Friday, January 18, 2008
Canucks 2 Red Wings 3 (SO)
We recorded an episode of the The Crazy Canucks podcast last night, and while John and I were crying about our three consecutive losses, Rebecca reminded us that it was a .500 road trip and the Canucks, believe it or not, took 3 of a possible 6 points.
Is the glass half-empty or half-full?
The Canucks had another slow start. The Red Wings outshot them 16-5 in the first period and 49-28 in the game. They built a 2-0 lead before the Canucks eventually decided to get back in the game.
Now, the Canucks did play better in the latter half of the game and they managed to salvage a point, but these slow starts are beginning to kill them. They've given up the first goal in four of their last five games. Coincidentally, they've lost four of their last give games.
About the game around the blogosphere:
Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
Is the glass half-empty or half-full?
The Canucks had another slow start. The Red Wings outshot them 16-5 in the first period and 49-28 in the game. They built a 2-0 lead before the Canucks eventually decided to get back in the game.
Now, the Canucks did play better in the latter half of the game and they managed to salvage a point, but these slow starts are beginning to kill them. They've given up the first goal in four of their last five games. Coincidentally, they've lost four of their last give games.
About the game around the blogosphere:
- Sean breaks it down, period by period. (Waiting for Stanley)
- Some Nazzy love. (The Yankee Canuck)
- Making 47 saves wasn't enough. (Jim Jamieson, Vancouver Province)
- It takes the Canucks about two games to put up 49 shots, doesn't it? (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province; Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- It's too bad Edler's slapper missed Hasek. (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings.
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
Labels: game recap, Red Wings
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Game Day Post: Canucks at Red Wings
It looks like Alain Vigneault finally realized his team needs to score more and recalled Mason Raymond from the Manitoba Moose; Rick Rypien and Mike Brown were sent back down (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province). Looking at the numbers, Trevor Linden and/or Brad Isbister should draw back into the lineup.
This gives the Canucks a couple more options up front. It doesn't really matter who plays with the Sedins, but whoever doesn't gives the second line some potential for offense. Good thing too. I love what Matt Cookie brings to this team but if I have to watch him whiff at a puck in front of the net again, I'll go nuts.
My line projections:
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
This gives the Canucks a couple more options up front. It doesn't really matter who plays with the Sedins, but whoever doesn't gives the second line some potential for offense. Good thing too. I love what Matt Cookie brings to this team but if I have to watch him whiff at a puck in front of the net again, I'll go nuts.
My line projections:
- Sedin, Sedin and Pyatt
- Naslund, Beech and Raymond
- Cooke, Kesler and Burrows
- Isbister, Ritchie and Linden
- Happy 1000th game, Markus! (Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver Sun)
- The Wings have a great team. On the ice and off it. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- It hasn't been a happy new year so far. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Beechy's just trying to fit in. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- More Sundin talk. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- The window of opportunity is not just this year and the next. It's for as long as Roberto Luongo is in a Canucks jersey. (Ed Willes, Vancouver Province)
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: Beech, game day preview, Luongo, Naslund, Raymond, Red Wings
Monday, October 29, 2007
Red Wings 3 Canucks 2
The weekend was encouraging, though not perfect. The Canucks won one, lost one, and actually played okay. They at least looked like a team and got rid of the long stretches of brutal play, but of course, they still need to work on getting rid of the the odd blips as well. Willie Mitchell's misplayed two-on-one played as much a role in deciding the game as Taylor Pyatt's waived goal.
So have they finally turned the corner?
Louie has for sure. In the last four games, he stopped 119 of 129 shots for a 0.922 save percentage. Yes, the team only won one of those games, but they had a shot at gaining at least a point in all of them.
With Sami and Bieksa back in the lineup, I thought the defense looked much more cohesive. Nothing personal, but it makes a difference not having Mike Weaver out there and not playing Aaron Miller 18 minutes a night.
Unfortunately, the offense still isn't there, and 12 games into the season, I'm not sure if it'll ever be there for this group. They just don't seem to be a consistent threat to score.
Statistically, the Sedins are producing at about the same pace they were last season, but they haven't dominated games - or even shifts - the same way. Morrison and Naslund are producing more, but they haven't been able to take any attention away from the Sedins. Mason Raymond, God bless him, is trying out there, but even with his obvious speed and skill, his scrawny frame makes it so easy for the other team to knock him down and take the puck away. (Think the Sedins circa 2001.)
Last week, we were talking about how the Kings, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes and Red Wings all embarassed us. At least today, we can go back to talking about how the ref screwed us out of at least a point. Progress is progress I suppose.
About the game around the blogosphere:
Thursday night vs. the Nashville Predators
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
So have they finally turned the corner?
Louie has for sure. In the last four games, he stopped 119 of 129 shots for a 0.922 save percentage. Yes, the team only won one of those games, but they had a shot at gaining at least a point in all of them.
With Sami and Bieksa back in the lineup, I thought the defense looked much more cohesive. Nothing personal, but it makes a difference not having Mike Weaver out there and not playing Aaron Miller 18 minutes a night.
Unfortunately, the offense still isn't there, and 12 games into the season, I'm not sure if it'll ever be there for this group. They just don't seem to be a consistent threat to score.
Statistically, the Sedins are producing at about the same pace they were last season, but they haven't dominated games - or even shifts - the same way. Morrison and Naslund are producing more, but they haven't been able to take any attention away from the Sedins. Mason Raymond, God bless him, is trying out there, but even with his obvious speed and skill, his scrawny frame makes it so easy for the other team to knock him down and take the puck away. (Think the Sedins circa 2001.)
Last week, we were talking about how the Kings, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes and Red Wings all embarassed us. At least today, we can go back to talking about how the ref screwed us out of at least a point. Progress is progress I suppose.
About the game around the blogosphere:
- Waiting For Stanley provides a period-by-period recap.
- Check On The Wings later for the Detroit side of things.
- Same old not quite enough scoring. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Linden can handle scratches. (Dave Tomlinson, Vancouver Province)
- Holmstrom states crease case. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Canucks Nation. (Ben Kuzma, Vancouver Province)
- Canucks sink to new lows. (Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun)
- Red Wings hand Canucks another loss. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Last-minute goals key in Wings victory. (Ted Kulfan, Detroit News)
- Osgood stays perfect on the year. (Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press)
- Hudler provides highlight in win. (Ansar Khan, MLive)
Thursday night vs. the Nashville Predators
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
Labels: game recap, Linden, Luongo, Red Wings
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Canucks 2 Red Wings 3
First, the good news.
For the second game in a row, Roberto Luongo was in All-World form. Against the Red Wings last night, he faced 39 shots and stopped 36 of them. And thanks to a couple of glaring breakdowns by the Canucks' defense, he didn't have a prayer in two of the three he let in.
Louie kept the score close. When Daniel Sedin scored 1:47 into the third period, he made it a one-goal game despite his team being outshot 29-11 at that point and not having the puck most of the game. The Canucks weren't playing great by any stretch, but thanks to Louie, they actually had a couple of chances to tie up the game.
The bad news, of course, is that it wasn't enough and the Canucks are now 4-6 for the season.
The stats will tell you everything you need to know about last night's game. The Canucks were outshot 39-15 and lost 65% of their faceoffs.
Save for the Kesler-Cooke-Burrows combo, the rest of the forwards didn't generate much. In 17+ minutes of ice-time, Naslund, Morrison and Raymond only had a shot each and were each minus-1. The Sedins and Pyatt were just as invisible with the exception of Danny's goal.
The defense, plus Sami Salo minus Kevin Bieksa and Mike Weaver, gave Detroit a lot of room, and obviously, a lot of scoring chances. On one horrible, horrible play, Mitchell and Miller collided with each other in front of Luongo's net, coughed up the puck and led directly to Tomas Holmstrom's game-winning goal.
The funny thing is, despite being outplayed as much as they have been and all the doom and gloom that's precipitated because of it, the Canucks still have a chance to finish .500 on this road trip. So maybe it shouldn't be all doom and gloom after all. Right?
About the game around the blogosphere:
Friday night against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
For the second game in a row, Roberto Luongo was in All-World form. Against the Red Wings last night, he faced 39 shots and stopped 36 of them. And thanks to a couple of glaring breakdowns by the Canucks' defense, he didn't have a prayer in two of the three he let in.
Louie kept the score close. When Daniel Sedin scored 1:47 into the third period, he made it a one-goal game despite his team being outshot 29-11 at that point and not having the puck most of the game. The Canucks weren't playing great by any stretch, but thanks to Louie, they actually had a couple of chances to tie up the game.
The bad news, of course, is that it wasn't enough and the Canucks are now 4-6 for the season.
The stats will tell you everything you need to know about last night's game. The Canucks were outshot 39-15 and lost 65% of their faceoffs.
Save for the Kesler-Cooke-Burrows combo, the rest of the forwards didn't generate much. In 17+ minutes of ice-time, Naslund, Morrison and Raymond only had a shot each and were each minus-1. The Sedins and Pyatt were just as invisible with the exception of Danny's goal.
The defense, plus Sami Salo minus Kevin Bieksa and Mike Weaver, gave Detroit a lot of room, and obviously, a lot of scoring chances. On one horrible, horrible play, Mitchell and Miller collided with each other in front of Luongo's net, coughed up the puck and led directly to Tomas Holmstrom's game-winning goal.
The funny thing is, despite being outplayed as much as they have been and all the doom and gloom that's precipitated because of it, the Canucks still have a chance to finish .500 on this road trip. So maybe it shouldn't be all doom and gloom after all. Right?
About the game around the blogosphere:
- Waiting For Stanley is wondering if it's panic time yet.
- Abel to Yzerman liveblogged the game from the Detroit side.
- Keep your eyes peeled on Canucks and Beyond and On The Wings for their recaps as well.
- Canucks break down in Motor City. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Naslund tones down criticism. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- How slow can you go? (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Naslund not down on dumps. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Hot issues. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Canucks let Duff down. (Bob Duff, Windsor Star)
- Wings ride wave. (Dave Waddell, Windsor Star)
- Rookie comes back for seconds. (David Goricki, The Detroit News)
- Holmstrom scores pair in win. (Michael Zuidema, MLive)
- Wings continue winning ways. (Bruce MacLeod, Daily Tribune)
Friday night against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
Labels: game recap, Naslund, Red Wings, Vigneault
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Game Day Post: Canucks at Wings
It's a classic match-up of two teams that has started the season differently. The Vancouver Canucks have struggled to regain the disciplined, hardworking game they played for most of last year. On the other hand, the Detroit Red Wings are near the top of the Western Conference again. One team is firing on all cylinders; the other is not.
There may be some good news for the Canucks as Sami Salo is almost ready to return to the lineup. He may return tonight or he may return on Friday. When he does, it'll hopefully do a couple of things: he'll hopefully help Mattias Ohlund, who has really struggled without his regular defensive partner, and also, move Mike Weaver to Manitoba. Meanwhile, Kevin Bieksa is about to be a daddy for the first time and may miss tonight's game.
My keys to the game:
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
There may be some good news for the Canucks as Sami Salo is almost ready to return to the lineup. He may return tonight or he may return on Friday. When he does, it'll hopefully do a couple of things: he'll hopefully help Mattias Ohlund, who has really struggled without his regular defensive partner, and also, move Mike Weaver to Manitoba. Meanwhile, Kevin Bieksa is about to be a daddy for the first time and may miss tonight's game.
My keys to the game:
- Tighten up defensively.
- Don't give the Wings too many powerplays.
- Put some pucks on Hasek.
- Leadership, penalties costing Canucks. (Grant Kerr, Globe and Mail)
- Coach blasts soft forwards. (Jason Botchford, Vancouver Province)
- Zetterberg in high gear after injury-prevention work. (Tony Gallagher, Vancouver Province)
- Coach sees light at end of the tunnel. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Cancer puts focus on family. (Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun)
- Wings to face Canucks. (Dave Waddell Windsor Star)
- Luongo faces challenge for Wings. (Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News)
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: game day preview, Kesler, Red Wings, Vigneault, Zetterberg
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Red Wings 1 Canucks 4
I caught a bit of the postgame show on TEAM 1040 last night and couldn't believe what I was hearing. The Canucks won 4-1 last night over the first place Detroit Red Wings, but most folks didn't want to talk about another great goaltending performance from Roberto Luongo - his 41st win of the season - or the great performance by the NHL-leading penalty-killing unit that also produced Brendan Morrison's shorthanded goal or Henrik coming within four assists of Andre Boudrias' franchise record of 62 assists in a single season. They wanted to talk about Markus Naslund being benched for two consecutive powerplays in the second period.
It's true that Nazzy's numbers aren't what they used to be, but his responsibility to this team is much more than just to put the puck in the net. In fact, he has the same responsibility as the other 11 forwards on the ice - to look after the defensive side of things first then make the high percentage play next. And he's not only done all that, he's embraced it with nary a peep or complaint. (For the exact opposite of this, see Samsonov, Sergei, Montreal Canadiens.)
And about that putting the puck in the net thing? Last I checked, Nazzy still has 22 goals, which is second-highest on the team, and 54 points, which is third-highest. He has five game-winning goals for the season, second-highest after Daniel Sedin's seven. In fact, the Canucks are 7-1-1 in their last nine games and Nazzy scored the game-winner in two of them so, overall, he hasn't done that bad there either.
More from the Mainstream
First, a clip from Dave Nonis' interview on CBC's After Hours. Seems like Jeff Cowan isn't the only member of the Canuck organization who has rockstar status.
And now the rest of today's 'Nucks-related news:
About the game around the blogosphere
My 3 Stars of the Game
Official Statistics
Next Game
Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
"He wasn't playing well, it's as simple as that," Vigneault said bluntly after the game.There's no denying that Nazzy had a bad game. (Heck, so did Nicklas Lidstrom, who was on the ice for all four Canucks goals.) Knowing how Alain Vigneault has run this team - playing players who are hot and sitting those who aren't - I'm not even surprised that he was benched. However, I don't like our captain being crucified, especially after a win against a first place team.
Naslund said he can't remember the last time he was benched for a Canucks power play.
"I think he was trying to shake things up and get us a goal there," Naslund said of his coach.
The benching came in the midst of a tentative, careless and uninvolved game for Naslund, whose soft line change cost the team the Wings goal in the first period when he lollygagged his way off, leaving too many men on the ice.
It's true that Nazzy's numbers aren't what they used to be, but his responsibility to this team is much more than just to put the puck in the net. In fact, he has the same responsibility as the other 11 forwards on the ice - to look after the defensive side of things first then make the high percentage play next. And he's not only done all that, he's embraced it with nary a peep or complaint. (For the exact opposite of this, see Samsonov, Sergei, Montreal Canadiens.)
And about that putting the puck in the net thing? Last I checked, Nazzy still has 22 goals, which is second-highest on the team, and 54 points, which is third-highest. He has five game-winning goals for the season, second-highest after Daniel Sedin's seven. In fact, the Canucks are 7-1-1 in their last nine games and Nazzy scored the game-winner in two of them so, overall, he hasn't done that bad there either.
More from the Mainstream
First, a clip from Dave Nonis' interview on CBC's After Hours. Seems like Jeff Cowan isn't the only member of the Canuck organization who has rockstar status.
And now the rest of today's 'Nucks-related news:
- For perspective on the Naslund thing and the team's goal-production as a whole, consider that 14 different Canucks have scored the team's last 17 goals. - Jason Botchford (Vancouver Province)
- The Canucks don't mind the lack of respect, even when it's from some of the locals. - Ed Willes (Vancouver Province)
- Henrik's 58 assists ties him for 4th overall in the NHL. - Vancouver Province
- Postgame from the Detroit side. - Helene St. James (Detroit Free Press), Ted Kulfan (The Detroit News)
About the game around the blogosphere
- Alanah (Canucks and Beyond), Paul (Kukla's Corner) and Bill (Abel to Yzerman) liveblogged the game. Check here for the aftermath.
- The Chief Canuck is back with his good, bad and ugly for the game.
- Canucks Fangirl recaps the game as well.
My 3 Stars of the Game
- Roberto Luongo (VAN): 32 saves and his 41st win of the season.
- Brendan Morrison (VAN): A goal, an assist and an 81% (13/16) faceoff percentage, Mo is playing his best stretch hockey of the season.
- Pavel Datsyuk (DET): Wings forward scored a goal, threw seven shots on Luongo and was a handful all night.
Official Statistics
Next Game
Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers.
______________
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
Labels: game recap, Luongo, Red Wings
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Game Day: Red Wings at Canucks
The Canucks play their second-last Saturday night home game of the regular season tonight when they entertain the Detroit Red Wings. The Canucks have won two of three meetings against the Wings so far, but both of those wins were at the Joe.
The Wings certainly aren't taking the Canucks lightly:
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
The Wings certainly aren't taking the Canucks lightly:
The Canucks are in first place in their division, are virtually unbeatable when leading after two periods and are one of the toughest teams in the NHL to score against.Here's more love from Detroit:
Those three accomplishments have a great deal to do with last summer's decision to acquire Roberto Luongo, one of the biggest and best goaltenders in the league. The Wings, who play the Canucks tonight at GM Place, have lost to him twice this season, and they're not the only ones. Luongo is 40-20-5 with a 2.35 goals-against average, but more impressive than his stats is the impact he has had on the Canucks.
"Oh, he's changed them," Wings coach Mike Babcock said Friday. "I mean, they used to try to race you to seven. They play now. They make it hard for you to play. Lu is one of the best goalies in the world. He gives your team confidence. If your team has confidence in their goalie, they don't run around in their own zone because they know he's going to do the job."
"He's been unbelievable," Red Wings forward Kris Draper said. "A lot of (us) probably weren't paying attention of what he was doing in Florida, but you bring him into a Canadian market, and he's getting the attention now of what a great goaltender he is."And here are some more pregame fodder:
- One player who Canucks fans have been dying to show the love to is Todd Bertuzzi, ex-Canuck and current Red Wing, but he won't be at GM Place tonight; he's in Grand Rapids, Michigan skating with the Wings' farm team. And no, he won't be on the ice either when the Griffins take on the Manitoba Moose.
- Chris Chelios, the ageless wonder, will play, of course. And apparently, he may play until he's 50. (Shit, I thought he was 50 already.)
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, Detroit+Red+Wings
Labels: Bertuzzi, Chelios, game day preview, Red Wings
