I'm hoping this year he steals the show and silences the critics. I still believe he is a hell of a goalie and he has a few more years left in him. The man sweats blue and green and takes it the worst of it from arguably the most fickle fanbase/media in the league.
Love this post.
Of any players on this team, I most want a cup win for Lou and the Sedins -- if only to shut up the critics for once and for all.
(Even though I know it won't shut up anyone anymore than it did when Lou won gold in 2010, BUT STILL!)
Lappy for sure, I think putting him on Henrik's wing along with Burrows channeled his Wonder-Pest French Mode and we got playoff Lappy early. Burr, Kes, and Bieksa will all throw their hearts into every game - and Higgins will do wonders as long as he stays healthy.
I predict that we'll see some pretty disappointing performances from Kesler and Booth.
I don't think we'll see Kesler reach Nashville-levels of offensive domination, but I think we'll see more of the CHI/SJ series Kesler. Shutting down stars and providing clutch scoring and big hits.
I've got high hopes for Booth. His physicality and willingness to drive the net seem made for the playoffs.
I don't think we'll see Kesler reach Nashville-levels of offensive domination, but I think we'll see more of the CHI/SJ series Kesler. Shutting down stars and providing clutch scoring and big hits.
I've got high hopes for Booth. His physicality and willingness to drive the net seem made for the playoffs.
I hope I'm wrong on Booth, but I'm keeping my expectations low on him. He hasn't shown me enough this year to make me confident that he'll be consistent in the playoffs.
I hope I'm wrong on Booth, but I'm keeping my expectations low on him. He hasn't shown me enough this year to make me confident that he'll be consistent in the playoffs.
Consistency will be key, but if he gets hot at the right time, it can only bode well for us.
If the Canucks are going on another long run they are going to need monster edler not passive edler. They are also going to need kesler vs Nashville not passive uninterested kesler.
Overall the Canucks are going to need big contributions from these three specifically...
Edler has to be the #1 dman the Canucks will need him to be
Both kesler and booth. If the Amex line can dominate games it takes pressure off the top line and the way AV has the team structured it is 3 third lines but no top line. That has to change before game 1 next week.
If the Canucks are going on another long run they are going to need monster edler not passive edler. They are also going to need kesler vs Nashville not passive uninterested kesler.
Overall the Canucks are going to need big contributions from these three specifically...
Edler has to be the #1 dman the Canucks will need him to be
Both kesler and booth. If the Amex line can dominate games it takes pressure off the top line and the way AV has the team structured it is 3 third lines but no top line. That has to change before game 1 next week.
Yeah. Three big keys for me;
1) Team Defense. No meltdowns, everyone needs to pitch in and work their tails off in every game.
2) Secondary scoring. The 2nd Line in particular needs to pick it up; if only the Twins are a thread, it will make zeroing in on them that much easier for opponents.
3) Special teams. Our PK has been consistent, but we need our PP to right the ship. Maybe Daniel helps, but above all, we need to stop playing on the perimeter and get pucks and bodies to the net.
Higgins should be a lot better for the playoffs if we go deep. I mean, he was playing with a broken foot last year, which really takes a toll on the game he plays.
Our 4th line doesn't have to score, it just has to be physical and eat up some minutes. Last year, our 4th line was terrible, and a huge liability when on the ice. This year, we can roll four lines to eat up more minutes so Hank/Kesler and company aren't being overplayed.
Disagree completely.
Look at our 4th line vs the Bruins 4th line last year. There 4th line chipped in throughout the playoffs, ours scored 0 goals. Aside from injuries, this was one of the major reasons we lost.
Look at our 4th line vs the Bruins 4th line last year. There 4th line chipped in throughout the playoffs, ours scored 0 goals. Aside from injuries, this was one of the major reasons we lost.
Brad Marchand out scoring our entire team in games 3-7 was a major reason why we lost. Let's get our top line scoring before we worry about our fourth line.
I can honestly see Luongo rising above the hate and putting in a stellar performance in the playoffs.
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I told ya so. I was right all along!
All four lines chipping in is going to be needed. A couple of goals from the fourth would be great (and given that our fourth line personnel are light years ahead of the mishmash of Tambellini/Bolduc/Glass/Hodgson/Oreskovich that we iced last year, I think that is going to be just fine)
A healthy top unit is going to be key. Hank looks good, but how Danny plays if/when he returns from his concussion is going to be key. Burrows looks to be rounding into form, but the entire second line needs to pick it up.
All four lines chipping in is going to be needed. A couple of goals from the fourth would be great (and given that our fourth line personnel are light years ahead of the mishmash of Tambellini/Bolduc/Glass/Hodgson/Oreskovich that we iced last year, I think that is going to be just fine)
A healthy top unit is going to be key. Hank looks good, but how Danny plays if/when he returns from his concussion is going to be key. Burrows looks to be rounding into form, but the entire second line needs to pick it up.
That's why I hope #22 comes back and plays with Kesler and Booth.
Raymond can sit in the press box.
Keep Hank with the frogs.
Only put the Twins together on PP's and shifts after a PK.
I still say its edler. If he is in beast mode the Canucks will win. Game 5 SCF last year said it all. When he's on the Canucks win.
Yeah, he was but it's difficult to play like that every night. I know these games are huge but we're gonna see ****** outings by the team in some of these games. It's a grinding, tiresome, run.
I'm hoping we see beast mode Kesler right off the start. No *****footing around.
I think Kassian is going to step up in a huge way. He seems like the bigger the game, the harder he plays. His performance in the Memorial Cup was fantastic.
AV he will show people he was not out coached in the boston series.
This is an intriguing answer. When it comes to this team's odds going into the playoffs, I think a lot hinges on AV showing he learned things from last year's run--namely how to be a faster-thinking x's and o's coach.
