[OOT] January 16, ten games!

[FlameFan21]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Matt Cooke got him trying to be cute with the puck.

Cooke hit the Nail...



Right on the head.

[squiggs96]

I'm worried that the canucks will miss the playoffs and then win the draft.

[Ashasx]

Vancouver shutout.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

The burning question in Van. is what brand of horse tranquilizer does Gillis have Torts on.

[Tsawwassen]

The one goal scored by Zuccarello was deflected by a Red Wing defender (Laschoff) and it was the GWG with 6 minutes left in reg time, 1-0 Rangers. Lundqvist gets the SHUTOUT with 38 saves and at the other end Howard was just as good in the loss, he faced 48 shots. The Rangers with the win puts them in a playoff spot. The score is deceiving as that was the best game on the OOT. On the flip side, the Coyotes beat the Canucks 1-0 in reg time in a far less exciting game. The Canucks's PK woes continue. Mike Smith stopped all 29 shots for the SHUTOUT while Lack stopped 22/23 shots in the loss. Vermette's PPG in the 1st period stood up as the GWG which was tipped in by a Canuck again, LOL. The Sharks #2 goalie, Stalock earns his 1st SHUTOUT in the NHL as the San Jose beat the Panthers 3-0. He faced 24 shots. The Habs win 5-4 in OT over the Sens and it felt like last year's 1st round playoff series between the 2 teams. Nice SHG goal by Plekanec, the rebound went off the Sens defensemen. Carey Price was awesome in goal as the Senators fired 44 shots on him. A surprise 4-3 SO win by the Predators on the road against the Flyers. Hutton was in net of the Predators and showed lots of poise unlike last game. The Islanders win 2-1 in the SO over Tampa. Poulin has really played well since Nabokov has been injured. The Isles are turning it on, 8-2-0 in their past 10 games. It was St. Louis bday and he gets the Bolts only goal, Vanek gets the Isles goal. It seems Vanek and Tavares have chemistry now. The Stars slump continues as they lose 4-2 to the Bruins. The Kings win 4-1 over the Blues in another 1st round series from last year. The Wild go wild on the stupid Oilers, 4-1 for Minnesota. The last game had another low scoring terrific goalie duel, Varlamov vs. Schneider. The Avs won 2-1 in OT. The shots were also close 38-34 in favour of the Avs.

[codynw]

Not even Scrivezina could pull out 2 points for the Oilers? I am shocked.

[Locke]

Canucks outscored 11-1 in 3 games. What do they think this is, the playoffs?

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by Locke

Canucks outscored 11-1 in 3 games. What do they think this is, the playoffs?

Someone in another forum cited this as proof that the Canucks are in playoff mode and that it's a good sign. Funny stuff.

[CaptainCrunch]

Wow the Vancouver collapse is almost inspirational. While they're holding onto the Wildcard spot right now, the teams chasing them have games in hands.

This Vancouver team is reminding me more and more of the 2009 Flames, as they're more a middle pack team that's not near as good as the upper tier teams, their cupboard of prospects is bare and their core is aging.

I still think they maybe have a year of competitive hockey left in their window after this season. But do they risk it and lose everything, or do the start the teardown this summer.

[sun]

I don't see the canucks tearing anything down while the sedins are still under contract (four more years?). Would be a hard trade to make any time before that, I imagine.

They'll still be going for it long after they should have stopped (hopefully!). Maybe we'll hear the word "retool" at some point lol.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Wow the Vancouver collapse is almost inspirational. While they're holding onto the Wildcard spot right now, the teams chasing them have games in hands.

This Vancouver team is reminding me more and more of the 2009 Flames, as they're more a middle pack team that's not near as good as the upper tier teams, their cupboard of prospects is bare and their core is aging.

I still think they maybe have a year of competitive hockey left in their window after this season. But do they risk it and lose everything, or do the start the teardown this summer.

seemed odd to me when the guys on the fan basically scoffed at the idea of them missing the playoffs like it would be impossible, I think they are on the bubble

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dino7c

seemed odd to me when the guys on the fan basically scoffed at the idea of them missing the playoffs like it would be impossible, I think they are on the bubble

I agree and the bubble is coming a lot faster than I thought. I thought the Canucks would be a middle-of-the-pack playoff team for a couple more years still but the Swedes got paid and it looks like they closed up shop.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Locke

I agree and the bubble is coming a lot faster than I thought. I thought the Canucks would be a middle-of-the-pack playoff team for a couple more years still but the Swedes got paid and it looks like they closed up shop.

this was yesterday that the guys on the fan thought the Canucks making the playoffs was a given, not sure if they are unaware of the new playoff format or the standings

[Locke]

Originally Posted by dino7c

this was yesterday that the guys on the fan thought the Canucks making the playoffs was a given, not sure if they are unaware of the new playoff format or the standings

In fairness, I think it still is, I dont see Phoenix/Dallas/Nashville catching them or Minnesota to take a spot.

[stemit14]

Will be interesting to see what Vancouver does at the trade deadline if they are still in this position or worse. They have poor depth of prospects in their organization and and aging core... So trading their first/second round picks doesn't seem smart. But they aren't anywhere near good enough to compete with the other western conference playoff teams so do they make a big trade in hopes of making themselves more competitive? I honestly don't think there's anything available on the trade market that will be enough to make them contend with Anaheim, Chicago, St. Louis, LA, or San Jose.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Will be interesting to see what Vancouver does at the trade deadline if they are still in this position or worse. They have poor depth of prospects in their organization and and aging core... So trading their first/second round picks doesn't seem smart. But they aren't anywhere near good enough to compete with the other western conference playoff teams so do they make a big trade in hopes of making themselves more competitive? I honestly don't think there's anything available on the trade market that will be enough to make them contend with Anaheim, Chicago, St. Louis, LA, or San Jose.

I don't think Gillis has a choice here and it'll basically come down to saving his job. They fired AV last year presumably because he was the reason the team has steadily fallen off the radar as a contender with the excuse that the roster is there to win - they've just stopped listening to the voice.

It's clear to the majority of people out there (except Vancouver fans) that the Canucks are going to be a first round knock out rather easily if they even make the dance at all, so changes will need to be made by Gillis if he wants to keep his job.

I think they'll be buyers and give up quite a bit of the future to win now.

[morgin]

They should have blown out the roster this summer. Easy to say in retrospect I guess, but the return for Kesler, Sedins, Burrows, and Bieksa would have stocked the cupboards for years and probably provided some NHL ready prospects. Fan base would kill itself, but now they face the rapid decline and half decade or more of rebuilding while clinging to 2011.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

I don't think Gillis has a choice here and it'll basically come down to saving his job. They fired AV last year presumably because he was the reason the team has steadily fallen off the radar as a contender with the excuse that the roster is there to win - they've just stopped listening to the voice.

It's clear to the majority of people out there (except Vancouver fans) that the Canucks are going to be a first round knock out rather easily if they even make the dance at all, so changes will need to be made by Gillis if he wants to keep his job.

I think they'll be buyers and give up quite a bit of the future to win now.

Absolutely. They traded Schneider, their goaltender of the future. The future is not their biggest concern right now, its winning immediately.

Unfortunately for the Canucks no one on their roster understands urgency.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Locke

Absolutely. They traded Schneider, their goaltender of the future. The future is not their biggest concern right now, its winning immediately.

Unfortunately for the Canucks no one on their roster understands urgency.

Wait, what? They traded Schneider, for a first round draft pick in a deep draft in order to select a prospect, and that shows that they aren't looking towards the future.

I do think that Schneider is a great goaltender and that he will be such long into the future, but the Canucks were with their backs against the wall based upon their situation and Luongo's awful contract.