Part of what's so perplexingly painful is the contrast between the feeling of invincibility in the early going (after gms 1&2), and the exact opposite feeling after the first 5 mins of game 6.
Even though they were close, in the 3 games we won it felt like we dominated -- but in the 4 games we lost, yowtch.... I can't remember any Canuck team taking a 4-game beating like that since....? The Robert Nordmark days...?
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's that up and down thing that pulls at you. I mean, I'm very used to it because the Canucks rarely if ever do things the easy way. If they're up and dominating in a series, they will almost always hang back a little once they get a couple wins.
But this was something different. This was our team completely running out of gas. The injury situtation for Vancouver just got to be too much, and you also can't take anything away from how bad the Bruins (Thomas in particular) wanted it. They didn't give us an inch once they tasted blood. Not a single inch.
So many what-ifs float around in my mind, the most forefront of which is: What if Kesler and Hamhuis hadn't gotten injured at such a key moment in the playoffs? Those were the two that changed the series the most in my opinion. Had we had those two guys playing at the level they usually do, we win that ****ing cup.
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's that up and down thing that pulls at you. I mean, I'm very used to it because the Canucks rarely if ever do things the easy way. If they're up and dominating in a series, they will almost always hang back a little once they get a couple wins.
But this was something different. This was our team completely running out of gas. The injury situtation for Vancouver just got to be too much, and you also can't take anything away from how bad the Bruins (Thomas in particular) wanted it. They didn't give us an inch once they tasted blood. Not a single inch.
So many what-ifs float around in my mind, the most forefront of which is: What if Kesler and Hamhuis hadn't gotten injured at such a key moment in the playoffs? Those were the two that changed the series the most in my opinion. Had we had those two guys playing at the level they usually do, we win that ****ing cup.
This ftw! The bruins had so many things go right for them and Vancouver had everything go wrong... And still came to within a game of winning it! I am so proud of the team as a fan and hope every bruins fan knows damn well how lucky they were to play an injury ravaged Canucks team, cause the one the beat was totally spent by game 6.
Nice video. I can't believe how many incredible plays and moments I've managed to basically forget. Sedin passing through the goalie, Kesler destroying Nashville, etc. etc. etc.
Can't fault that team's effort. They just plain couldn't do it in the end, but those guys left absolutely everything on the ice, which is all we fans can ask from them.
i'm slowly starting to watch some of the highlights. its really tough to do; it still really hurts.
Yup, just watched a few today. Still stings pretty bad.
The blowouts were just a weird cluster**** of everything going wrong that possibly could go wrong.
And yes, Luongo giving up some bad, bad goals. Game 3 was all crazy bounces and not his fault, despite getting shelacked 8 - 1.
Game 4 though - first 2 goals were brutal. Game 6, first 2 goals absolutely atrocious. Game 7 not as bad, more unlucky bounces and seeing eye shots like Game 3.
Yup, just watched a few today. Still stings pretty bad.
The blowouts were just a weird cluster**** of everything going wrong that possibly could go wrong.
And yes, Luongo giving up some bad, bad goals. Game 3 was all crazy bounces and not his fault, despite getting shelacked 8 - 1.
Game 4 though - first 2 goals were brutal. Game 6, first 2 goals absolutely atrocious. Game 7 not as bad, more unlucky bounces and seeing eye shots like Game 3.
i don't like counting flukes considering we got into the SCF off the world's biggest fluke, but its amazing how it all went downhill with one broken stick.
It ended on a very tough note, but this was such a great season. Right from the first game on through to the very end. So many franchise records set and changed, and we finally seem to have arrived as a team with some truly great players. Never in our franchise history had we won major NHL hardware before this team came along--Hank with the Hart, Hank and Dank with Art Ross', Kesler with a Selke...it would have been great to cap this year off with a Cup, but hopefully we can get that next season.
For a franchise that wants to model itself like the Red Wings, coming out of the dead things era, they hadn't won a Cup since 1955.
Now, I know this isn't the time for voodoo, esp when it comes to the Canucks, they always buck the trend, but in 1994, a Red Wing player (Sergei Fedorov) took home the Hart. 1 year later, in their 40th season since the 1955 Cup Win, they went all the way to the Cup, only to lose in quite convincing fashion the leadership was questioned and rumours swirled. Sound familiar?
As you may know, Detroit dominated the next season, but lost in the Conference Finals. The next season, changes were made to the team (was it Shanahan for Coffey?) and they won the Cup 42 years since the 55 win.
I don't like to indulge any tendency towards magical thinking, but there is a point that luck comes into play. The Bruins deserved to win, but...
Take the Hamhuis hit on Milan Lucic. That hit could have destroyed Lucic's knee and left Hamhuis skating away, continuing to pair with Bieksa as a our top shut down pair. It changed the series more than any single play. And the luck part...it could have gone either way, injury wise.
I don't like to indulge any tendency towards magical thinking, but there is a point that luck comes into play. The Bruins deserved to win, but...
Take the Hamhuis hit on Milan Lucic. That hit could have destroyed Lucic's knee and left Hamhuis skating away, continuing to pair with Bieksa as a our top shut down pair. It changed the series more than any single play. And the luck part...it could have gone either way, injury wise.
So I'm only watching the 15 wins.
Next year I'll watch all 16.
Debatable. No Hamhuis caught up to the Canucks in the long run, but the immediate turning point was the Rome hit in game 3. It's a complete hockey cliche to say that one play like that can "wake a team up" and change the course of a series, but it absolutely did. Chara ripped into his team during that first intermission, the Bruins came out in the 2nd on fire and the whole texture of the series was different from then on.
Debatable. No Hamhuis caught up to the Canucks in the long run, but the immediate turning point was the Rome hit in game 3. It's a complete hockey cliche to say that one play like that can "wake a team up" and change the course of a series, but it absolutely did. Chara ripped into his team during that first intermission, the Bruins came out in the 2nd on fire and the whole texture of the series was different from then on.
You know, when I was posting mine, I did think about the Rome hit and had read that Chara rallied the troops. As you say, debateable. But debate aside, I'm still looking at the triumverate of Stanley Cup wins: hot goaltending, injuries and luck. They had it, we didn't.
To make matters worse only three teams since expansion have won the cup after losing in the final the previous year.
Montreal did it in 1968 but that was after they made it to the final in 1967 when there were only 6 teams in the NHL.
Edmonton did it in 1984 (beat the Islanders) after losing in the finals to the Islanders in 1983.
Pittsburgh did it in 2009 (beat the Wings) after losing in the finals to the Wings in 2008.
Then again no team had won 3 game 7's in a cup run before this season.
Odds are we're not going to get back next season but the good thing is that we've seen so many cinderella type of teams get to the finals over the years so it's understandable why those teams don't get back.
Over the last 20 years there haven't been a lot of great teams that lose in the finals.
2010-Philly lost but they were the 7th place team in the East
2009-Detroit lost but they lost to Pittsburgh who as mentioned are one of those teams to comeback and win
2008-Pittsburgh lost as a 2nd place team and then went on to win the following year 2007-Ottawa lost as a 4th place team (3rd best record in the East) but that was the last year they had in their window (I think we've got some years left).
2006-Edmonton lost as an 8th place team in the West
2004-Calgary lost as a 6th place team in the West
2003-Anaheim lost as a 7th place team in the West
2002-Carolina lost as a 3rd place team in the East but were actually 7th in the East in terms of points.
2001-New Jersey lost but they had won the year before
2000-Dallas lost but they had won the year before
1999-Buffalo lost as a 7th place team in the East
1998-Washingont lost as a 4th place team in the East (only had 92 points that year) 1997-Philly lost as a 3rd place team in the East but were only 1 point away from top place and they lost to a Detroit team that was one of the best teams over the past few years.
1996-Florida lost as a 4th place team in the East but only had 92 points that year 1995-Detroit lost and they were the best team in the NHL (just like Vancouver was this year)
1994-Vancouver lost as a 7th place team in the West
1993-LA lost but they were the 6th best team in the West (not called the West at that time)
1992-Chicago lost as the 3rd best team in the West but only had 87 points that year (18 points from the best)
1991-Minnesota lost but they were a 68 point team...enough said 1990-Boston lost to Edmonton and Boston was the best team in the NHL and they never did bounce back.
So in conclusion over the last 20 seasons only 4 really good teams have lost in the finals. Boston lost in 1990, Detroit lost in 1995, Philly lost in 1997, and Ottawa lost in 2007.
Only Detroit went on to win a cup with that core.
Ottawa had their window close on them and made some more managerial decisions.
Boston and Philly both had a few more good years left but neither could get it done.
I don't think we've reached that Ottawa point where our window has closed and hopefully we don't follow the same path that Philly and Boston had where they had their one shot, didn't get it done and never got back to that same point.
It goes to show how difficult it is to get back to the cup finals again and when you get your chance you often don't get another one. Hopefully this team follows the Detroit model and not the others.
Sorry to those young folks who don't remember the second to last Cup run. The 2010-11 version of the team maybe the best in the regular season in franchise history, I still view the 1993-94 squad as the best playoff team in Vancouver Canucks' history... all because Linden kept the score close in Game 7.
To this day, I am still bitter about the Game 7 loss over a month ago and Luongo's epic choke in letting two softies that killed the momentum in the same game. I am embarrassed at his performance and vowed not to wear my Luongo jersey until he brings the cup home.
This is too soon for me. I was at game 7 and the only memory I can take away from these playoffs despite the great run is this: after watching the play for only a few minutes it was obvious how injured the Canucks were. I had this horrible sinking feeling but clung to a desperate hope that we could hang on and have a lucky game but I knew it was unlikely. You could see guys shy away from hits, not because they were afraid but it was obvious that they were worried they wouldn't last the game if they threw their bodies around.
It was excruciating.
After the heady days of '94 (had seasons tickets then) and the incredible game 7 in NY, this final game was such a downer and too close to a regular season atmosphere for what should have been the best game in our franchise's history. I felt sick to my stomach and had to stand in the concourse after the game because I couldn't bare watching the cup paraded around by the Bruins. Didn't like the booing of Bettman (not a fan of his but felt it just wasn't classy) and then afterwards we just escaped the stupidity of the downtown scene. I need more time to get over it - I really thought it was our year - and I'm desperate for us to get back to the final but the fear of another 17 year wait is right there. Crap.
Sorry to those young folks who don't remember the second to last Cup run. The 2010-11 version of the team maybe the best in the regular season in franchise history, I still view the 1993-94 squad as the best playoff team in Vancouver Canucks' history... all because Linden kept the score close in Game 7.
To this day, I am still bitter about the Game 7 loss over a month ago and Luongo's epic choke in letting two softies that killed the momentum in the same game. I am embarrassed at his performance and vowed not to wear my Luongo jersey until he brings the cup home.
I suppose the only thing that would have made you happy would be if Luongo left the net and scored? I think what's worse is that we were shutout in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals in our own building! Our offense was the embarassment.
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I told ya so. I was right all along!
Still cant believe Rome was suspended, let alone 4 games for a hockey play.
Did not watch the last 6 minutes of game 7, still hurt.
This hurts worse than 94' because we werent on a cinderella run this year, we were favoured from game 1 of the preseason, and we played like it. All year (more than any year) I thought we had it, even when Toews tied up game 7. It felt like destiny, but destiny for Canucks fans is a broken heart.
Injuries, officiating and Tim Thomas will be what I remember from the finals. There were so many special moments along the way to get there, the finals were rough.
I suppose the only thing that would have made you happy would be if Luongo left the net and scored? I think what's worse is that we were shutout in game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals in our own building! Our offense was the embarassment.
It's a bit of a chicken-egg argument. First goal of the game was so crucial in the finals, especially for the Bruins. If they scored first they would basically turn it into football on ice which made those first goals against, especially the soft ones, so demoralizing and crucial. On the other side of the argument, the Canucks did nothing on the PP to open the game up and prevent the Bruins from gooning it up.
Basically, there is a ton of blame to go around and I'm not sure if any one player deserves more than the other. However, goaltending is the most scrutinized position, I think Luongo fans need to understand it comes with the territory fair or not. It's the same with QB's in football and pitchers in baseball.
The tough pill for me to swallow as far as Luongo goes is game 6. Really bad time to have what I feel was his worst game of the playoffs. 3 goals that just should not be going in on an NHL level goalie on a night when you could win the Cup. His game 7 performance left a lot to be desired as well. Nothing terrible that game but really didn't even come close to playing at the level Thomas did.
As for the Twins, they are no different than a lot of superstars in the finals, they were absolutely mobbed and the league's officials have no respect for them as superstars in the league. You can argue that they sold too many calls but if the refs actually protected them like they are supposed to, I doubt they feel the need sell anything. I mean, the Marchand punching incident pretty much sums up the NHL's approach to the twins, as did the Eager boarding. Back to back Art Ross trophies yet they get zero respect. Also, Kesler playing on one leg the whole finals really hampered our secondary scoring 5 on 5 which allowed the Bruins to key on the Twins. The PP was where the Twins failed miserably for me. That's when they had to come through and they didn't.
