WCQF: Vancouver Canucks [PAC 1] vs Nashville Predators [WC1] (Canucks win 4-2)

[Mathgod]

Preds in 6. Canucks are PDO darlings and haven't been in the playoffs since the Covid bubble.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

I think preds in 7 only because I suspect Demko isn't 100%.

Based on?

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Preds in 6. Canucks are PDO darlings and haven't been in the playoffs since the Covid bubble.

Tell me you haven't watched a Canucks game since November without saying "I haven't watched any Canucks games since November"

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

Preds in 6. Canucks are PDO darlings and haven't been in the playoffs since the Covid bubble.

And even then they were falling out of their spot when covid saved them

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Based on?

Tell me you haven't watched a Canucks game since November without saying "I haven't watched any Canucks games since November"

he has played one game in 2 months?

[EDMONTONisNG]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Based on?

Tell me you haven't watched a Canucks game since November without saying "I haven't watched any Canucks games since November"

sorry if I triggered you (assuming you are a canucks fan).

best buy that riot gear before the prices skyrocket in response to demand.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

sorry if I triggered you assuming you are a canucks fan.

Hoho! You got me with that triggered comment! Boy howdy, you're a funny one.

Anyways, what are you basing your opinion of Demko's health on?

[EDMONTONisNG]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Hoho! You got me with that triggered comment! Boy howdy, you're a funny one.

Anyways, what are you basing your opinion of Demko's health on?

dino7c responded up above. He was DTD just a week ago. Health isn't binary. Even though you "feel fine" (his quote last week), it is subject to change a lot after a fairly big injury. He might feel fine today but that can quickly change in sport - especially knee injuries for goalies (you rely on your knee's a lot for obvious reasons - and you can't just play through the pain like a forward would with a broken thumb or something). Now add in the mental factor too if being worried of re-injuring it again. There's a lot at play here and he's certainly not the same goalie as he was before the injury - maybe he will be with time, but its still too soon to know.

To add - you can't expect a goalie who hasn't played in a long time to be 100%. Even great players need time to get back to level. He isn't gearing up for a pre-season game either, this is the playoffs where the intensity will be cranked up. Is he in game form? Hard to know.

[CliffFletcher]

Big upset here. The Canucks are faltering and I’m not convinced Demko is 100 per cent. The Preds have been playing good hockey, and O’Reilly is ace at this kind of shut-down role against a favourite.

Preds in 6.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

dino7c responded up above. He was DTD just a week ago.

And I can't see that, so you have to do your own homework

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

Health isn't binary. Even though you "feel fine" (his quote last week), it is subject to change a lot after a fairly big injury.

It was a big injury now? Do you know what it was? I'd love to know as the Canucks have been so quiet on exactly what was wrong with his knee.

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

He might feel fine today but that can quickly change in sport

That's true of literally everyone in every sport. He could get hit by a bus too.

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

- especially knee injuries for goalies (you rely on your knee's a lot for obvious reasons - and you can't just play through the pain like a forward would with a broken thumb or something).

That's probably why he just sat out 14 games. I'm not a medicine scientist, but I think the sitting out until the injury got better may have been connected.

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

Now add in the mental factor too if being worried of re-injuring it again.

Sure. He could also realize it was just a part of the position he plays and be fine with it. Getting into the mental state of people we don't know well, let alone personally is a fool's errand.

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

There's a lot at play here and he's certainly not the same goalie as he was before the injury - maybe he will be with time, but its still too soon to know.

He's not the same goalie based on? He's played one game and stopped 39 of 40 shots.

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

To add - you can't expect a goalie who hasn't played in a long time to be 100%. Even great players need time to get back to level. He isn't gearing up for a pre-season game either, this is the playoffs where the intensity will be cranked up. Is he in game form? Hard to know.

Again, I'm no well-being wizard but he did just play an NHL game where his team essentially gave the opposition free reign on putting shots on goal and stopped 39 of 40.

It sounds less like you "Think" Demko isn't 100% and more accurately you "hope" Demko isn't 100% based on a myriad of reasons you're mostly making up based on what you hope is true.

You could be right! But it's a case of the blind squirrel finding a nut more than you actually having any real information that leads you there.

[EDMONTONisNG]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

And I can't see that, so you have to do your own homework


It was a big injury now? Do you know what it was? I'd love to know as the Canucks have been so quiet on exactly what was wrong with his knee.


That's true of literally everyone in every sport. He could get hit by a bus too.


That's probably why he just sat out 14 games. I'm not a medicine scientist, but I think the sitting out until the injury got better may have been connected.


Sure. He could also realize it was just a part of the position he plays and be fine with it. Getting into the mental state of people we don't know well, let alone personally is a fool's errand.


He's not the same goalie based on? He's played one game and stopped 39 of 40 shots.



Again, I'm no well-being wizard but he did just play an NHL game where his team essentially gave the opposition free reign on putting shots on goal and stopped 39 of 40.

It sounds like you don't "Think" Demko is 100% as you're basing it on feels over reals. More accurately you "hope" Demko isn't 100% based on a myriad of reasons you're mostly making up.

You could be right! But it's a case of the blind squirrel finding a nut more than you actually having any real information that leads you there.

man, canuck fans need to relax.

for the record, I said I SUSPECT that he's not 100%. I'm sorry if my suspicions hurt your feelings and put you in a spiral.

Also, who cares what I hope for. Do you think hoping that Demko is injured will result in anything? Lol, I think the kids called it manifesting. I manifest for the 1st OA pick and Celebrini, and also winning the 649 but it won't make a difference on anything.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by EDMONTONisNG

man, canuck fans need to relax.

for the record, I said I SUSPECT that he's not 100%. I'm sorry if my suspicions hurt your feelings and put you in a spiral.

What if I told you, I can respond to people on the internet with my particularly cheeky conversational style whilst being totally calm and without hurt feelings.

If you had wanted to share an opinion without possibility of response, I would suggest a blog with comments turned off.


Anyways, You said "I suspect" I said "Based on what?" and your response should have been "I just feel that way, yo"
as opposed to just slapping your keyboard to get the silly reasons you gave.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Ways the Canucks lose this series:

1. Demko gets hurt again
2. They lose the special teams battle significantly
3. Saros goes God mode
4. They can't stop the Forsberg line

I think it's probably more likely that Demko and Saros are close to even, special teams is close to even, and either Miller or Lindholm successfully keeps Nashville's first line more or less in check, leaving the remaining overall talent gap to favour Vancouver. 6 games.

[Bandwagon Surfer]

I am struggling with my feelings on this one. I feel like I should be against the Canucks, but I find myself cheering for them this year.

For how annoying the Canucks and their fans were in past iterations, I really do not mind this version of them. No more Bieksa or Kesler type players. Fans seems much more humble and in touch with reality. The whole thing feels vaguely likeable.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Feels like a short series win for Vancouver or a long series win for Nashville.
I like the Preds odds of they can drag it out.

[midniteowl]

Preds in 6

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon Surfer

I am struggling with my feelings on this one. I feel like I should be against the Canucks, but I find myself cheering for them this year.

For how annoying the Canucks and their fans were in past iterations, I really do not mind this version of them. No more Bieksa or Kesler type players. Fans seems much more humble and in touch with reality. The whole thing feels vaguely likeable.

Fans seem more humble...

https://twitter.com/taj1944/status/1780810459870105811

[Lewis_D]

Canucks in 6. Vancouver's depth and Demko will get the over the line. I'll still be rooting against the Canucks though for the record.

This matchup takes me back to that Nashville vs Vancouver series in 2011. Pekka Rinne and Joel Ward both come to mind. And those slick Preds jerseys they had back then.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by redmile04

https://twitter.com/taj1944/status/1780810459870105811

Taj is an idiot.

[FlamesAddiction]

If Demko can play to his abilities after being out a while, I think Vancouver takes this series, but I think it will be a close one. Pretty even match up on paper.

[SuperMatt18]

This series is closer and more interesting than people are giving credit for I think...

If we look at the second half of the season these teams were tied for the 3rd best record in the Western Conference.

Vancouver: 54 Points vs Nashvile: 54 Points
Vancouver: 122 Goals For vs Nashville: 139 Goals For
Vancouver: 113 Goals Against vs Nashville: 118 Goals Against
Vancouver: 51.9% Goals For vs Nashville: 54.1% Goals For
Vancouver: 54.3% Expected Goals For vs Nashville: 53.1% Expected Goals For
Vancouver: 10.4% Shooting Percentage vs Nashville: 10.0% Shooting Percentage
Vancouver: .898 Save Percentage vs Nashville: .906 Save Percentage

That's a pretty close final 41 games...but with the disclaimer the Canucks were missing Demko. And in the end this series probably comes down to Demko vs Saros.

Which if we look at each starting goalie over each teams last 41 games...

Demko: 21 GP, .921 Sv Percentage, 9.84 GSAA
Saros: 31 GP. .913 Sv Percentage, 8.74 GSAA

And look at the total book of work over each goalies last two seasons:

Demko: 82 GP, .911 SV%, 18.4 GSAA
Saros: 128 GP, .913 SV%, 35.2 GSAA

So I don't know...with Demko recovering from injury, and with Saros finding his form after a slow start this feels like the series is much closer than a 2 vs 7 series normally would be. Nashville in 6, Lindholm and Zadorov are scapegoated by Canucks fans for providing little impact.