Pre-Game Talk: GM 13: Vancouver Canucks vs. Dallas Stars - Feb 15 - 7:00PM PST - SPAC

[LuiLui]

Canuck Killers:
Jaromir Jagr - 23GP, 12G, 20A, 32Pts


And it's his birthday tomorrow too

 

[thepuckmonster]

Canuck Killers:
Jaromir Jagr - 23GP, 12G, 20A, 32Pts


And it's his birthday tomorrow too

Yaaaay Jagr.

SUPER NUMBER ONE CZECH REPUBLICA JAROMIR.

 

[Royal Canuck]

Never knew Jagr was that good against us.

 

[Dado]

Jagr is legendary, yes, but the Stars are not a good team. This should be a straightforward - not "easy", but straightforward - win.

3-1 Vancouver.

 

[thepuckmonster]

Never knew Jagr was that good against us.

Jagr is that good against everyone when his knee isn't acting up.

Dallas' defense is such a joke, I hope the twins can go Harlem Globetrotter on it and put on a clinic.

 

[Vankiller Whale]

If our winning streak had to be cut short by some team, I wouldn't mind it being the Stars. They have a pretty stacked offense. Jagr, Benn, Eriksson, Roy, Ryder, Morrow, Whitney(injured still?), etc. Dallas is one of my more liked teams in the Western Conference.

 

[Angry Little Elf]

4-1 Nucks.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

2-1 Nuckleheads. Goals by Danny and Big Kass

 

[Karl Hungus]

Lehtonen can put on a clinic if the Stars play a structured game. Kassian, Burrows, Hansen and Higgins will have to really get in his kitchen or he will stop everything.

I'm also interested to watch Brendan Dillon some more. He looks like an Adam Foote type player. He's a bit rough around the edges but he's huge and mobile.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Some more Canuck vs. Star stats, if Kesler is good to go...

Ryan Kesler - 30GP, 10G, 5A, 15Pts

 

[thepuckmonster]

Lehtonen can put on a clinic if the Stars play a structured game. Kassian, Burrows, Hansen and Higgins will have to really get in his kitchen or he will stop everything.

I'm also interested to watch Brendan Dillon some more. He looks like an Adam Foote type player. He's a bit rough around the edges but he's huge and mobile.

If the Calgary game was any indicator, the Stars don't know the meaning of structured.

 

[deadinthewater]

If the Calgary game was any indicator, the Stars don't know the meaning of structured.

I think they took a day off... that was one brutal hockey game. And no Lehtonen in net...

 

[VanEric]

If the Calgary game was any indicator, the Stars don't know the meaning of structured.

They were coming off four straight wins before that, though.

 

[DL44]

Pretty hyped to see the Higgens-Kesler-Kassian..

Top line is the top line...
great to see the 21-45-36 kept together... and why wouldn't they?
They have been a great puck possession line and are meshing nicely... no need to disturb that. I think Schroeder has Zero goals scored against 5-on-5. 25% of the season gone, no goals against. Leave that line alone!

I just love the skill set mix of the 20-17-9 line... Can't wait to see how Kassian's passing skills mix with Kesler's shot. that line should be able wreak havoc in front of the net, and have the ability to rush.

3 solid, reliable and dangerous lines.

And Ebbett gets bashed here a lot (deservingly so, when on the 2nd line) ... but he's perfect in a 4th line role right now... Made a number of great decisions with the puck last game... and playing Lappy and Weise makes for a good 4th.
Won't have the luxury of being able to send it out as often for defensive zone faceoffs like AV is used to doing.. I guess Kesler line will scoop that role more often, and the 4th will get put out in neutral zone faceoffs more often... which isn't a bad thing for them.

Anyways... excited.


... Question for the board...
Post-season dreams set aside...

Would you rather see this team win the President's Trophy or the Jennings this yr?
(assuming both and neither are not options)

 

[thepuckmonster]

Pretty hyped to see the Higgens-Kesler-Kassian..

Top line is the top line...
great to see the 21-45-36 kept together... and why wouldn't they?
They have been a great puck possession line and are meshing nicely... no need to disturb that. I think Schroeder has Zero goals scored against 5-on-5. 25% of the season gone, no goals against. Leave that line alone!

I just love the skill set mix of the 20-17-9 line... Can't wait to see how Kassian's passing skills mix with Kesler's shot. that line should be able wreak havoc in front of the net, and have the ability to rush.

3 solid, reliable and dangerous lines.

And Ebbett gets bashed here a lot (deservingly so, when on the 2nd line) ... but he's perfect in a 4th line role right now... Made a number of great decisions with the puck last game... and playing Lappy and Weise makes for a good 4th.
Won't have the luxury of being able to send it out as often for defensive zone faceoffs like AV is used to doing.. I guess Kesler line will scoop that role more often, and the 4th will get put out in neutral zone faceoffs more often... which isn't a bad thing for them.

Anyways... excited.


... Question for the board...
Post-season dreams set aside...

Would you rather see this team win the President's Trophy or the Jennings this yr?
(assuming both and neither are not options)

President's Trophy with either Schneider or Luongo winning the Vezina

 

[vector209]

Kesler will probably have a pretty solid outing. It's the subsequent games afterwards where I'm thinking he'll really struggle. That kind of pattern tends to happen a lot for forwards coming back from major injury:

Play awesome first few games due to adrenaline, then calm down for a long stretch before finding old rhythm once more. Happened to Raymond last year as well.

 

[Vankiller Whale]

... Question for the board...
Post-season dreams set aside...

Would you rather see this team win the President's Trophy or the Jennings this yr?
(assuming both and neither are not options)

PT Easily. PT 3 times in a row has never been done in history, and would likely be a record for many years to come.

 

[The Stig]

KESLER!

 

[Intoewsables]

The Great One has returned.

 

[HighAndTight]

Saw this on the mainboard:

Aaron Volpatti's starts in the offensive zone 5v5 less than 40% (39.6%) of the time, yet he leads the league in offensive zone 5v5 finish percentage with 65.2%.

 

[deadinthewater]

The Great One has returned.

Hahaha -- that was the best game ever.

 

[VanEric]

Saw this on the mainboard:

Good ol' Peppermint. He understands his role on the team.

 

[PG Canuck]

If Kesler is indeed back in, he scores and Canucks win 4-1. Without Kesler, Canucks win 4-1.

 

[DL44]

Saw this on the mainboard:

Aaron Volpatti's starts in the offensive zone 5v5 less than 40% (39.6%) of the time, yet he leads the league in offensive zone 5v5 finish percentage with 65.2%.

Thank Manny for taking and winning the defensive zone faceoffs... 4th line would win it, get out of the zone send the wingers in to forecheck while Manny would be the first off as the center... Our 4 th line overall was awesomely reliable and AV's use of them without hesitation in starting in the D zone was an incredible luxury to have.


I predict now without Manny, Kesler will be soaking up that Dzone faceoff responsibility with the 4th line getting more neutral zone starts.

 

[dsedin]