GDT: WCQF GM06 | Vancouver Canucks @ Nashville Predators | Fri. May 3rd | 4pm PST | SNP/CBC | On the Road Again

[Jimnastic]

Lotto line and bump the centres up a line

It aint hard

You don't think that Tocchet has considered this? For Chrys sakes he has run the lotto line at least five time in this series.

 

[VanJack]

I find it interesting that even when they were done 1-3 after a devastating game #4 loss, the Preds were still confidently predicting that the physical punishment they dishing out would pay dividends if this became a long series.

And there's a chance they could be right. The Canucks blueline looks a bit rattled right now and with the exception of Zadorov and Joshua, their forwards are coming out second-best in the board battles.

 

[Slapshot_11]

You don't think that Tocchet has considered this? For Chrys sakes he has run the lotto line at least five time in this series.

He tries it when things aren't working, tug on your balls and try it the whole game

 

[Canuckle1970]

Every contending team in the NHL has suffered a crushing playoff loss or two, before they finally break through. It just seems that playoff disappointments are almost a 'right of passage'.

Not saying it will happen to Vancouver....but it could.....and the lessons learned are still valuable moving forward.

Look at the Leafs. They've won only one first round playoff series in the past eight seasons. And they're still not by the Bruins yet.

Yup, Tampa was a favourite that suffered some embarassing playoff losses before they won their Cups. We were expected to be a wild card, at best, this year. It's hard to keep some perspective about this. I'd love to get to Round 2.

 

[theguardianII]

Line changes are the obvious change that fans want to see because its visually easy to see that he's trying something. The bigger thing is the coaching staff needs to figure out the breakout problem.

The last few games it looks a little like Wee Willie has coached but then there is a bug going around the league. There isn't a break out problem, it is only because the team has counted on Hughes too much for the break out and he isn't carrying the puck as much due to the body checking that he doesn't get in the easy season.

I find it interesting that even when they were done 1-3 after a devastating game #4 loss, the Preds were still confidently predicting that the physical punishment they dishing out would pay dividends if this became a long series.

And there's a chance they could be right. The Canucks blueline looks a bit rattled right now and with the exception of Zadorov and Joshua, their forwards are coming out second-best in the board battles.

The physical battle would have dividends because the Canucks started relying on one defenceman to lead the charge, Hughes. Hughes has been rocked and is not playing close to his game 5 on 5 giving up the puck earlier to avoid hits. But that is the difference between the easy season and the real season.

Actually Zadorov and Myers don't seem to have too much problem carrying the puck out of the zone. Size matters, they are built for the real season.

Dumping and chasing isn't a real answer here either as it's (1) not been effective in the slightest, and (2) plays right into the Preds hands of getting the puck back quickly. The other play has often been board and out, which doesn't allow the forward to get the puck with any speed through the neutral zone, and gives the Preds infinite time to setup their neutral zone structure.

I have noticed that when a high skill guy gets the puck the Pred discipline has them all going to spots/areas regardless if there is a Canuck there giving "space and time" for the Canuck puck carrier to set up.
There system has two high guys staying high allowing for an over man situation down low.
Two passes behind the net and they over load low and side to side. This is where the real big men can get down low, to the blue and reverse box out the Pred dmen. Or act as a pick preventing their dmen getting over to the other side, they bunch up all on their own. Instead of always trying to pass through passing lanes get Saros twisting around and going back and forth with a very large human as net front.
As far as dump and chase, the timing has been off have a couple of forwards do a circle in the neutral zone and pick up speed and ice the puck from the dzone. Even if the puck has to be passed back into the dzone, that would work even better. One or two plays like that and it will open up space for other opportunities.

That doe dump and chase.

The other part is the Preds expect a dump and are allowing defencemen other than Hughes pretty much much a free entry, like how close were any of the 5 Preds to Zadorov as he skated from the Dzone to the goal he scored? It's the same for Myers, Soucy and Cole, it is like they just don't expect it and don't know who to check. Like man on man back checking. The big guys shrug off a Pred forward and they are all concentrating on picking up THEIR check allowing for free wheeling.

When they've had the puck in the zone, all the cracks in the Preds armor shows up. They sell out for the first shot often (goalie and dmen both), and are very susceptible to east-west passing. Its annoying to watch when it doesn't work, but the biggest issue is not the o-zone play (that was game 2 when they just fired everything blindly at the net), but getting the puck in there early enough in the shift to be able to do it more than 2-3 times a game.

They over commit in their own zone often without any pressure, like a zone defence.

DeSmith or Silovs?

Mikhayev in your top3 lines? And if not who comes into his spot

Suter Hoglander do we keep these guys where they are?

Stack 2 lines or roll 3 with 9 40 and Lindholm down the middle?

It will probably be DeSmith as Silovs lost a game. Tocchet will ride the winner until they lose.

Mikheyev? Move Lafferty up, he has speed and size and also playing for a contract.

Hoglander needs more than 8 minutes of ice time, even Garland could use a little more. Tocchet just keeps riding Pettersson. Lindholm is stepping it up too.

I have a feeling that this game is going to be a blow out either way. The Canucks get absolutely rolled or the Canucks turn Saros into mincemeat.

I think Vancouver could have an advantage here due to travel. Canucks are more used to travel. I think the Nux will score 4 or 5.
AND
My pet theory of time spent in an airplane, dehydration the effect on goalies. Saros will be off his game a little due to dehydration from playing and then dehydration of being in a plane pressurized a 8000 feet. That just sucks the juices out of a body.
But the Canucks have to get some shots on net but they should be able to tire Saros out.

Momentum is shifting in this series, unfortunately. Last night's loss almost ensures the series is going seven....and in a do or die game, almost anything can happen.

Every playoff series is like a lab experiment. You find out in hurry where your team is really at....versus playing a bunch of tired lottery teams, finishing out a season or a long road-trip.

You can already see the Canucks need more size up front, and a more production from their bottom-six. But that's a project or the off-season.

If you are of the conspiracy vein then the Canucks will win just because the Preds will have 3 home playoff gate revenue's and save on the return to Vancouver.

As far as momentum, there doesn't really seem to be any.

Canucks could use a couple of guys up front that play big, Hoglander plays big, Garland does try but plays pretty good against the big guys, Lafferty plays big, Mik ditto.

Petey has to start to think shoot first and that will allow the other Canucks free to charge the net otherwise like when Hughes is holding the puck too long, they slow and stand there waiting to see what he is going to do. "Paralysis by Analysis" The old saying, "Don't think, Do"

Set small goals during the game like "one shot on goal per shift" from anywhere even the dzone. Saros gives up rebounds

Canucks will win this one by 3 goals

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

You don't think that Tocchet has considered this? For Chrys sakes he has run the lotto line at least five time in this series.

Evidently not because those "five times" have been literally one shift. Hell, he only went to it for slightly longer last game because Suter got hit with a puck. It took him until the last five minutes of game 4 where we were on the verge of losing to finally move Lindholm up on Miller's wing.

He hasn't done shit when it comes to adjustments. We're getting comically outshot because we're still trying to force Nashville into making opportunistic plays we can exploit when that isn't their system. Our powerplay is a complete joke and our 11M man has been glued to a guy with 1 goal in what, 50 games?

That isn't adversity. It's stubbornness.

 

[TruGr1t]

Every contending team in the NHL has suffered a crushing playoff loss or two, before they finally break through. It just seems that playoff disappointments are almost a 'right of passage'.

Not saying it will happen to Vancouver....but it could.....and the lessons learned are still valuable moving forward.

Look at the Leafs. They've won only one first round playoff series in the past eight seasons. And they're still not by the Bruins yet.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

 

[EpochLink]

Game time mother f***ers

 

[Hit the post]

Game time mother f***ers

 

[Bgav]

Fun Fact: There hasn't been a game this series where the canucks have had more powerplays than the Preds. Will that change tonight? Hell no - win it 5 on 5 boys.

 

[JT Milker]

If EP breaks out this game I will shit in an envelope and mail it to Jim Benning.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Just win. Get it done, boys.

 

[EpochLink]

EP just needs 1 goal to get rid of that big ass piano off his back

 

[Vector]

I have no idea how Cole Smith could both not be at practice but also participate in practice according.

 

[Bgav]

I have no idea how Cole Smith could both not be at practice but also participate in practice according.

Look at that roster LOL. Embarrasing if we lose

 

[Vector]

This tells us nothing!

 

[Chairman Maouth]

 

[SopelFanThe3rd]

this start time sucks. Gonna miss the first half probably.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Looks like it’s in Arty we Trust!

Also -

 

[TruGr1t]

Ride or die Silovs.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

Just please finish them off tonight.

 

[TruGr1t]

 

[HelloCookie]

2am start... watching this in the morning like with game 5. Downside is missing out on the HFCanucks madness but at least I get to skip the ads and save an hour or more of my life. Lets go!

I was nervous about the previous game, and even more of this one. Need some bounces every game to win and that's not a good feeling.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

J.T. Miller couldn't find a practice jersey so he did Arturs Silovs a favor by ruining his best pink salmon dress shirt.



"I look good on him."