Monday, January 14, 2008
Weekend Wrapup
It was Jeckyl-and-Hyde kinda weekend for the Vancouver Canucks. On Friday, they suffered a regulation time loss at home for the first time in more than two months; last night, they won on the road for the first time since Christmas. I'm actually glad they won last night. They came into the game on a two-game losing streak and I would've hated to write this post after three consecutive losses.
For the last couple of months, we've been able to somewhat sidestep the issue of secondary scoring. When the Canucks started to right the ship in November, everyone was contributing and the team didn't have to rely on the Sedins to put the puck in the net. Especially after this weekend however, the issue is noticeably beginning to rear its ugly head again.
The Canucks have scored 20 goals in their eight games since Christmas. Of those 20 goals, twelve - or 60% of them - were scored by the Sedin line. Yes, they've had revolving wingers (i.e. Naslund, Raymond and Pyatt) but that doesn't seem to matter. They're the only line right now that are consistently producing anything on offense. (The Kesler line has also produced chances but just haven't been able to put the biscuit in the basket, ya know?)
Case in point was last night's game and the third period of Friday night's game. Whenever the Canucks needed a goal, Vigneault threw the Sedin line out on the ice. At times, they were on the ice every other shift and the end result was a season-high 22:15 minutes of ice-time for Henrik and a near season-high 20:59 minutes of ice-time for Daniel.
The team has been up-and-down since the end of November, a month in which they compiled a 9-2-2 record and took 77% of the available points. In December and so far in January, they have a more average 11-7-2 record and took only 60% of available points. It's not bad but it's not great. Are their injuries - Morrison, Ohlund and Bieksa especially - finally catching up to them?
About the game around the blogosphere:
Tomorrow night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
For the last couple of months, we've been able to somewhat sidestep the issue of secondary scoring. When the Canucks started to right the ship in November, everyone was contributing and the team didn't have to rely on the Sedins to put the puck in the net. Especially after this weekend however, the issue is noticeably beginning to rear its ugly head again.
The Canucks have scored 20 goals in their eight games since Christmas. Of those 20 goals, twelve - or 60% of them - were scored by the Sedin line. Yes, they've had revolving wingers (i.e. Naslund, Raymond and Pyatt) but that doesn't seem to matter. They're the only line right now that are consistently producing anything on offense. (The Kesler line has also produced chances but just haven't been able to put the biscuit in the basket, ya know?)
Case in point was last night's game and the third period of Friday night's game. Whenever the Canucks needed a goal, Vigneault threw the Sedin line out on the ice. At times, they were on the ice every other shift and the end result was a season-high 22:15 minutes of ice-time for Henrik and a near season-high 20:59 minutes of ice-time for Daniel.
The team has been up-and-down since the end of November, a month in which they compiled a 9-2-2 record and took 77% of the available points. In December and so far in January, they have a more average 11-7-2 record and took only 60% of available points. It's not bad but it's not great. Are their injuries - Morrison, Ohlund and Bieksa especially - finally catching up to them?
About the game around the blogosphere:
- Edler bails Rypien out. (Waiting for Stanley)
- Compared to losses last Thursday and Friday, the Canucks were tougher to play against last night. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- It was the Sedins show. Why aren't BOTH of them all-stars? (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- It was the schedule's fault. (Norm Sanders, Belleville News-Democrat)
- The Blues can't score in the shootout. Sound familiar, Canucks fans? (Jeremy Rutherford, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Tomorrow night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks
Labels: Blues, game recap, Sedin
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