Henrik seriously needs to shoot more when given the opportunities. I'm sort of left wanting more looking at our regular season scorers with Henrik and Daniel being just at a PPG after the past two great seasons. Kesler seems to be looking at Henrik on the PP to make the play happen and at 5on5 Kesler has been sort of sparse. So I am looking at our 2 centers to step it up or else we are done.
Burrows and Higgins have to continue to carry the team. Combined 39 goals at even strength and only 4 PP markers.
I'm going to go with Lapierre. Has he ever really had a poor playoff run, even extending back to his Habs days? He always brings his game in the playoffs and is going in with a bunch of confidence.
Also, don't rule out Pahlsson. I think there's a possibility he pulls a 2007 Pahlsson and shuts down the opposing top lines, hopefully freeing up Kesler.
On the back end, we simply can not afford much of an injury to our top 4. But Hamhuis and Edler will carry us.
Booth's game is absolutely built for the playoffs when he's on. He has that rare combination of power and speed, loves to drive the net, and scores dirty goals. I'm expecting big things.
I am sure that Kesler and burrows will be clutch, but some that are less proven I would say that Higgins and booth will exceed the expectations of many.
Bieksa and edler will be solid as we expect, but my pick will be tanev and Ballard that give us an advantage
The way I see it will be that the sedins will light up any team with non-elite defenseman and if we run into that then Kesler and booth will show up. Add in depth scoring and we can beat any team IMO. Hardest opponent will be Nashville because I believe that weber and surer can do the sedins and fisher's line will cause a lot of trouble for Kesler.
Sedins, Luongo, Hammer, Juice, Edler, Tanev (will score his first NHL goal in the playoffs), Burrows, Kesler (I HOPE!) and the sleeper... Bitz.
Bitz's skating was great vs the Oilers and he played a ton. If he keeps this up not sure when Kassian sees the ice.
That being said if/when we get into a physical playoff series (Sharks/Yotes?) we'll have Bitz, Kassian, Weise, Lappy, Pahlsson, Kelser, Hansen to throw at the opposition D.. holy hannah. That should give some room to Danny and Hank.
Obviously all the guys we'd expect to shine (Kesler, Sedins, Hammy, Sammy etc...or it will be a short playoff run, and no one will have the opportunity to shine)
As a matter of fact, we better see everyones game cranked up, or it will be a disappointing spring.
So I take all of my names back, but will say Luongo as the guy that will shut up even his biggest critics this spring. There will be some early mumbles about bringing in Schneider, but it will become very apparent (well, there are always a few fans that are intellectually challenged that will harp on and on about it no matter what he does) that he is a man on a mission.
After he hoists the Cup, he tells Gillis he's ready to get the frick out of Vancouver because his body has produced enough cortisol in his Canuck stint to last him a lifetime.
Canuck fans will shine brightest thoughh by having the celebration to last a lifetime, all without any trouble at all (save for a few young ladies deciding to go throw off their bra's in the streets of downtown as the final sedonds count down of the final game before we finally hoist our first Stanley Cup. I just gave myself goosebumps.
Full disclosure: Ive never made a correct prediction before in my life. But then again the 'Nucks have never won the Cup before either, so I may as well kill 2 birds with one stone (or unleash Kassian on them).
Have at 'er boys...lets finish what we started this time last year!
Having spent his entire professional career in Florida, you think he isn't salivating at the thought of playoff hockey next week?
Buckle up, folks. The Boothmobile is about to take off.
I just hope he survives the playoffs... he's never played in games that will be as physical as the ones he's about to experience. He's also never played in a game where his tendencies have been targeted for elimination by the opposition. IF he becomes a factor (which we all hope he will) then how will he handle the inevitable push-back to minimize his factor-tude?
Hopefully Kesler has some tips AND/OR can help spread that push-back around. If Booth and Kesler can become threats on that line then look the $#%@#%^ out.
