Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
Thing that stood out to me in this one was how different it is playing Vancouver now. I used to dread those Sedin led cycles down low, getting caught in their own zone, relying on Kiprusoff to bail them out. Icing the puck. Drawing a penalty.
You never felt safe.
They're just not that team anymore ... don't seem to generate a lot of offensive pressure, or at least sustained pressure.
[caveat is that they played the night before and played well against the Bruins]
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I totally agree with your sentiment, and I think there are a few reasons for it:
1) as you say, the Nucks aren't the team they used to be
2) (more importantly) the Flames used to stand around and react to the Sedins and the Nucks. Lately (and last night especially), they have been skating and initiating the play. The Flames are faster than the Nucks and need to pressure them with speed, which they did last night.
3) because they were reacting, and giving too much space and respect, the Flames took a lot of penalties, and the Nucks PP always buried them. By initiating the play and out-skating them, the Flames are now drawing more penalties than they are taking.
IMO, the tide has turned.