Unable to beat San Jose: with new playoff Format are the Canucks screwed?

[CpatainCanuck]

So far it seems like San Jose will be the cream of the crop in the Pacific Division. The new playoff format requires to the canucks to win their division before advancing to the conference finals, which will make playing San Jose in round 1 or round 2 almost a certainty.

The problem is the Canucks just don't match up well against San Jose: they have lost 9 straight regular season and playoff games to the sharks, 11 straight counting the preseason.

Is it really likely the canucks can win 4 of 7 against the Sharks in the playoffs?

Click to read more...

 

[Bgav]

Oh lawd

 

[ihaveyuidonttouchme]

we r doomed i tell ya...doooooooooomed

 

[bure 96]

They should have a decent chance as long as the refs from last year's series aren't reffing. PPs were something like 25 to 10 for SJ.

 

[BB6]

I'm not going to worry about it until the post season.

 

[Grumbler]

I am very surprised referees aren't in your consideration.

 

[thepuckmonster]

Already?

 

[Reign Nateo]

Long way between then and now. A lot can change, but at this point, ya they'd finish us pretty quickly. I don't think that means we're "screwed" however. Just in the same position as every other team in the West.

 

[Derp Kassian]

They aren't Chicago of 2009/2010.

 

[Saturated Fats]

As long as they put Kelly Sutherland in the East, we'll stand a chance.

It's going to be interesting with the new format going forward, though. I have a feeling we are gonna start seeing some real hate with the Nucks, Sharks, Kings, Ducks & Oil. Maybe even Phoenix.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

SJ's first 30 games of last season:

1 Sun, Jan 20, 2013 6:00 PM @ Calgary Flames W 4 1 1 0 0 W 1
2 Tue, Jan 22, 2013 10:00 PM @ Edmonton Oilers W 6 3 2 0 0 W 2
3 Thu, Jan 24, 2013 10:30 PM Phoenix Coyotes W 5 3 3 0 0 W 3
4 Sat, Jan 26, 2013 4:00 PM Colorado Avalanche W 4 0 4 0 0 W 4
5 Sun, Jan 27, 2013 8:00 PM Vancouver Canucks W 4 1 5 0 0 W 5
6 Tue, Jan 29, 2013 10:30 PM Anaheim Ducks W SO 3 2 6 0 0 W 6
7 Thu, Jan 31, 2013 10:30 PM Edmonton Oilers W SO 3 2 7 0 0 W 7
8 Sat, Feb 2, 2013 10:30 PM Nashville Predators L SO 1 2 7 0 1 L 1
9 Mon, Feb 4, 2013 10:00 PM @ Anaheim Ducks L 1 2 7 1 1 L 2
10 Tue, Feb 5, 2013 10:30 PM Chicago Blackhawks L 3 5 7 2 1 L 3
11 Sat, Feb 9, 2013 4:00 PM Phoenix Coyotes L SO 0 1 7 2 2 L 4
12 Mon, Feb 11, 2013 7:00 PM @ Columbus Blue Jackets L 2 6 7 3 2 L 5
13 Tue, Feb 12, 2013 8:00 PM @ Nashville Predators L OT 0 1 7 3 3 L 6
14 Fri, Feb 15, 2013 8:30 PM @ Chicago Blackhawks L 1 4 7 4 3 L 7
15 Tue, Feb 19, 2013 8:00 PM @ St. Louis Blues W 2 1 8 4 3 W 1
16 Fri, Feb 22, 2013 8:30 PM @ Chicago Blackhawks L 1 2 8 5 3 L 1
17 Sat, Feb 23, 2013 8:00 PM @ Dallas Stars L 1 3 8 6 3 L 2
18 Tue, Feb 26, 2013 10:30 PM Colorado Avalanche W SO 3 2 9 6 3 W 1
19 Thu, Feb 28, 2013 10:30 PM Detroit Red Wings L SO 1 2 9 6 4 L 1
20 Sat, Mar 2, 2013 10:30 PM Nashville Predators W 2 1 10 6 4 W 1
21 Tue, Mar 5, 2013 10:00 PM @ Vancouver Canucks W SO 3 2 11 6 4 W 2
22 Wed, Mar 6, 2013 9:30 PM @ Calgary Flames L 1 4 11 7 4 L 1
23 Sat, Mar 9, 2013 4:00 PM St. Louis Blues L OT 3 4 11 7 5 L 2
24 Sun, Mar 10, 2013 8:00 PM @ Colorado Avalanche L OT 2 3 11 7 6 L 3
25 Tue, Mar 12, 2013 8:00 PM @ St. Louis Blues L 2 4 11 8 6 L 4
26 Thu, Mar 14, 2013 10:30 PM Los Angeles Kings W 4 3 12 8 6 W 1
27 Sat, Mar 16, 2013 10:30 PM @ Los Angeles Kings L 2 5 12 9 6 L 1
28 Mon, Mar 18, 2013 10:00 PM @ Anaheim Ducks L 3 5 12 10 6 L 2
29 Wed, Mar 20, 2013 9:30 PM @ Edmonton Oilers W SO 4 3 13 10 6 W 1
30 Sat, Mar 23, 2013 2:00 PM @ Minnesota Wild L 0 2 13 11 6 L 1


so maybe we should just keep our pants on for now and remain in the upright position and see what happens?

 

[Hammer79]

SJ is going to cool off just like they did last season. They had a rookie that went on a hot streak and we know that's not going to continue. They have a tough road trip coming up too. Just because there is a streak in games between Vancouver and SJ, it doesn't mean that it will continue. They swept us, but then again we also embarrassed them in the conference finals in 2011 with much of the same core in place for both teams.

One advantage to the division format, we won't have much east-west travel and time zone changes until the conference finals. No Chicago until the conference finals. No Detroit in the West. Slightly weaker wildcards if you consider moving the automatic playoff spot Red Wings East means old 9th place teams will now finish 8th.

 

[Zanon]

u wot m8?

Wasn't aware of that. Huh...been kind of out of the loop of all-things-NHL since we got swept. That's kind of depressing to know. Not a fan of this new format.

One advantage to the division format, we won't have much east-west travel and time zone changes until the conference finals. No Chicago until the conference finals. No Detroit in the West. Slightly weaker wildcards if you consider moving the automatic playoff spot Red Wings East means old 9th place teams will now finish 8th.

Still the California teams, though. And they always give the Canucks trouble. Seriously, somebody pull up the stats against the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks since post-lockout (2005). Bet it's under .500.

 

[me2]

SJ could meet LA or Anaheim too. They could get knocked out in round 1. Canucks could also end up playing a central team. Canucks could miss the playoffs or go on a massive buying spree.

Way too far out.

 

[polarbearcub]

SJ could meet LA or Anaheim too. They could get knocked out in round 1. Canucks could also end up playing a central team. Canucks could miss the playoffs or go on a massive buying spree.

Way too far out.

We match up Better vs la and Anaheim now with torts IMO

 

[Zombotron]

Marleau - Thornton - Burns
Hertl - Couture - Havlat
Torres - Pavelski - Kennedy
Sheppard - Desjardins - Wingels
Burish
Nieto

Vlasic - Boyle
Irwin - Braun
Stuart - Demers
Hannan

Niemi


They're a frightening team on paper, but paper's only so much.

 

[Zombotron]

We match up Better vs la and Anaheim now with torts IMO

Vancouver would smoke Anaheim in a playoff series. I'd love to see them exact revenge on the Kings too.

West (Tortorella)

vs.

West (John Stevens + Mike Richards + Jeff Carter)

 

[CpatainCanuck]

Marleau - Thornton - Burns
Hertl - Couture - Havlat
Torres - Pavelski - Kennedy
Sheppard - Desjardins - Wingels
Burish
Nieto

Vlasic - Boyle
Irwin - Braun
Stuart - Demers
Hannan

Niemi


They're a frightening team on paper, but paper's only so much.

I'm less concerned about their team on paper than with the fact that they've beat the canucks 11 times in a row.

 

[Jyrki]

We used to own the Sharks up until 2011-12, so who knows if the trend will suddenly reverse.

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

We used to own the Sharks up until 2011-12, so who knows if the trend will suddenly reverse.

I don't think we've ever owned the Sharks. We embarrassed them in the 2011 Playoffs but that was it....

 

[Zombotron]

We used to own the Sharks up until 2011-12, so who knows if the trend will suddenly reverse.

but then






Never say never. Especially against a Sharks team that's been about as successful as the Canucks in the playoffs - which is to say, not successful at all.

 

[corker]

I thought they were going to go to division playoffs but changed their minds and decided to stick with conference... Crap I guess I should have paid more attention...

I don't like division playoffs... especially as a ticket holder... I don't want to see the same 2 teams in the first two rounds for the next decade...

Oh well... maybe it will be like when we played Chicago in 2011... finally beating SJ will catalyst us to the final...

And SJ does have a history of choking... so no need to worry about that just yet....

Just finish first and hopefully you wont have to worry about it.

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

This team isn't firing on all cylinders yet. I think We will be stronger at the end of the year. Once the system becomes natural.

 

[Zombotron]

This team isn't firing on all cylinders yet. I think We will be stronger at the end of the year. Once the system becomes natural.

I think the difference between Coach Bubblegum and Tortorella is already clearly visible. My expectations were low but I'm seeing flashes of brilliance from the team that I haven't seen since 2011.

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

I don't think we've ever owned the Sharks. We embarrassed them in the 2011 Playoffs but that was it....

I'm pretty sure we owned them for a year and half prior to that series.