GDT: Nashville Predators @ Vancouver Canucks : 11-1-07 : 10pm CDT

[GlueleG]

How come Klein didnt play?

[handtrick]

Originally Posted by SLake

Well...looks like Mason is getting the shaft again thanks to his counterpart. Chris would be playing in front of a lot of his family and friends up in Edmonton later tonight, but...Ellis with his second shutout should get the start again tonight.

First, Mase misses an opportunity to play against Vokoun last week...this week Mase will still get the honor of buying a ton of tickets for tomorrow night's contest, but will view the game from the bench again.

You know this has got to be killing him, but the team simply isn't playing with confidence in front of him...like they are with Ellis.

I really think that we will come back with Mase tonight, being on the back-to-back 22 hrs later, despite the "shutout rule."

It really surprises me how much different they play in front of Ellis than Mase.....total puck support in the d zone, instead of risk taking.
Most of that is probably related to us getting the first goal in most of ellis's starts, but still.
That being said, body language shows that Ellis is playing with a lot of confidence right now, while Mase is not.

Tonight's game would be a fine opportunity to turn that around, with the recipe for success fresh in their mind.

If Mase gives up any soft goals, then I would make Ellis our #1 goaltender until further notice.

[predperson]

Originally Posted by handtrick

I really think that we will come back with Mase tonight, being on the back-to-back 22 hrs later.

It really surprises me how much different they play in front of Ellis than Mase.....total puck support in the d zone, instead of risk taking.
Most of that is probably related to us getting the first goal in most of ellis's starts, but still.
That being said, body language shows that Ellis is playing with a lot of confidence right now, while Mase is not.

Tonight's game would be a fine opportunity to turn that around, with the recipe for success fresh in their mind.

Why would the defense play so differently in front of Ellis? Is it strictly because he is the backup? Why have they hung Mason out to dry so often this season? I don't get it.

[Stranger]

Originally Posted by predperson

Why would the defense play so differently in front of Ellis? Is it strictly because he is the backup? Why have they hung Mason out to dry so often this season? I don't get it.

I don't think there is as big of a difference as everyone is making it out to be in terms of the defense's play in front of the goalie. Its more then likely just based on game conditions rather then who's in goal. If you think about it, Mason is giving up the soft goals right now. From a mindset standpoint, you would think that the team would "play harder" in front of Mason, given that he's shakey right now.

Ellis is simply making the bigger saves right now to keep his team in the game, whereas Mason is letting in a few softer goals at bad times.

I think we've also seen how it depends on matchups. I don't think Ellis could have kept us in the games against Calgary. Calgary matches up very well against us right now. They have been able to stop alot of our passes in the neutral zone and have generated tons of odd man rushes. In this case, I don't think its a case of the team playing "different" in terms of who's starting in our net. Whereas, a matchup like Florida or Vancouver might have been a win for either goalie.

We've seen this before. This is very similar to what happened with Vokoun and Mason at the end of last season.

[Stranger]

I also hope that the two Vancouver players are able to recover quickly and not be out as long as initially thought.

You never want to see that.

Two very unlucky and unfortunate injuries.

[braindead]

A few followup thoughts.

I thought Kessler looked consistently like the best player on the ice last night so was an ok choice for a star.

Mason has been in goal in games where we have given up an early lead-- then we press more and it leads to more goals. Yes, he has been responsible for some of early goals but I think the defensive breakdowns early/ failure to score early is a bigger factor in the final outcome than is being considered.

After sleeping on it, I think the team played a better game than I thought at the end last night. They cycled at some key times, made short clearing passes, supported the d. The end of the 1st and start of the second (in part because of the penalties) were rough but overall it was a solid road game.

[Dave is a killer]

Originally Posted by SLake

Vancouver radio is reporting tonight that Bieksa has severed his Achilles tendon approximately 60% of the way through. Most likely out for the season. 6-8 months minimum has been thrown out there.

As was pointed out on the Vancouver board...you have to wonder if the thin new socks had any role in the severity of this injury? The new socks are paper thin as opposed to the thick knit socks of the past.

Better news today on the Bieksa front

The lower leg injury to defenceman Kevin Bieksa is more serious than originally believed, but Vancouver Canucks general manager Dave Nonis emphasized Sunday that the player's Achilles tendon did not require repair on Friday.

Bieksa's calf muscle was lacerated Thursday when he was stepped on by Vern Fiddler of the Nashville Predators. A report Sunday suggested the 26-year-old's Achilles tendon was also cut, which could be a season-ending injury. But Nonis said the additional damage was to a smaller muscle, below the calf, which is attached to the Achilles, and that the tendon itself was intact.

Nobody has yet put a definitive time frame on Bieksa's recovery, but speculation that he could return to the Canucks lineup in two months might be unrealistic.

[xEx]

I find it strange that the media hasn't taken up the possibility of the new socks contributing to this injury. One would think that Rebok and the NHL did the appropriate testing for the new socks. And maybe that's why this hasn't gone anywhere.

[SLake]

Thanks for the update. I'm relieved it was not in fact his Achilles tendon that was severed. Bieksa is one of my favorite defensemen to watch outside of the Predators and I was very upset at the rumored severity of the freak injury. I'm hopeful for a full recovery for Bieksa.