With trades starting to come to fruition and many Canucks fans are asking for changes to the bottom six the question I ask today is. Is it possible the Canucks fixed the bottom six in house?
Calling up Jeff Tambellini to play 2nd line minutes has allowed AV to move Samuelsson down to the 3rd line. This move pushes Hansen down to the 4th line. For now this has been a very strong move for the overall performance of all the Canucks forward lines.
As Ben Kuzma is reporting on twitter (@ benkuzma) "Torres back on third line, Glass back on fourth for #Canucks against #Flames. Bolduc on trip, but first to Moose on conditioning sting."
Considering how well Glass and Samuelsson looked the other night this is interesting however I do not argue with AV's coaching style. Going this way to start the game gives Torres the opportunity to prove himself as a 3rd liner while always knowing Glass is working his best to get moved back up. An in game switch of the lines is always possible with AV at the helm.
The fourth line will be Glass, Perrault and Hansen. Glass has been performing well all season for a 4th liner and did a great job when he got the call last game on the 3rd. He hits, he's gritty and will drop the gloves to protect his team. He's also fairly responsible in his own zone and knows when to chip the puck out to relieve the pressure. My favorite part about all these moves is having Hansen on the 4th line. As a "tweener" 3rd/4th liner Hansen style is great on the 4th line. He brings a lot of speed which most 4th lines don't have, he will launch his body at anyone wearing the other colour jersey and he's good in his own zone. Although at the start of the year I thought he might be a good fit on the 3rd line his hands haven't caught up to his feet yet and he lacks some scoring touch. On the fourth line his less than efficient hands aren't a bad thing and the rest of his game can shine.
The spot where I see could potentially change come playoff time is the 4th line center position. Perrault hasn't been noticeable on the ice in his four games with the team. His faceoff percentage has been good overall 55.5% but very streaky. 6/8 vs Chi, 0/2 vs Pho, 2/3 vs Avs and 2/5 vs SJ. Bolduc is getting close to coming back, he'll be on the trip with the team to practice this week and then a conditioning stint in Manitoba. After that I'm sure he'll get a shot to take over the 4th line again. I still don't know if either Perrault or Bolduc are strong enough to hold down that line.
As good as these two lines are with the addition of Tambellini we'll have to wait and see how long he can keep up his good play on the 2nd line. If he falters changes will need to be made again and the rotation of players will continue. Hopefully he can keep playing well and we'll see the lineup settle in for a bit. If the team can keep winning AV won't change a lot to the winning formula. If they start going downwards he will make changes.
Pre game for the Canucks @ Calgary game will be up tomorrow. Make sure you come back for that.
Add me to twitter to know when blogs are posted. @bmah03
Thanks for reading everyone. Leave a comment if you wish below I will answer it.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Canucks Vs Sharks Post Game
Canucks 6 Sharks 1
As I said in the pre game post keeping the momentum going was the key for the Canucks against another strong Western Conference team. This they did and more.
When the Canucks score the first goal of the game they are 10-1-1. Last night Tambellini finished one of the hundred chances he's been getting since his call up to put the team up 1-0. A good offensive zone face off by Kesler and a shot that caused a loose puck in the slot set up the chance for Tambellini, he squeeze a quick shot through Niemi. Tambellini has been sitting in the high slot lately and getting one time chances from there.
The SJ goal that tied it 1-1 was one of those goals that you can credit to the opponent. A good low hard shot forced Luongo to kick out the rebound into the high slot where Heatley was standing. Luongo might have had a chance if his paddle was flat on the ice but it was a bang bang play and you can't really blame anyone for that one.
A few minutes later when SJ had some momentum Luongo came up big with two saves on Logan Couture. This kept the game in check and is the kind of saves the team will need from Luongo in the playoffs. If he can make those saves the Canucks will have a good chance of going deep.
Good offensive zone pressure let Hamhuis create a turn over on the 2nd goal. He got the puck to Hansen who made a nice cross ice pass to Torres who finished with a quick one timer.
Credit AV in making an interesting switch to the bottom six forwards. He balanced out the lines quite a bit by moving glass up with Malholtra and Samuelsson, and having Torres Perrault and Hansen together. It made for a lot of pressure on the SJ defence and the ability to finish when they were able to create the turn over.
The third goal was a great hustle play by Tanner Glass, finished off with a nice wrist shot by Samuelsson. Glass went down and blocked the shot from the point, not only was he able to move the puck forward to Samuelsson breaking out of the zone but he got up and drove hard to the net causing a nice screen for Samuelsson to shoot behind beating Niemi on the far side.
Up 3-1 going into the third the Canucks finished off the Sharks with three goals to end the game. The first was another great forecheck by Glass causing the Sharks most reliable defenceman, Dan Boyle, to turn the puck over right in the slot to Samuelsson who finished with a nice wrister in the top corner beating a surprised Niemi.
Although holding their opponents to no goals the Sedin line hadn't put up any points till 3/4 of the way through the 3rd. They were able to get the puck in deep and work a Sedin like cycle oppening Burrows up at the side of the net for an easy tap in putting the SSB line on the board at a combined +3 for the game. As I said before the game, when this line has a good +/- the team will be winning the majority of games.
Finally to make it 6-1 another good forecheck caused a loose puck that came to the point where Birthday Boy Keith Ballard hammered a slap shot off a Shark's defenceman and in. Look for this to boost Ballard's confidence a bit and him to bring more offence in the near future.
As a hole the Canucks D played solid. Bieksa was out with the flu so Rome slotted in as the 6th D man. He played good and didn't make any glaring mistakes. The thing I noticed most about the team without Bieksa in the game is that the break out pass was typically tape to tape to the fowards making for a smooth break out. This is something Bieksa rarely brings to his game and with Salo coming back mid season we could see Bieksa moved out come the deadline.
A solid defensive effort by the Canucks lead to 6 goals and only 1 against. This is game was played mostly 5x5 with only one penalty per side. If the team can bring this style of game each night with the effort they played at they will have a very strong record come the end of the regular season.
Is Luongo starting to pick his game up and we could be seeing him rounding into his typical mid season form.
No game till next Wed. But they will need a good week of preparation as it will be another big divisional game against the Flames.
Two wins in a row and a nice break. Check in soon as I will try to come up with something creative to write about during the break.
Follow the Twitter @bmah03
Go Canucks Go!
As I said in the pre game post keeping the momentum going was the key for the Canucks against another strong Western Conference team. This they did and more.
When the Canucks score the first goal of the game they are 10-1-1. Last night Tambellini finished one of the hundred chances he's been getting since his call up to put the team up 1-0. A good offensive zone face off by Kesler and a shot that caused a loose puck in the slot set up the chance for Tambellini, he squeeze a quick shot through Niemi. Tambellini has been sitting in the high slot lately and getting one time chances from there.
The SJ goal that tied it 1-1 was one of those goals that you can credit to the opponent. A good low hard shot forced Luongo to kick out the rebound into the high slot where Heatley was standing. Luongo might have had a chance if his paddle was flat on the ice but it was a bang bang play and you can't really blame anyone for that one.
A few minutes later when SJ had some momentum Luongo came up big with two saves on Logan Couture. This kept the game in check and is the kind of saves the team will need from Luongo in the playoffs. If he can make those saves the Canucks will have a good chance of going deep.
Good offensive zone pressure let Hamhuis create a turn over on the 2nd goal. He got the puck to Hansen who made a nice cross ice pass to Torres who finished with a quick one timer.
Credit AV in making an interesting switch to the bottom six forwards. He balanced out the lines quite a bit by moving glass up with Malholtra and Samuelsson, and having Torres Perrault and Hansen together. It made for a lot of pressure on the SJ defence and the ability to finish when they were able to create the turn over.
The third goal was a great hustle play by Tanner Glass, finished off with a nice wrist shot by Samuelsson. Glass went down and blocked the shot from the point, not only was he able to move the puck forward to Samuelsson breaking out of the zone but he got up and drove hard to the net causing a nice screen for Samuelsson to shoot behind beating Niemi on the far side.
Up 3-1 going into the third the Canucks finished off the Sharks with three goals to end the game. The first was another great forecheck by Glass causing the Sharks most reliable defenceman, Dan Boyle, to turn the puck over right in the slot to Samuelsson who finished with a nice wrister in the top corner beating a surprised Niemi.
Although holding their opponents to no goals the Sedin line hadn't put up any points till 3/4 of the way through the 3rd. They were able to get the puck in deep and work a Sedin like cycle oppening Burrows up at the side of the net for an easy tap in putting the SSB line on the board at a combined +3 for the game. As I said before the game, when this line has a good +/- the team will be winning the majority of games.
Finally to make it 6-1 another good forecheck caused a loose puck that came to the point where Birthday Boy Keith Ballard hammered a slap shot off a Shark's defenceman and in. Look for this to boost Ballard's confidence a bit and him to bring more offence in the near future.
As a hole the Canucks D played solid. Bieksa was out with the flu so Rome slotted in as the 6th D man. He played good and didn't make any glaring mistakes. The thing I noticed most about the team without Bieksa in the game is that the break out pass was typically tape to tape to the fowards making for a smooth break out. This is something Bieksa rarely brings to his game and with Salo coming back mid season we could see Bieksa moved out come the deadline.
A solid defensive effort by the Canucks lead to 6 goals and only 1 against. This is game was played mostly 5x5 with only one penalty per side. If the team can bring this style of game each night with the effort they played at they will have a very strong record come the end of the regular season.
Is Luongo starting to pick his game up and we could be seeing him rounding into his typical mid season form.
No game till next Wed. But they will need a good week of preparation as it will be another big divisional game against the Flames.
Two wins in a row and a nice break. Check in soon as I will try to come up with something creative to write about during the break.
Follow the Twitter @bmah03
Go Canucks Go!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Canucks vs Sharks Pre Game
Canucks vs Avs. TSN and Team1040 radio @ 7:00 pm
Keep the momentum going. That is important for tonight's game. Coming off a good hard fought, well played 4-2 win over the Avs the Canucks need to bring a similar performance to the ice tonight against the Sharks. In recent years the Canucks have not fared well against the Sharks, last year the Sharks won 3 of 4 games.
Each player that talked in pre-game interviews today talked about how important it was that they played solid defensively which contributed to their offense. Coach V said the win was because of strong defensive zone play and a good forecheck. Look for both those things to be extremely important tonight.
Tonight's game has potential to be a rematch between Luongo and Niemi from last years playoffs, however, if the Sharks follow their current goalie pattern it is Niitymaki's turn in goal tonight.
Keys to tonight's game:
The forwards need to continue their strong play in both zones. Solid forechecking will lead to offensive chances but when playing without the puck the team needs to play solid defence. The SSB line will be matched up with one of the top two lines from the Sharks and will need to have a strong game to shut down the big guns from San Jose. Another strong +/- game from this line will lead to another win for the Canucks. Also I can see Malholtra having a strong game tonight against his former team. His faceoffs will go a long way in keeping the puck control game for the Canucks in full swing against a team that keeping the puck away from is always a good thing. I can see the Kesler line making a difference tonight, they are very quick and can use their speed to put some pressure on the Sharks D.
Tonight the Canucks defence will be tested. The Sharks have a very good top 9 forwards with scoring spread throughout. All 6 dmen for the Canucks will have to have a strong game. Tonight is Keith Ballard's birthday. After hearing his interview on the team 1040 the other day I expect him to have a relaxed attitude going into tonight's game and have a good birthday game. Hamhuis will need to have a better game tonight, the Canucks can't afford to be short handed against a potent team in the Sharks.
Tonight will be a good test for Luongo. He's coming off a fairly solid game against the Avs and like the rest of the team will need to continue his good play. Throughout Luongo's career this is the time of year he normally starts coming on and proving he's a top quality goalie. It is important he gets his consistency back on track and tonight would be a great game to start his roll.
Again, no prediction for tonight's game but I look for the team to come out and have a solid effort tonight. They always seem to be able to get up for big teams and the Sharks are a big team with a lot of offensive power.
I will be working again at the Salmon Kings game in Victoria tonight, I'll have the game recorded so I can bring you a post game blog tomorrow. Make sure you check back in then.
Follow me on Twitter @bmah03.
Leave a comment of your game predictions for tonight if you want. Or anything else you have to say.
Go Canucks Go!
Keep the momentum going. That is important for tonight's game. Coming off a good hard fought, well played 4-2 win over the Avs the Canucks need to bring a similar performance to the ice tonight against the Sharks. In recent years the Canucks have not fared well against the Sharks, last year the Sharks won 3 of 4 games.
Each player that talked in pre-game interviews today talked about how important it was that they played solid defensively which contributed to their offense. Coach V said the win was because of strong defensive zone play and a good forecheck. Look for both those things to be extremely important tonight.
Tonight's game has potential to be a rematch between Luongo and Niemi from last years playoffs, however, if the Sharks follow their current goalie pattern it is Niitymaki's turn in goal tonight.
Keys to tonight's game:
The forwards need to continue their strong play in both zones. Solid forechecking will lead to offensive chances but when playing without the puck the team needs to play solid defence. The SSB line will be matched up with one of the top two lines from the Sharks and will need to have a strong game to shut down the big guns from San Jose. Another strong +/- game from this line will lead to another win for the Canucks. Also I can see Malholtra having a strong game tonight against his former team. His faceoffs will go a long way in keeping the puck control game for the Canucks in full swing against a team that keeping the puck away from is always a good thing. I can see the Kesler line making a difference tonight, they are very quick and can use their speed to put some pressure on the Sharks D.
Tonight the Canucks defence will be tested. The Sharks have a very good top 9 forwards with scoring spread throughout. All 6 dmen for the Canucks will have to have a strong game. Tonight is Keith Ballard's birthday. After hearing his interview on the team 1040 the other day I expect him to have a relaxed attitude going into tonight's game and have a good birthday game. Hamhuis will need to have a better game tonight, the Canucks can't afford to be short handed against a potent team in the Sharks.
Tonight will be a good test for Luongo. He's coming off a fairly solid game against the Avs and like the rest of the team will need to continue his good play. Throughout Luongo's career this is the time of year he normally starts coming on and proving he's a top quality goalie. It is important he gets his consistency back on track and tonight would be a great game to start his roll.
Again, no prediction for tonight's game but I look for the team to come out and have a solid effort tonight. They always seem to be able to get up for big teams and the Sharks are a big team with a lot of offensive power.
I will be working again at the Salmon Kings game in Victoria tonight, I'll have the game recorded so I can bring you a post game blog tomorrow. Make sure you check back in then.
Follow me on Twitter @bmah03.
Leave a comment of your game predictions for tonight if you want. Or anything else you have to say.
Go Canucks Go!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Canucks vs Avalanche Post Game
Canucks 4 Avalanche 2.
Big divisional game, BIG two points. The win puts the Canucks back in top spot in the NW for the time being (Col is playing Edm as I'm writing this).
The Canucks team that looks strong on paper showed up last night. During the losing streak they were typically coming out with some pressure looking good to start games however they would have a let down and all the sudden be down 1-0. That isn't the style of hockey AV wants the team to play. Sound offensive hockey will lead to good chances without giving up counter punches. Last night they brought that game. Scoring chances from the slot with a 3rd guy high to support the defence. The Canucks needed a big game from their leaders and they got that.
First to step up was Bieksa. His goal came 6-5 on a delayed penalty to Col. Bieksa did well to recognize the situation knowing that if there was a turnover he didn't need to be back on defence. So he sat in front of the net and got a nice deflection.
The SSB lines was impressive. Two points a piece both 5x5 when we really needed the goals. The first goal was a beautiful, slap pass/tip to the top corner that the Sedin's do so well. The surprising thing about this was it was 5x5. Props on this goal to Burrows, he's getting his game legs back and on this play the defence was so concerned with Burr they last Daniel. The big thing for me was the Burrows goal in the third. Duchene had scored to bring the game to 3-2 and Col was coming on trying to get the tying goal. This is what I was talking about when I said the Canucks need to step on their opponents throat. This goal ended the game on a great passing play, finished with Burrows doing his thing to put the puck in the net. After the game Henrik talked about the line being +6 combined. He said having a 3rd guy high is important to their success. As I said in the pre-game this is one of the most important things for this line.
Big props to the speedy second line of Raymond Kesler and new addition Tambellini. First congrats to Kesler who got his 100th goal. This goal was not pretty, nor do I actually think it was legal. In my opinion there should have been a high-sticking call on Tambellini for hitting Budaj in the face, but I think the Canucks will gladly take a bounce like that. This line looked dangerous all night. Biggest observation was how Tambellini was finding space once they gained the zone. He had a few one timers from the high slot. If this keeps up he'll pot one sooner than later.
In the 2nd period there was a series of events that in my opinion won the game for the Canucks.
First the save by Luongo on Yip coming off wing. Luongo slid across with the pass and made a good save to keep the game 1-1. After that the 2nd and 3rd line had back to back shifts that pinned Col deep in their zone. It was all finished off at the 10:00 mark with the Sedin's making it 2-1. Game changing shifts by the 2nd and 3rd line and Luongo's big saves will be important throughout the season and for the team to get deep into the playoffs.
Overall the defence looked good. Ballard looked better, expect him to improve every game. He was on the team 1040 today, great interview seems really relaxed playing in Van. This is a good sign.
A couple things I'd like to see improved:
Although the defence looked good overall, Hamhuis still looks a bit slow coming off his injury. Expect his game to improve but last night he took a few penalties with his stick because his feet couldn't keep up.
The Canucks killed Col in the third with the Burrows goal but they had a chance in the 2nd to put them away. They had a PP with 8 minutes left. They looked dangerous but couldn't finish.
All in all good game by the team but without a win in the next one this game won't feel as good. This needs to be the blue print for the Canucks for the whole year. Puck control by the top line, speed from the 2nd line, good grit from the bottom six, good defence and timely saves by the goalies.
Check in tomorrow for Pre game Canucks vs Sharks.
Follow the twitter @bmah03
Col just lost Canucks in first in NW with game in hand. GO CANUCKS GO.
Big divisional game, BIG two points. The win puts the Canucks back in top spot in the NW for the time being (Col is playing Edm as I'm writing this).
The Canucks team that looks strong on paper showed up last night. During the losing streak they were typically coming out with some pressure looking good to start games however they would have a let down and all the sudden be down 1-0. That isn't the style of hockey AV wants the team to play. Sound offensive hockey will lead to good chances without giving up counter punches. Last night they brought that game. Scoring chances from the slot with a 3rd guy high to support the defence. The Canucks needed a big game from their leaders and they got that.
First to step up was Bieksa. His goal came 6-5 on a delayed penalty to Col. Bieksa did well to recognize the situation knowing that if there was a turnover he didn't need to be back on defence. So he sat in front of the net and got a nice deflection.
The SSB lines was impressive. Two points a piece both 5x5 when we really needed the goals. The first goal was a beautiful, slap pass/tip to the top corner that the Sedin's do so well. The surprising thing about this was it was 5x5. Props on this goal to Burrows, he's getting his game legs back and on this play the defence was so concerned with Burr they last Daniel. The big thing for me was the Burrows goal in the third. Duchene had scored to bring the game to 3-2 and Col was coming on trying to get the tying goal. This is what I was talking about when I said the Canucks need to step on their opponents throat. This goal ended the game on a great passing play, finished with Burrows doing his thing to put the puck in the net. After the game Henrik talked about the line being +6 combined. He said having a 3rd guy high is important to their success. As I said in the pre-game this is one of the most important things for this line.
Big props to the speedy second line of Raymond Kesler and new addition Tambellini. First congrats to Kesler who got his 100th goal. This goal was not pretty, nor do I actually think it was legal. In my opinion there should have been a high-sticking call on Tambellini for hitting Budaj in the face, but I think the Canucks will gladly take a bounce like that. This line looked dangerous all night. Biggest observation was how Tambellini was finding space once they gained the zone. He had a few one timers from the high slot. If this keeps up he'll pot one sooner than later.
In the 2nd period there was a series of events that in my opinion won the game for the Canucks.
First the save by Luongo on Yip coming off wing. Luongo slid across with the pass and made a good save to keep the game 1-1. After that the 2nd and 3rd line had back to back shifts that pinned Col deep in their zone. It was all finished off at the 10:00 mark with the Sedin's making it 2-1. Game changing shifts by the 2nd and 3rd line and Luongo's big saves will be important throughout the season and for the team to get deep into the playoffs.
Overall the defence looked good. Ballard looked better, expect him to improve every game. He was on the team 1040 today, great interview seems really relaxed playing in Van. This is a good sign.
A couple things I'd like to see improved:
Although the defence looked good overall, Hamhuis still looks a bit slow coming off his injury. Expect his game to improve but last night he took a few penalties with his stick because his feet couldn't keep up.
The Canucks killed Col in the third with the Burrows goal but they had a chance in the 2nd to put them away. They had a PP with 8 minutes left. They looked dangerous but couldn't finish.
All in all good game by the team but without a win in the next one this game won't feel as good. This needs to be the blue print for the Canucks for the whole year. Puck control by the top line, speed from the 2nd line, good grit from the bottom six, good defence and timely saves by the goalies.
Check in tomorrow for Pre game Canucks vs Sharks.
Follow the twitter @bmah03
Col just lost Canucks in first in NW with game in hand. GO CANUCKS GO.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Canucks Vs Avalanche Pre-Game Nov 24
Last year many players on the Canucks played their best seasons after having some kind of controversy to deal with. Henrik had the loss of his brother (started shooting, putting up points, leading the team). Samuelsson got left off the Swedish Olympic roster (started playing angry and scoring). Just to name a few. Well now the whole team has controversy. And the core guys need to step up their game. Everyone needs to play angry and come out strong.The Canucks need to come out of the gate and play like the Avs did all last season. They need a gritty hard working performance from all 12 forwards, 6 dmen, and Luongo in goal.
No prediction tonight other than I expect to see a big time 60 minute performance from all the Canucks.
As I said a few days ago, expect to see Tambellini suite up on the 2nd line with Kesler and Raymond tonight. AV was on the team1040 today saying he expects Tambellini to bring a Grabner like element to that line tonight. Speed, skill and shooting ability. I expect that line to do exactly what the coach is looking for. Good passes from the defence to anyone on this line will cause problems for the Avs defence. Speed kills in this league and this line is fast.
The Twins need to break their slump. Look for points from this unit tonight. Another thing to note from this line is their +/-. Last season Daniel finished a +36 and Henrik was +35. Even though they are putting up the points this season their puck control and cycle game hasn't been as strong. This year they are both at even +/-, with 24 points a piece. If Burrows starts playing his aggressive play getting in and retrieving the puck the +/- for this line will improve drastically.
A veteran presence from the 3rd line will be important tonight. Torres, Malholtra and Samuelsson don't really need to put up points tonight but they can't give up any and they need to have good positive shifts each time on the ice.
Hansen being moved to the 4th line is a big improvement to what we have seen lately. Although he has hands of stone he is aggressive and his reckless hitting style will be a good energy boost for the team. Looking forward to see him on the 4th line with Glass.
The defence needs to keep learning each others play. Strong games from Edler, Ehrhoff and Hamhuis would be a nice sight. They need to match the play of Colorado's defence including John Michael Liles (20Gp 3G 17A).
In goal it will be Luongo vs Anderson. Anderson is coming off injury, his first game back was a good game against the Rangers. For himself, the team and the fans Luongo needs to win a game and this would be a great one tonight. He's 4-0-1 in his last five against the Avs.
Tonight's game is a huge divisional game and possible season turner for the Canucks. A win and the fans will calm down, a loss and Vancouver could explode. On paper the Canucks should be able to match up with any team in the NHL, but as we know the games aren't played on paper. It's time for the them to come out and show 5x5 that this team is a team to challenge for the cup this year.
No prediction tonight other than I expect to see a big time 60 minute performance from all the Canucks.
Side note: Tonight I will be working at the Save-On Foods Memorial Centre where the Salmon Kings will be taking on Idaho Steelheads. Canucks game will be recorded will watch it in the morning and post game will follow.
Follow me on Twitter @bmah03.
Enjoy the game.
GO CANUCKS GO.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Off day Canucks Notes 11/23
Just a few quick things.
Canucks have placed Schaefer on waiver as soon as he clears or comes off the roster they will officially recall Jeff Tambellini. As I said in my blog about the prospects (check it out if you haven't) I expected him to be the first call up to shake up the roster a bit. Look for him to slot into one of the top two lines. My guess is in the troubling RW position on the second line with Kesler and Raymond. Look for him to add similar speed to the other two on that line. Could be a nice spark for Raymond. Also Samuelsson to be moved to the third line creating a nice veteran third line of Torres Malholtra and Samuelsson. Hansen will move to the fourth line where he doesn't really need to bring his offensive game just his reckless for checking.
Also Kirk McLean will be the second inductee to the Ring of Honour. "The save" was amazing. Hopefully Luongo can't have a playoff run ala Kirk this season.
Pre-game will be up tomorrow.
Canucks have placed Schaefer on waiver as soon as he clears or comes off the roster they will officially recall Jeff Tambellini. As I said in my blog about the prospects (check it out if you haven't) I expected him to be the first call up to shake up the roster a bit. Look for him to slot into one of the top two lines. My guess is in the troubling RW position on the second line with Kesler and Raymond. Look for him to add similar speed to the other two on that line. Could be a nice spark for Raymond. Also Samuelsson to be moved to the third line creating a nice veteran third line of Torres Malholtra and Samuelsson. Hansen will move to the fourth line where he doesn't really need to bring his offensive game just his reckless for checking.
Also Kirk McLean will be the second inductee to the Ring of Honour. "The save" was amazing. Hopefully Luongo can't have a playoff run ala Kirk this season.
Pre-game will be up tomorrow.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Canuck's Quarter Review "Goalies and Prospects"
Part Three
Goalies and Prospects.
Goalies and Prospects.
Goalies.
The Canucks came into this year with the former captain, team leader and highest paid player Roberto Luongo as the obvious #1 with blue chipper and leader of the Moose for the last few seasons, Cory Schneider, as his backup.
Luongo: He hasn’t played great nor has he played horrible. When he first came to Vancouver he developed a reputation as one of the best goalies in the NHL. He has then followed that up by developing a reputation amongst fans are a choke artist who let’s in weak goals. I definitely don’t think he is that. Right now he is playing like an average goalie. I do believe he has the skills to be an elite goaltender and I trust what Gillis sees in him as well. My reasoning for thinking that he can lead the Canucks to the cup this year is this. Have you ever done something for years and years and then tried to change the way you do that one thing? It takes time to adjust. Luongo was a hard charging, aggressive, out to challenge type goaltender and has been his whole career. This year new goalie coach Rollie Melanson wants Luongo to be deeper in his net. At times this has looked brilliant (see last night’s scramble save with the blocker), on other occasions he has looked pretty bad getting beat high over his shoulder from outside. To me these are growing pains. In the end I think this change will help him out a lot and he will round back into top form. Time will tell what we have in Luongo and I expect him to be worth his 5.4M cap hit.
Schneider: The kid lots of fans were saying should have Luongo’s job as the #1 guy. He started hot 3 games in he was leading the NHL in GAA and S%. He is no longer putting out those numbers and has looked a little shaky lately (so has the team in front of him). He will continue to get his games this year as AV and MG have apparently set out a plan for the goalies. He is a big solid goalie and when on makes the job look easy. More confidence and more ice time and he will be a #1 in the future (maybe not with Vancouver). The thing that looks good about Schneider is he seems to be adjusting faster to his new coach and the new style. Think younger generation vs older generation when it comes to the Internet. (Just joking family).
Both goalies have to adjust to new styles as well as new defenders in front of them. Look for both goalies to improve as the team grows together. Luongo will be the #1 this year barring injury, look for nothing less than the Canucks riding Luongo through the playoffs.
Prospects.
Although I can’t say I get to much viewing time of the Moose I get to catch a bit of the Canucks system as I work at the Save-On Foods Memorial arena home of the Victoria Salmon Kings. I do a lot of following of the young guys though and look for some of them to make an impact on the team in the next few years.
Hodgson (17 gp 8g 5a): He started slow but has come on strong. He looks like the big time prospect we thought we drafted a few years ago. He’s tied for the lead in points with Shirokov with 13 points. All reports have Hodgson leading the team. As a stated in the earlier blog I hope Hodgson can fill the 2nd line RW position for the Canucks this season.
Shirokov (17gp 5g 8a): Russia? North America? AHL? NHL? Does anyone know what Shirokov will show up each game? He’s one of those players who has the talent but doesn’t always bring it. Probably not what the Canucks need right now but he does have some experience and is playing well right now. Might we see Shirokov get a shot? Only time will tell.
Bill Sweatt: Seems to be playing very well with Hodgson. He also played will in the preseason. Gillis has said that he wants his prospects to get a taste of the NHL this year and I can see the hard working Sweatt getting a chance.
Schroeder: According to Brian Munz Schroeder hasn’t looked great and hasn’t looked that bad. Had a good game the other night will two goals and will need to keep building on that. In my opinion he’s a few years away but will be a good smart player for the Canucks in the future.
Connauton: See Blog about the defence.
Tambellini: Seven points in seven games, sniper is playing like he wants another shot in the big leagues. Didn’t look that out of place with the Canucks earlier in the year and is my guess for the teams first shake up if they keep losing.
Bliznak: Had a chance in the NHL and got sent back down. I think he knows what he needs to work on and with the weakness of the 4th line the Canucks have will probably see more time with the big club in the future.
Lack and Wieman: Both goalies for the Moose have been playing good this year. Lack (2.22GAA 0.919SV%) Wieman (2.46GAA 0.908SV%) are both options if there is an injury to the Canucks tandem however in my opinion Gillis might have found a steal in Lack. With some time to develop I can see the 6’4 goalie becoming a serviceable NHL goalie.
Canucks Vs Phoenix Nov 21 Post Game
Strange situation for me for this game. Was visiting family this weekend, ended up driving back to Victoria during the game and got to listen to the game on the radio. First time in a while this has happened and to be honest I really enjoyed it. Reminded me of being in elementary school listening to the last period because Mom had sent me to bed before the game was over.
As enjoyable as the game was the score wasn't what I wanted or expected. 3-2 Final favoring the visiting Phoenix Coyotes dropping the Canucks home record to 6-2-1, overall 10-7-3 giving them 23 points. Second in the Northwest and 8th in the West.
Positives: Canucks came out strong. All you were waiting for was for the puck to find the back of the net in the first. This is a step in the right direction. The team coming off the trouncing by the Hawks the night before needed to respond for their home fans and put fourth a good effort. This they did.
Negatives: Lots of bad things in this game. With all the pressure the Canucks had in the first they need to find a way to score. No excuses the effort was there the points weren't. A team like Phoenix is a team that you can put away early if you come out strong and put in a couple goals. This team has no "put your foot (skate) on the opponents throat and end them" mentality.
I know a lot of fans are harping on Luongo, to be honest I don't feel much confidence in him right now however I don't think these loses are his fault at all. The shots from the point need to be better contested. The wingers need to make it hard for them to get the shots through. When Luongo can get close to the player making the deflections he is usually able to control the puck. The tips Phoenix were getting were higher out, there needs to be a Canuck taking that players stick away or playing the body hard. Too much open ice and to much time to make decisions.
Finally play 60 minutes. The team has been down at least 2-0 in the last five games. Some games it comes early or like last night it doesn't come till the later. They can't put themselves in this kind of hole. Last night it seemed like they were frustrated for not lightly the lamp in the first and just came out flat in the 2nd.
Final thoughts: MG has put together a team on paper that should be at the top of the league. But this team is relying on what's on paper and not what is on the ice. Some kind of wake up call needs to happen and it has to come from the leaders of this team. No need to panic into a trade or coaching change. The Twins, Kesler, Luongo need to win a game and dominate. Confidence in their leaders will do a lot for the Canucks but right now that's lacking. The next game is a big division game against the Avs and the Canucks need to put their best performance of the season on the ice in front of their hometown crowd or there will be a lot more rumblings for a shake up.
After thought: Heard Brian Munz (voice of the Moose) on the team1040 this afternoon talking about Moose and the prospects. He said he doesn't think Hodgson will see the NHL this year. Canucks better start winning or the fans will be calling to see the young gun up with the Moose.
Another thanks to 22nucksbunny33 (@22TwinPower33), tweeting this blog and spreading the room is really awesome. Hope everyone else is passing around this blog. Any comments are appreciated and will most likely will be responded too. Follow me @bmah03 GO CANUCKS GO.
As enjoyable as the game was the score wasn't what I wanted or expected. 3-2 Final favoring the visiting Phoenix Coyotes dropping the Canucks home record to 6-2-1, overall 10-7-3 giving them 23 points. Second in the Northwest and 8th in the West.
Positives: Canucks came out strong. All you were waiting for was for the puck to find the back of the net in the first. This is a step in the right direction. The team coming off the trouncing by the Hawks the night before needed to respond for their home fans and put fourth a good effort. This they did.
Negatives: Lots of bad things in this game. With all the pressure the Canucks had in the first they need to find a way to score. No excuses the effort was there the points weren't. A team like Phoenix is a team that you can put away early if you come out strong and put in a couple goals. This team has no "put your foot (skate) on the opponents throat and end them" mentality.
I know a lot of fans are harping on Luongo, to be honest I don't feel much confidence in him right now however I don't think these loses are his fault at all. The shots from the point need to be better contested. The wingers need to make it hard for them to get the shots through. When Luongo can get close to the player making the deflections he is usually able to control the puck. The tips Phoenix were getting were higher out, there needs to be a Canuck taking that players stick away or playing the body hard. Too much open ice and to much time to make decisions.
Finally play 60 minutes. The team has been down at least 2-0 in the last five games. Some games it comes early or like last night it doesn't come till the later. They can't put themselves in this kind of hole. Last night it seemed like they were frustrated for not lightly the lamp in the first and just came out flat in the 2nd.
Final thoughts: MG has put together a team on paper that should be at the top of the league. But this team is relying on what's on paper and not what is on the ice. Some kind of wake up call needs to happen and it has to come from the leaders of this team. No need to panic into a trade or coaching change. The Twins, Kesler, Luongo need to win a game and dominate. Confidence in their leaders will do a lot for the Canucks but right now that's lacking. The next game is a big division game against the Avs and the Canucks need to put their best performance of the season on the ice in front of their hometown crowd or there will be a lot more rumblings for a shake up.
After thought: Heard Brian Munz (voice of the Moose) on the team1040 this afternoon talking about Moose and the prospects. He said he doesn't think Hodgson will see the NHL this year. Canucks better start winning or the fans will be calling to see the young gun up with the Moose.
Another thanks to 22nucksbunny33 (@22TwinPower33), tweeting this blog and spreading the room is really awesome. Hope everyone else is passing around this blog. Any comments are appreciated and will most likely will be responded too. Follow me @bmah03 GO CANUCKS GO.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Canucks Vs Phoenix Nov 21 Pre Game
The game last night against Chicago was flat out ugly. Phoenix is a hot team coming in winning their last 5 games. For the Canucks these two things are more than likely a good thing. It seems every year under AV the Canucks show up for big games and hot teams. Av pulled Luongo yesterday night and got Schneider in to finish the game. As soon as that happened you knew he was planning to start Roberto tonight.
Last year the home team won all four games of this series, but times have changed and that means nothing.
Things to look for tonight.
Overall team bounce back: No one had a good game last night. Can't really blame the goals on Roberto but he needs to steal a game for the team soon, they are slumping and it's time for the big man to step up. The core guys need to play a big roll tonight, the Twins, Kesler, Edler and Ehrhoff.
Twin Power: Hank and Daniel need a performance like they are capable of tonight. Lead the team with multiple goals and lots of pressure in the offensive zone. They had their points streak snapped last night and it's time to start a new one.
Kesler: Need a hard gritty fast performance from him tonight. He needs to be a leader on the ice tonight.
Edler: Third on the Canucks in points look for Edler to activate from the point and bring a point or two form the backend.
Ehrhoff: He got caught flat footed a few times last night, however he's a leader on this team and knows how to bounce back. Look for him to be active as well with Edler.
The rest of the teams needs to play with last nights crushing in the back of their mind while being completely focused on tonights game.
Anything short of a dominating first 10 minutes will be disappointing.
Predictions: 4-1 Canucks.
Also follow me on Twitter @bmah03
Last year the home team won all four games of this series, but times have changed and that means nothing.
Things to look for tonight.
Overall team bounce back: No one had a good game last night. Can't really blame the goals on Roberto but he needs to steal a game for the team soon, they are slumping and it's time for the big man to step up. The core guys need to play a big roll tonight, the Twins, Kesler, Edler and Ehrhoff.
Twin Power: Hank and Daniel need a performance like they are capable of tonight. Lead the team with multiple goals and lots of pressure in the offensive zone. They had their points streak snapped last night and it's time to start a new one.
Kesler: Need a hard gritty fast performance from him tonight. He needs to be a leader on the ice tonight.
Edler: Third on the Canucks in points look for Edler to activate from the point and bring a point or two form the backend.
Ehrhoff: He got caught flat footed a few times last night, however he's a leader on this team and knows how to bounce back. Look for him to be active as well with Edler.
The rest of the teams needs to play with last nights crushing in the back of their mind while being completely focused on tonights game.
Anything short of a dominating first 10 minutes will be disappointing.
Predictions: 4-1 Canucks.
Also follow me on Twitter @bmah03
Canucks vs Chicago Post game Nov 21
So I'll be honest. I have this game recorded and I don't think I'll watch it.
Spent an amazing night in Courtenay last night seeing a Light Fantastic Production performance. Check them out online. Because of the show I missed the game.
It wasn't really at all what I expected. The first period was reasonably close, however the rest of the game the Canucks shut down. Not sure I fault Luongo on many of those goals but right now I don't think that's enough. The team needs some help, three loses in a row and it's time for Lui to step up and steal one. He didn't do that last night and was pulled. Chalk this one up as a team loss and a weak performance from the team.
Check out tonights game pre-game coming up in a bit.
P.S. Little shout out to 22nuckbunny33. Thanks for the first comment on my blog.
Spent an amazing night in Courtenay last night seeing a Light Fantastic Production performance. Check them out online. Because of the show I missed the game.
It wasn't really at all what I expected. The first period was reasonably close, however the rest of the game the Canucks shut down. Not sure I fault Luongo on many of those goals but right now I don't think that's enough. The team needs some help, three loses in a row and it's time for Lui to step up and steal one. He didn't do that last night and was pulled. Chalk this one up as a team loss and a weak performance from the team.
Check out tonights game pre-game coming up in a bit.
P.S. Little shout out to 22nuckbunny33. Thanks for the first comment on my blog.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Canucks vs Chicago Nov 20
Tonights game is the first of a back to back. The Canucks will be facing off with a familiar opponent in the Blackhawks. Chicago had a weak showing last night in Calgary and got killed 7-2. They seem to be lacking focus and leadership. Is it because they lost some key role players to their team or are their young stars having a prolonged Cup hangover?
In goal will be Luongo vs Turco. Seems to be a classic matchup for the last few years. Coming off a good performance last game vs the Hawks (.969 SV% .92 GAA) look for Luongo's new style to continue to work against the Blackhawks tonight.
The Canucks are a team that seem to be easily trapped by teams who are playing bad, however tonight I expect that to be different. The players have been talking in interviews and they all seem pretty fired up to have a good game tonight. Look for the gritty players on the Canucks to play a strong role tonight doing what they do best. Players like Burrows, Kesler and Hansen will be in the faces of the Chicago players trying to get them off their game early with lots of chatting going on after the whistles. Look for Torres and Malholtra to have a physical presence and hopefully the fourth line with Perrault and Schaefer can bring a new element to the lineup tonight.
In goal will be Luongo vs Turco. Seems to be a classic matchup for the last few years. Coming off a good performance last game vs the Hawks (.969 SV% .92 GAA) look for Luongo's new style to continue to work against the Blackhawks tonight.
I expect a bounce back game from the Hawks tonight who always like to play the Canucks. It'll be a hard fought game with a ton of after the whistle activity. I'll predict a 3-2 Vancouver win.
Post game tomorrow.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Canucks Quarter Review "Defence"
Part two
Defence.
Defence.
The Canucks defence is built with a bunch of 1-4 D men at the top and some solid depth. Because the defence hasn’t really had solid paring to date I am going to do a write up for each Canucks defenseman.
Alexander Edler: Elder has played all 18 games and has looked like the defender the Canucks are looking to develop. He’s a big mobile dman who can move the puck forward and add an offensive element to the team from the backend. As far as dman go it seems to take most defenders longer to develop and Elder has been around for a while now and he’s still only 24. He looks great on the PP and his game is moving forward right now. I can see him being a #1 Dman in the next few years. For now I’ll call his season so far very solid as he is proving to be a good 1B player on the point. Look for more offense, big hits, shutdown defence and solid improvement from Edler for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
Christian Ehrhoff: Even with a few glaring defensive mind blanks Ehrhoff is again putting together a start to another solid season. He is working on a contract year and I expect to see more strong play from the German born Dman. Although 8 of his 10 points are on the PP Ehrhoff is still a +1. He along with Edler are a scary pairing on the PP and demand a lot of respect which opens a lot of room for the Twins to work down low. Ehrhoff will always have a few errors in his own zone however on the break out and in the offensive zone he is a huge contributor to the Canucks. Throughout the season I expect him to play solid offensive hockey leading the team forward from the back end. His job is not to play shut down defence but to get the puck to the forwards and so far this year he has been doing a good job at that. Consistency and constant work on his defensive game will round Ehrhoff into another top defender for the Canucks to lock up into their core going forward.
Dan Hamhuis: One of two big acquisitions for the defence this off season, Hamhuis was brought in through the UFA market. Before his deep bone bruise injury in his foot Hamhuis was looking like a top pairing Dman for the Nucks. Since coming back from injury he has had moments where he’s look unstable on his foot. He is not practising every practice and is still trying to fully recover from his injury. Look for Hamhuis’ game to improve each game as he approaches 100%. Going into the playoffs Hamhuis will be a big factor for the team. He will more than likely anchor the second pairing bring solid all around play in his own zone and the offensive zone. Coming out of Nashville there has been a steep learning curve for Hamhuis in the Canucks system. With more time he will learn when to activate from the point and as we saw in the Pens game he will start getting some scoring chances.
Keith Ballard: The other offseason deal the Canucks made was for Ballard. He was brought in for Bernier, Grabner and a 1st. An off season hip surgery, that seemed to slide past the very knowledgeable Vancouver media, has seemed to slow Ballard down this year. He seemed to be getting closer to game shape and then had a setback with a concussion. Watching Ballard for a few years now I expect him to recover and play to the level MG expected when he traded for him. In my opinion he will be huge in the second half of the season and into the playoffs. Give him time to get into game shape and adjust to the fast pace of the Canucks system and I think he will be a great player for the team.
Kevin Bieksa: The lone right handed Dman on the current roster and in a contract year, Bieksa has been the whipping boy of the Canucks fan base for a couple years. This year however his play has improved dramatically. Is it because he’s playing for a contract? Because he is healthy? Or just finding his game again? I think it’s a little bit of both. There was a lot of rumours about Bieksa being traded this season and I expect him to be moved come the deadline. MG and his crew are wizards with the cap and I think they will find a way to fit Salo and Bieksa together on the same roster however there will be teams who want Bieksa and they will cash in on having extra D and the ability to trade them. Look for Kevin to keep improving his game this season. He will always have gaffs in his own end but if he plays hard and gritty and chips in from the point he will be a key contributor for the Canucks and probably someone else come playoffs.
Andrew Alberts: Much complaining was had over the offseason about how bad of a trade MG had made to acquire Alberts. Today it looks like a reasonable trade. Alberts took the offseason to get into great shape and lose some weight. He gained enough foot speed to compliment his big physical presence and has been a solid 5-6 man for the team this year. He will not bring you much offence but he does kill penalties and he usually makes the easy high percentage break out pass. That’s all you can ask for from a player of his nature. He also brings big hits from the backend. Look for Alberts to work on better positioning and picking the right time to lay someone out and the right time to retreat and play D. If he continues his improvement from the summer throughout the year he could be an important shutdown depth player throughout the season.
Aaron Rome: Rome has had a decent start to the season for a depth player. He gave AV the chance to sit Keith Ballard down when he wasn’t 100% and he has played alright. He has seen some time on the PP and that is a bit scary as he will probably never bring much offence to the team. When the Canucks are healthy he will be a 6-8 guy and at his salary and skill level he is a great guy to have there. In a pinch situation come playoff time there have been a lot worse situations for the Canucks in the past.
Rest of the guys:
Sami Salo: Look for Salo to return earlier than later. He went on the trip with the team on their eastern trip and there is talk he’ll be back in December. In my opinion Salo is the Ace in their back pocket the Canucks hold. He’s easily a top 4 dman when healthy and can play in any role he’s asked to play in. Knock on wood his first half the year break keeps him healthy for the rest of the year and deep into the playoffs. Right handed canon from the point will lead the second PP unit to a lot more goals.
Ryan Parent: Acquired for O’Brien, MG might have himself another steal. I know Parent has had a rough start to his career but he was a very highly rated prospect who was rushed into the NHL. He was the 18th overall pick in ’05 and is still only 23. He has no pressure to do anything but slowly improve his game behind the deep staff Vancouver has. Worst case scenario from the trade is the Canucks lost O’Brien for nothing and still saved the cap room. Best case scenario he will get his career back on track and the Canucks will have gained a very solid asset.
Kevin Connauton: The Canucks also have Connauton in the minors. He has 3 goals and 4 assists on the Moose. Hopefully he can develop some form of a defensive game. I look for him to be a strong contributor to the Canucks in a few years but for now he’s just more depth the Canucks have right now on D.
Overall the Canucks are very deep at Defence and when the players are fully healthy and have all learned the system and their partners I expect this defence to be one of the tops in the league. Look for a trade at the deadline and consistent play throughout the playoffs leading the team and Luongo to the cup.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Canucks Quarter Review "Forwards"
With two games upcoming this weekend the Canucks will turn the ¼ mark of the season. They are currently leading the Northwest division over Colorado and sitting in 3rd in the Western Conference with 23 points in 18 games (10-5-3). My biggest observation of the team is the way the new players have bonded and are starting to gel with the core of the team.
This entry will come in three parts. "Forwards, Defense, Rookies and Goalies"
Starting with the Forwards.
1st Line: Daniel and Henrik are the Daniel and Henrik we have watched grow and evolve into superstars of the NHL. Not only are they playing at the same level they did last year, they are now getting the attention of the media as top of the league players. Sitting in 5th and 6th in points respectively and showing consistent play game in and game out they will be in a fight with the likes of Stamkos, Crosby and Ovechkin for top spot all season long. The third line mate to the twins whether it be Samuelsson or Burrows needs to continue bringing a smart game to the ice each game and this line will always be successful. Expect to see Burrows continue to get stronger on the puck and seem less rushed in the next few weeks. He is coming off shoulder surgery and has look fairly good so far, but there is room for improvement.
2nd Line: This line will need to play a key role for the Canucks for the rest of the year and into the playoffs, however watching the games this line could have a hint of weakness. This line starts with Kesler. Speed, strength, grit and scoring ability, possibly the best 2nd line center in the game. On LW you have Raymond who has great speed and a good shot. These two seem to feed off each other and create a lot of opportunities. Samuelsson is usually the RW on this line, he’s played good at times and at others he seems to be nonexistent. This line has a lot more scoring chances than goals. Although Samuelsson shoots a lot I wouldn’t call him a finisher. At times it feels as though this line needs a calming influence, someone with a ton of hockey sense who knows where to be and how to finish. Could that spot be Hodgson? We’ll have to wait and see.
3rd Line: This is where the Canucks made the biggest changes this season. Signing both Malholtra (2.5M/3yrs) and Torres (1M/1yr) they looked to beef up their 3rd line. The 3rd winger right now on this line is Hansen. Some thought Malholtra was overpaid as a UFA to come to Vancouver however with what he brings to the team it looks like MG got him at the right price. According to reports he was their #1 target on the UFA market and he has brought everything expected and more to the team. Leading the league in FO% is incredibly important to the Canucks success. Torres has been known as a streaky scorer and he has shown that again this year. I do not see this as a bad thing however. As long as he can stay consistently gritty and hard to play against his goal scoring in streaks will be a nice added bonus. Hansen has been a great presence to the line in creating chances. He’s quick, all over the ice and he’ll throw his body into anyone. This line is a combined plus 10 and is on the ice for almost every defensive zone faceoff. That is a great stat considering you start in your own end a lot.
4th Line: Although there have been attempts to fix this line in the offseason the only consistent performer who has earned a roll on the team and can play in the playoffs is Tanner Glass. He’s gritty, will fight and usually makes smart plays. He’s rarely a difference maker good or bad and can kill penalties. Solid work Glass. With Bolduc out Bliznak has been called up. He’s done average so far, he’s been on the PK a little bit however his FO% as a “natural centre” is not great at 33.3% over his 4 games. Right now he’s the best option. On the other side is Rypien, he’s played 9 games and is a -5. I think his time with the Canucks is winding down. This line needs to spend more time dumping the puck into the opponents end and crashing their defenders with hard clean hits. It seems like MG envisions a line that will spark the team with a hit or a fight, avoid being trapped in their own zone and pot the odd goal. Eat a few minutes and get the team going. This isn't happening right now, I am expecting change.
Overall the forwards are doing a fairly good job, averaging 3.06g/g, clearly lead by the Twins. When on home ice and AV can get the Twins matched up with who he chooses the team is lights out (6-0-1). The next big key is to be able to win on the road and not worry about being matched up.
What I look for in the future:
I look for MG to revamp the 4th line. It seems like he wants to develop from within. Bliznak is showing a bit of potential but might need more time. Look for Oreskovich and Perrault to get a shot this year along with the potential of trading for a veteran guy. I think it’s important to have a 4th line centre you can rely upon and I will be looking for that come playoff time. As for the 2nd line I could see changes being made to the RW, as I mentioned earlier, if Hodgson continues to play well in the AHL I see him getting a shot later in the year. MG has said that the Moose players will get their taste of the NHL at some point and best case scenario is Hodgson plays his way onto the team and then stays on the team by playing as expected. As far as the 1st or 3rd lines go the most important thing is consistency. Scoring from the twins and hard work with solid defensive zone coverage by the 3rd line.
Stay tuned for part two "Defense"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)