPartOfThePlan]

What is with the back problems on this team. Higgins, Kassian, Edler...

 

[petrishriekandgo]

Alberts will probably play up front as he's done it before for the team. I'd like to see Ballard or Bieksa but they need those guys to be able to skate the puck out of the zone tonight.

 

[petrishriekandgo]

IF the PP doesn't contribute tonight we're losing this game (says Captain obvious).

 

[Barney Gumble]

Alberts will probably play up front as he's done it before for the team. I'd like to see Ballard or Bieksa but they need those guys to be able to skate the puck out of the zone tonight.

Double-shift Ballard for that role. Not like he'd get a ton of minutes doing 4th line duty/#6 D duty. Or Bieksa (who's also played up front for a short-time in the past).

Think both would be a better option than Alberts.

 

[WinterEmpire]

What is with the back problems on this team. Higgins, Kassian, Edler...

Hodgon as well. This is clearly a training staff issue, we've all heard the rumors...

 

[canucksfan100]

If we had to run with that lineup for any sort of length it would be amazing to win any games at all. Wow

Sestito is also hurt but will play it looks like...

 

[y2kcanucks]

Hodgon as well. This is clearly a training staff issue, we've all heard the rumors...

A couple years ago it was groin injuries, now it's back injuries.

 

[TruGr1t]

Oof well our line-up totally sucks. Maybe we should just go for a higher draft pick and figure it out in the offseason.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Tonight's drink of choice for the game:

 

[Barney Gumble]

A couple years ago it was groin injuries, now it's back injuries.

Go back a bit more when then sophmore Edler was the #1 d on the team because essentially everybody else was hurt on the blueline. Ohlund came back for the next game but was playing with bruised/factured ribs.

Now that *IS* bad.

 

[RobertKron]

Good thing our strong defensive play kind of mitigates the loss in offense from all those injuries up front right? Isn't that what a good coach will provide? (eg., you learn to play better defensively but tough to "learn" to produce more if the skill ain't there).

Obviously the coaching has had some interesting decisions this season, but a few things:

We all know that if AV were to get the team playing defensive hockey like a few years back, this whole board would melt the **** down. But, I also challenge the idea that he even has the horses to do that all that effectively.

It's tough to play strong defensive hockey when you're missing your top two faceoff guys, and they're replaced with call-ups that are well under 50%. The Canucks have one centre in their lineup right now above 50% - Lapierre at 50.5%. In 2010-11, the team's top 4 faceoff-taking centres were all over 50%. Last year, I think Hodgson was the only one below, but you had Sedin, Kesler, Lapierre, Malhotra, and Pahlsson all over 50%. You're giving yourself an uphill climb defensively when you give the other team the puck at the onset of play more than half the time.

Ditto that with the PK. Malhotra played 30+ seconds more per game on the PK than the next forward, and was destroying on the dot. Kesler, obviously is a major PK and faceoff guy for this team as well. Winning a draw on the PK kills 20+ seconds. That's huge.

It's not like the forwards and defense are somehow two totally separate categories. This isn't football.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

I'm feeling a win tonight. Everything is going so hilariously wrong that it just has to happen.

 

[PhilMick]

Hodgon as well. This is clearly a training staff issue, we've all heard the rumors...

Bring back Peter Twist! #mulletsandhightops

 

[canuck4life16]

that bottom 6 looks ugly.....

 

[Barney Gumble]

It's not like the forwards and defense are somehow two totally separate categories. This isn't football.

True - and I might be inclined to agree with that but this team has played questionably defensively for more than a year now (going back to the 2nd half of LAST season). At least then, a somewhat full roster & goaltending masked that problem to a degree (until the playoffs came - when the likes of Ballard is one of our better D - you know you've got problems).

 

[RobertKron]

that bottom 6 looks ugly.....

They're using 3 callups and a defenseman in their forward group. No **** it looks ugly.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Time for the top two lines to step up and the defence to tighten up.
If Ottawa can continue to win with all of their key pieces missing we should be able to weather the storm. I know that we don't have the same depth on the farm as them but they are really decimated.

 

[Vancouver_2010]

Where is the expo mascot? Was he fired?

 

[HAMMY5]

Dear Vancouver Canucks/All Canuck fans

I am 22 and an offensive Centre/Winger with 72G / 56A / 129 pts / 32pim in 58GP... But I have an important Beer league game tonight otherwise I'd offer you my services and fly out to the desert.

I am sorry for the pain this must cause all of you because now Barker has to play in a forward roll instead. ............

 

[Barney Gumble]

Where is the expo mascot? Was he fired?

AV didn't feel his performance was up to snuff for the past few games so he's decided to bring back Krazy George because he feels that person gives us the best chance to win.