Tonight should be a good and gritty matchup between Vancouver and Dallas. Vancouver comes into this game with a 8-0-1 record over the past 10 games. Dallas meanwhile is 5-3-2 in the last 10 and coming off a loss to Detroit on Wednesday. Dallas is an impressive 12-5-3 at home this year while the Canucks are 9-5-3 on the road. Schneider will get the start in net tonight.
Vancouver needs to come out hard in the first period and try and get a goal in early as Dallas likes to hang around long enough to get the extra point in OT/SO at the very least. I do expect Vancouver to win this game, not a slight on Dallas because they are a good team but I don't see any signs of Vancouver's game letting down right now. Usually when teams are at the end of a streak they start to win games they shouldn't have won, and I haven't seen many signs of that as of yet.
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Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The Predictable Outcome
Just as I suspected, the long layoff affected Philly the way I thought it would affect them, and the Canucks came out hard at the start like I suspected they would - knowing Philly just had a long layoff and would probably take a good period before they got their legs back. Unfortunately they didn't get their legs back, and Vancouver's on fire right now.
Not a bad game per say, but I expected more. Hopefully next time these two meet, they both have their "A" game on. The highlight (and not in a good way) was Jody Shelley pretty much knocking out Andrew Alberts with <10 minutes to go in the game. Not surprising knowing Jody Shelley, but why was he even on the ice in the midst of a blowout?
Not a bad game per say, but I expected more. Hopefully next time these two meet, they both have their "A" game on. The highlight (and not in a good way) was Jody Shelley pretty much knocking out Andrew Alberts with <10 minutes to go in the game. Not surprising knowing Jody Shelley, but why was he even on the ice in the midst of a blowout?
Monday, December 27, 2010
Potential Stanley Cup Preview?
Tomorrow night will be the first meeting between Philadelphia and Vancouver this season. Both touted as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, and both dominating their respective conferences this month.
Philadelphia is coming into Roger's Arena with a 7-2-1 record for December. Vancouver is the NHL's hottest team, going 9-1-2 so far this month.
I give the edge to the Canucks tomorrow night, for 3 reasons. 1 being, the Canucks are at home and they rarely lose in Roger's Arena. 2, Philly's without Chris Pronger and regardless of who they have on their team, you cannot replace a Chris Pronger. 3, Philly hasn't played since the 20th, losing 5-0 to Florida. Normally I'd expect a big bounce back game, but that's an awful long layoff and most teams with that much time off are sluggish out of the gate.
Philadelphia is coming into Roger's Arena with a 7-2-1 record for December. Vancouver is the NHL's hottest team, going 9-1-2 so far this month.
I give the edge to the Canucks tomorrow night, for 3 reasons. 1 being, the Canucks are at home and they rarely lose in Roger's Arena. 2, Philly's without Chris Pronger and regardless of who they have on their team, you cannot replace a Chris Pronger. 3, Philly hasn't played since the 20th, losing 5-0 to Florida. Normally I'd expect a big bounce back game, but that's an awful long layoff and most teams with that much time off are sluggish out of the gate.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
How good are the Canucks?
Is what we see, what we get? Am I the only one who's watching this team and realizing that we haven't seen the best of this team yet?
For one, Roberto Luongo's been very inconsistant. He's been better, but he's still not the Luongo of 2006-2007. The Luongo the Canucks need him to be to not just get to the Stanley Cup, but to win it. Does this team really need him to be that good though? This team can score a lot of problems away, prior teams needed him to be perfect to win.
The defense is a lot better this year than last. They are allowing fewer scoring opportunities and the transition game is top notch. They do not seem to be as active on the scoring front as last season so I do see room for improvement. It'll be interesting to see who they deal to make room for Sami Salo. Rumor has it he should be ready to go sometime in January. Bieksa's been really solid this year defensively so dealing him is not as much of a no brainer as it used to be. Ehrhoff is a free agent at the end of the year, but dealing him would drasctically decrease the Canucks transition play.
The Sedins have been average, in my view. They have not been putting up the points like they did last season, they are merely 'PPG' players so far this year. Ryan Kesler however has been magnificent and is making up for any points the Sedins aren't getting this year with his stellar play. He needs to contunie this level of play come playoff time, he's been dismal so far in the playoffs but perhaps he's ready to turn the corner and be the player the Canucks need him to be when it counts the most.
It's almost game time, Edmonton tonight should be a win - even if the Canucks come out flat. Look for Kesler to lead the way, he has all season long so far.
For one, Roberto Luongo's been very inconsistant. He's been better, but he's still not the Luongo of 2006-2007. The Luongo the Canucks need him to be to not just get to the Stanley Cup, but to win it. Does this team really need him to be that good though? This team can score a lot of problems away, prior teams needed him to be perfect to win.
The defense is a lot better this year than last. They are allowing fewer scoring opportunities and the transition game is top notch. They do not seem to be as active on the scoring front as last season so I do see room for improvement. It'll be interesting to see who they deal to make room for Sami Salo. Rumor has it he should be ready to go sometime in January. Bieksa's been really solid this year defensively so dealing him is not as much of a no brainer as it used to be. Ehrhoff is a free agent at the end of the year, but dealing him would drasctically decrease the Canucks transition play.
The Sedins have been average, in my view. They have not been putting up the points like they did last season, they are merely 'PPG' players so far this year. Ryan Kesler however has been magnificent and is making up for any points the Sedins aren't getting this year with his stellar play. He needs to contunie this level of play come playoff time, he's been dismal so far in the playoffs but perhaps he's ready to turn the corner and be the player the Canucks need him to be when it counts the most.
It's almost game time, Edmonton tonight should be a win - even if the Canucks come out flat. Look for Kesler to lead the way, he has all season long so far.
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