WCSF: Vancouver Canucks [PAC1] vs Edmonton Oilers [PAC2] - Edmonton wins 4-3

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

You mean the team who set the record for lowest shots on goal to start the playoffs. Lol

I think the message is going to get through to both the coach and his players. He's already calling out his team and I suspect its not for them to be more passive.

[Zary's-Mustache]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I don't think that there is a way that he isn't injured right now. This has been something since the regular season. He looks slow and can't take a shot, even with time. When he is healthy he is a dynamic player but right now he looks slow and timid.

A very different player than who we saw in the bubble playoffs so I don't know if it is just a story of someone who can't play at a high level, even if those playoffs were really weird.

As a Canucks fan are you really surprised? He had like a year stretch where he played bad before he figured it out again. He's been very inconsistent in his career.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

I don't think that there is a way that he isn't injured right now. This has been something since the regular season. He looks slow and can't take a shot, even with time. When he is healthy he is a dynamic player but right now he looks slow and timid.



A very different player than who we saw in the bubble playoffs so I don't know if it is just a story of someone who can't play at a high level, even if those playoffs were really weird.

The bubble, even though it was playoffs, wasn't anything like real playoff hockey with the crowds and the spotlight. These things amp teams up 10x and that kind of play seems to not be what Pettersson wants anything to do with.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Any chance Kane gets a game for the crosscheck to the face? Combined with the slew-foot they have to take a look.

Ok, but seriously, the DOPS has to at least make a statement, right?

There have been 3 cross checks to the face this series. Which is about 3 more than you'd normally see in a series. Two have drawn blood. The other one led to a suspension. Perry even tried to punk Boeser about it. The NHL has completely mishandled this IMO.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by activeStick

The bubble, even though it was playoffs, wasn't anything like real playoff hockey with the crowds and the spotlight. These things amp teams up 10x and that kind of play seems to not be what Pettersson wants anything to do with.

Yeah the bubble was an aberration as guys like Nurse, Chychrun, etc with career seasons soon went back to normal in a regular season.

[HighLifeMan]

For all the praise he is getting recently - you seriously do have to question why Rick Tocchet is stapling a player in Mikheyev who has just one goal and 15 points in his last 60 games alongside their most purely talented and creative forward. They ran the wrong guy (Kuzmenko) out of town who had a proven and productive track record next to Pettersson and it may end up being what costs them. I don't want to make excuses for Elias Pettersson but linemates and chemistry are immensely important, and it's something I continually point to with Huberdeau. He is playing with an absolute dearth of talent, and it has effected his confidence in a massive way.

[Matty81]

I've watching bits and pieces of 3 of the 4 games and every time I tune in the Canucks are on their heels absorbing pressure getting outshot badly with the occasional counter attack. Wonder if it's a gameplan/fear of being hit on the counter by McDavid's speed to play very conservatively or they are just being outclassed, really been hoping to see them tilt the ice and step up at some point.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

For all the praise he is getting recently - you seriously do have to question why Rick Tocchet is stapling a player in Mikheyev who has just one goal and 15 points in his last 60 games alongside their most purely talented and creative forward. They ran the wrong guy (Kuzmenko) out of town who had a proven and productive track record next to Pettersson and it may end up being what costs them. I don't want to make excuses for Elias Pettersson but linemates and chemistry are immensely important, and it's something I continually point to with Huberdeau. He is playing with an absolute dearth of talent, and it has effected his confidence in a massive way.

Supporting cast aside, he looks afraid to me, maybe protecting an injury as has been said, but he reminds me of Johnny in the playoffs, just terrified of going to the tough areas and getting hit

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I've watching bits and pieces of 3 of the 4 games and every time I tune in the Canucks are on their heels absorbing pressure getting outshot badly with the occasional counter attack. Wonder if it's a gameplan/fear of being hit on the counter by McDavid's speed to play very conservatively or they are just being outclassed, really been hoping to see them tilt the ice and step up at some point.

They don't trust their goaltender.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I've watching bits and pieces of 3 of the 4 games and every time I tune in the Canucks are on their heels absorbing pressure getting outshot badly with the occasional counter attack. Wonder if it's a gameplan/fear of being hit on the counter by McDavid's speed to play very conservatively or they are just being outclassed, really been hoping to see them tilt the ice and step up at some point.

Could be deliberate. They are actually doing a decent job keeping the Oilers to the perimeter during a lot of that pressure. Other than odd occasions (which they've been punished for), they aren't giving up a ton of chances on the rush. The trade off is, they are in their own zone way too much.

Honestly, it reminds me a little of the Flames series against the Oilers a couple years ago. They became so scared of getting burned that they forgot to press forward and create an attack of their own.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Supporting cast aside, he looks afraid to me, maybe protecting an injury as has been said, but he reminds me of Johnny in the playoffs, just terrified of going to the tough areas and getting hit

I certainly don't disagree that he's playing incredibly timid/soft, but I do think a lack of confidence bleeds into every aspect of a players game. He could very well be injured, but this has been an issue dating back to February.

[Tbull8]

saw a tweet saying that there’s a good chance Lekkerimaki is in the lineup Thursday. Not sure how credible but that would be awesome

[Galakanokis]

Canucks completely changed the way they play after Demko went down. Collapse, collapse, collapse and limit what you do so you don't make any mistakes. Great and all but extremely tough to break out of that when you need offense. They are now a defensive, opportunistic team.

They have talent and are fairly deep but Tocchet has them playing scared. Petterssen being next to useless isn't helping with the offensive matters.

[EDMONTONisNG]

lots of hate for petterson which is warranted but hronek has looked bad too.

Glad Hronek is sucking though tbh. He chirped the flames "you guys are going on vacation in 2 days" in the last game vs. the flames. Big talk coming from a scrub. No value added to the 1st pairing and its 100% hughes. Karma's a b#### Hronek, and good job for rejecting that 52M offer because you aren't getting that now.

[Enoch Root]

Pettersson before and after the signing:

Before..: 62 games, 29G, 46A, 75P, 1.20 PPG
After.....: 20 games, 4G, 10A, 14P, 0.70 PPG
Playoffs: 10 games, 1G, 3A, 4P, 0.40 PPG

Didn't like the contract at $11.6M then, still don't like it now

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

Imagine that when your team requires some toughness, to make a statement, that you'd call on a guy nicknamed The Tenderness to take care of things.

That sounds like a team of kittens from the toilet paper commercial.

Should McTavish be talking about running over people?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Pettersson before and after the signing:

Before..: 62 games, 29G, 46A, 75P, 1.20 PPG
After.....: 20 games, 4G, 10A, 14P, 0.70 PPG
Playoffs: 10 games, 1G, 3A, 4P, 0.40 PPG

Didn't like the contract at $11.6M then, still don't like it now

Although it's a very small sample size, he's become a more expensive Huberdeau.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Still plenty of time to right the ship, but the next couple of games vs. the Oilers would be a good place to start.

[FanIn80]

Evander Kane openly and intentionally cross-checks a guy in the face right in the middle of the play, in front of the net for everyone to see... hard enough to draw blood... yet somehow gets a double minor instead of a major, major and a game or major and a match (these are the only possible options, according to the rulebook).

These are the only possible infractions that can be assessed a double minor:


This is the official entry in the NHL rulebook for cross-checking (Rule 59):


There is literally no such thing as a "double minor for cross-checking." Meaning, the ref didn't want to kick Kane out of the game (59.5 states that any major for cross-checking automatically includes a game misconduct), so he made up a "double minor for cross-checking" instead.


Also, what a surprise that there was no media outcry... no social media clip going viral... and therefore, also not a single word from the league about any ensuing discipline.

[8sPOT]

Yeah I can't believe Kane faces nothing for that cross check to the face, that drew blood, literally 1 game after the same thing happened and the Canuck was suspended.

The NHL is getting harder to watch with this crazy inconsistent nonsense. Its so bush league. Really need to sort that out before it becomes a real joke.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

The NHL is getting harder to watch with this crazy inconsistent nonsense. It’s so bush league. Really need to sort that out before it becomes a real joke.

Too late. It’s been a joke for a while now.