Canucks Central - Page 27

Prometheus · #**521** Posted **May 8, 2010, 9:51 PM**

We all know how this ends.

LeftCoaster · #**522** Posted **May 8, 2010, 10:04 PM**

Tomorrow?

The canucks are fine, they will be a force again next year, they are just missing one thing... a shut down defenceman. The absence of Willie MItchell is really showing its importance against a team like the hawks. Their one line can swing the entire feel of the game and allow even their 2nd and 3rd lines to carry the play as the Canucks get acoustomed to playing D. Shutting down the one line would make all the difference in the world.

Get rid of Demitra, bring up Hodgson and sign a good shut down guy. Do that and the nuks will win the NW again and have a good shot at the cup.

Oh and also they need to find some sedatives for Luongo. That guy plays like a complete — when he is worked up.

Yume-sama · #**523** Posted **May 8, 2010, 11:24 PM**

The Canucks need a leader. Obviously Luongo is only captain symbolically.

They need a veteran presence who can settle them down. Mark Recchi, Bill Guerin, Rod Brind'Amour, etc.

Both Luongo and the Sedin's are too easily flustered, and when they get flustered, they do foolish things. Very easily, and the team follows.

It seems every team to be successful in recent years has had one, if not more, of these types of players.

Prometheus · #**524** Posted **May 8, 2010, 11:31 PM**

Do you know what the Canucks also lack? Grit.

The Canadiens do not have the same skill and finesse as the Canucks, but they were able to beat the Capitals (a team with the second best hockey player in the world) and tie the Penguins (a team with the best hockey player in the world) through grit and determination (and Halak).

Some guy · #**525** Posted **May 9, 2010, 1:14 AM**

Luongo's path is only down from here. He's already been through his prime and needs a replacement within the next couple of years or so.

Yume-sama · #**526** Posted **May 9, 2010, 3:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some guy

Luongo's path is only down from here. He's already been through his prime and needs a replacement within the next couple of years or so.

Well, I don't think that's necessarily true. But, you have him signed for 11 more years after this one!

flight_from_kamakura · #**527** Posted **May 9, 2010, 4:51 PM**

agree with leftcoaster. this team would be doing better with 1-2 pieces extra in the defense corps. it's really unfortunate about mitchell.

still, i think they can pull this one out. i can't believe that they'd lose the next game, they haven't lost four in a row all season, have they? luongo has a couple good games in him yet.

Some guy · #**528** Posted **May 10, 2010, 2:53 AM**

Canucks are coming back home with another game at GM place. 4-1

GeeCee · #**529** Posted **May 10, 2010, 2:56 AM**

I'm kind of shocked that they won tonight (and fairly decisively at that). Excited for game 6 (and the subsequent game 7)!

usog · #**530** Posted **May 10, 2010, 2:57 AM**

I actually contemplated not watching it >_> Man, that blood gushing from O'brien and he comes back minutes later.

GeeCee · #**531** Posted **May 10, 2010, 3:17 AM**

Eh, it was just a flesh wound.

usog · #**532** Posted **May 10, 2010, 4:00 AM**

So the rumors are that Salo took more than a mere fleshwound...

LotusLand · #**533** Posted **May 10, 2010, 4:12 AM**

Salo looks to have ruptured a testicle! OUCH!!! That hurts just hearing about it. Here is the report and a video of the hit from Vancity Buzz:

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2010/05/sami-salo-ruptured-testicle.html

Spork · #**534** Posted **May 10, 2010, 4:17 AM**

Fun game. Nail biter at times, but the Canucks really kept their cool quite well for the amount of — Chicago was throwing at them. I can see us taking it to game 7, and then slipping at the chance to rub it Chicago's face and taking a series of bad penalties to lose the game.

Stingray2004 · #**535** Posted **May 10, 2010, 4:18 AM**

Overall in this series with the hawks, the Canucks have been the better team in terms of puck control ... yet they fall into the trap of silly penalties. I mean come on... two situations in the last game where they were on the losing end 5 on 3 (with 2 concurrent Canuck penalties)? That's unheard of - obviously resulting in hawk goals. Those situations can take the wind out of your sails.

If the Canucks continue to play with their puck control smart and diligently without drawing penalties - then the Canucks will be able to win the next two games. But if they continue to draw silly penalties - then it's game over.

Unlike last year, this time around the Canucks have the finesse to win against the hawks. Nevertheless, it's still a crapshoot - we'll see what happens.