Canucks Central

[Prometheus]

Vigneault is a great coach, just like Luongo is a great goalie. But, like Luongo, Vigneault sometimes makes a costly mistake at a key time.

Last night was one of those times.

Let's hope Luongo (who has not won a game in San Jose in the last four years of his career) can get it done and that there is no need to play Schneider whose record in San Jose is flawless. But if Luongo (or anyone else) struggles, let's hope Vigneault can make the appropriate adjustments at a time when the game can still be salvaged.

[logan5]

Well, last nights game was almost salvaged, 10 PPs, a 5 on 3 to take the lead, strange game overall. For me it's too early to get worried about Luongo. We'll see what happens in game 4.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Vigneault is a great coach, just like Luongo is a great goalie. But, like Luongo, Vigneault sometimes makes a costly mistake at a key time.

Last night was one of those times.

Let's hope Luongo (who has not won a game in San Jose in the last four years of his career) can get it done and that there is no need to play Schneider whose record in San Jose is flawless. But if Luongo (or anyone else) struggles, let's hope Vigneault can make the appropriate adjustments at a time when the game can still be salvaged.

While Schnieds won 2 games out of two in San Jose his record isn't flawless. he posted a GAA of 3.20, not exactly great numbers.

Also the game wasn't Luongo's fault, the team in front of him was undisciplined and were playing very poorly. The sharks had 38 shots on net, Luongo saved 34 of them. The only goal you can blame loungo on is the 5hole that was not screened, everything else (including breakaway) was not his fault, the team played very poorly. The Canucks lost the game when they didn't score on the 5-3 PP.

It would be crazy to think that the Canucks would have gone 3-0 against the sharks, and anyone thinking that the Canucks

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by logan5

Well, last nights game was almost salvaged...

Exactly.

So just imagine if the Canucks' goaltending had managed to stop the bleeding at three goals. Like the Tampa Bay Lightning today, we could be dissecting the anatomy of a victory instead of a defeat.

[logan5]

Pulling your goalie is bit of a —, and it's a desperation move, it doesn't guarantee success. Tampa gambled and won. As for the 5 on 3 goal, in that situation, the goalie is very active and very susceptible to those types of goals as he is moving laterally so much. There is no guarantee that Cory stops every shot he faces.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

The only goal you can blame loungo on is the 5hole that was not screened...

And that was the winning goal. (Let us also not forget the first goal, which Luongo let through his legs as well.)

Look, no rational person puts the blame all on Luongo. The goaltending was only one factor among many that contributed to the Canucks' defeat.

My only contention is that when a team allows three unanswered goals in the first period, a coach, barring special circumstances, should make a change at net, even when its not entirely the goalie's fault, and especially when the backup has a superior record in that particular building.

The coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning adhered to that principle, and won. Vigneault didn't, and lost. It doesn't always work out that way, but it is the most rational decision at the time.

[invisibleairwaves]

When you talk about Schneider's record in the Shark Tank compared to Luongo's, you have to realize you're talking about a sample size so small as to be irrelevant. Schneider has played two career NHL games in that building, both of them behind a team that was at the top of its game. Comparing Luongo and Schneider's records there is just a meaningless argument.

Keep in mind that we're also talking about the Sharks, a team that gives up early leads like crazy. How many times was Jimmy Howard pulled in the Wings' come-from-behind victories last series? AV probably genuinely believed that the Canucks had at least as much of a chance at a comeback with Luongo in net than they would have with Schneider, and that's not an unreasonable belief at all.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by invisibleairwaves

When you talk about Schneider's record in the Shark Tank compared to Luongo's, you have to realize you're talking about a sample size so small as to be irrelevant. Schneider has played two career NHL games in that building, both of them behind a team that was at the top of its game. Comparing Luongo and Schneider's records there is just a meaningless argument.

But that's not my argument. My assertion is that surrendering three unanswered goals in the first period is generally sufficient to prescribe a change in net. The fact that your backup goalie happens to be the best in the NHL and has won every game he has played in that particular building (even if it is only two) serves only to make that prior decision less difficult.

Originally Posted by invisibleairwaves

Keep in mind that we're also talking about the Sharks, a team that gives up early leads like crazy. How many times was Jimmy Howard pulled in the Wings' come-from-behind victories last series? AV probably genuinely believed that the Canucks had at least as much of a chance at a comeback with Luongo in net than they would have with Schneider, and that's not an unreasonable belief at all.

No, it was not unreasonable. But, under the particular circumstances, I hold that it was less reasonable than the alternative.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

But that's not my argument. My assertion is that surrendering three unanswered goals in the first period is generally sufficient to prescribe a change in net.

Generally not. Most coaches will give the team and the goalie an opportunity to come back in that situation. Maybe if it was 4-0 or 5-0 yes.

That is my experience from watching hockey over the years.

[Nutterbug]

The Sharts just played Game 3 with more urgency, and for good reason too. Canucks just got complacent and fell into a mid-series slumber again. Hopefully, they come back to life next game.

A bigger ouch than the loss of the game is the loss of Ehrhoff and Rome.

[Prometheus]

Vigneault's decision to put in Tanner Glass in game 3 and now in game 4 is definitely paying off and is starting to make sense.

Torres made a pretty smart play there too in the last second of the first period.

It's good to see the Canucks learned their lesson about taking too many penalties and are playing a much smarter game this time.

EDIT: It's 3-0 for the Canucks now, so Go Canucks Go! Go Vigneault Go! Go Tanner Glass Go! Go Luongo Go!

[GeeCee]

Solid win for the Canucks, despite taking quite a few penalties to begin with. Five more wins to go!

[Yume-sama]

Only potentially 5 games away from having to board up my windows

[WarrenC12]

What a terrible job by the refs all around. Ruined the game, albeit for both teams. The better team still won, thankfully.

If Thornton is out for Game 5, hopefully this is over at home.

[Yume-sama]

Yeah, the game was just massacred completely. It's a shame

There is noooo way the Sharks for a game 6.

[SpikePhanta]

Hey Prometheus Luongo played a pretty solid game today

Luongo fends off 5 straight PP's, makes 33 of 35 saves, gets his team within 1 win of the Cup Finals and it's a non-story to the media.

[WaxItYourself]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

What a terrible job by the refs all around. Ruined the game, albeit for both teams. The better team still won, thankfully.

If Thornton is out for Game 5, hopefully this is over at home.

The 3 5 on 3's were the direct result of San Jose's incompetence. They were plugged for too many men on the ice for the second 5 on 3 and the third 5 on 3 was delay of game for shooting the puck over the boards. Things that should be called every time. Of course the 5 penalties in the first period for only the Canucks may have been questionable. While those penalties should have been called there should have been some the other way as well since they got away with some stuff.

[Nutterbug]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Vigneault's decision to put in Tanner Glass in game 3 and now in game 4 is definitely paying off and is starting to make sense.

Glass cost us a couple of dumb early penalties.

Thankfully, the PK bailed him out and prevented another early SJ lead and momentum.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

Hey Prometheus Luongo played a pretty solid game today

Luongo fends off 5 straight PP's, makes 33 of 35 saves, gets his team within 1 win of the Cup Finals and it's a non-story to the media.

As I said yesterday, "Luongo is a great goalie." My criticism was directed at Vigneault.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by Nutterbug

Glass cost us a couple of dumb early penalties.

Thankfully, the PK bailed him out and prevented another early SJ lead and momentum.

Sarcasm?

Originally Posted by Prometheus

As I said yesterday, "Luongo is a great goalie." My criticism was directed at Vigneault.

Ah ok, everyone questions AV, lol.