Meh. I don't share the pessimism. Canucks have been getting their defensive game back in shape. They've had their lapses, but they've been very stingy during this stretch. Obviously they need to get their special teams and offensive game back on the rails at some point, but if the defensive fundamentals aren't sound you can have all the flash and dash in the world and you'll get murdered in the playoffs.
I feel better about the team right now than I did earlier in the season when they were scoring but it was a clown show in the defensive zone.
Better to be winning 1-0, 2-1 than to be losing 6-4 or something. I said when they were losing back a couple weeks ago, with the injuries happening and all, it's time to take it back to 2007, to when AV first got here, the team defence, the good goaltending, that's where we're at now. It's not boring, it's solid, good fundamentally sound hockey and I have no problem watching it. We lock it down and beat teams we should be beating, I have no problem with that. The defence is night and day to where it was a month ago. You ask me, it's a thing of beauty.
you would rather miss the playoffs because a few games havnt had a ton of excitment, even though they won?
you sound more geared towards wwf pro wrestling or something with that type of entertainment value.
you would rather miss the playoffs because a few games havnt had a ton of excitment, even though they won?
you sound more geared towards wwf pro wrestling or something with that type of entertainment value.
I'm not really expecting much excitement with this line-up (Sedins/Burr aside). Even with Kesler back, the second line still looks iffy, and Booth probably won't be back. *IF* Gillis can get an impact player at the deadline then that, + Kesler returning, will be a huge boost.
Thing is we have the talent to put on a show. Toronto manages to make their game exhilarating with huge rallies, despite having an inferior roster even with us lacking Kesler. AV is simply too conservative and defensive oriented - to the point of fault. We may be on a six game winning streak but compare it to Pittsburgh, Montreal or Chicago's and it's nothing to right home about. I could care less theirs lasted long, but what bothers me is how much more entertaining it was.
Thing is we have the talent to put on a show. Toronto manages to make their game exhilarating with huge rallies, despite having an inferior roster even with us lacking Kesler. AV is simply too conservative and defensive oriented - to the point of fault. We may be on a six game winning streak but compare it to Pittsburgh, Montreal or Chicago's and it's nothing to right home about. I could care less theirs lasted long, but what bothers me is how much more entertaining it was.
no kesler and no malholtra tend to be reason why........Kesler coming back plus a reliable third line center would do wonders.......AV can't roll four lines
Okay, fair enough. I don't get to see many Eastern games.
It's obvious why the Sedins aren't getting big time on ice. With all these players out AV is trying to win games without grinding our guys into the dust. It follows that if he's going to try to roll four lines with the lineup we've got, the game has got to be more about defense.
well defense wins championship.......and AV is very good at this....it boring but until we get another center AV don't have a choice really
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
I think the Canucks work best when they play a solid two-way game. Our glory games are when the offense supports the D, and the D makes the quick outlets. But I seriously don't know how to play that sort of game without a strong, fast, hard-playing two-way center. That's obviously Kesler. He's not our best offense, but he's the guy that pins our two-way game.
With Kesler out it's simply impossible to do that sort of game. A.E. and J.S. cannot replace Kesler in that sort of game.
We've seen Kesler all of one game this year when he was healthy, and I really liked what I saw. I have no problems imagining our game getting a lot smoother and a lot more offensive when he's back in.
I don't agree 100% with that sentiment, probably because once Kesler returns, AV will have free reign to mix up the lines and reduce overall team chemistry and effectiveness, although I wouldn't mind too much.
For instance, the "speed line" of Raymond-Schroeder-Hansen was absolutely dominated in last night's game against a weak Colorado squad. They had terrible possession/Fenwick/Corsi numbers and looked ineffective overall. Therefore, I wouldn't mind seeing at least some shake-up in the lines once Kesler slots back in.
Also: Kesler's presence on the PP, even in the limited minutes/games he was on it when healthy this year, was a lot more dangerous than it has been this entire season without him. Subjective, I guess, but it seemed much more potent and shot-happy.
I don't want to throw the speed line away just yet. It was a weak game, but they also had some really strong games against better clubs. This ****... happens. No one dominates game in and out, and sometimes a line really does suck. But I think that line has promise, especially as JS comes into his own.