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Tagged: playoffs 2011

The Emasculation of Roberto Luongo

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The Emasculation of Roberto Luongo

I’m still scratching my head over Alain Vigneault’s decision to start Cory Schneider in game 6 over Roberto Luongo. Yes, Luongo got shelled for 10 goals in games 4 and 5, but how do you blame him exclusively for those losses when the entire team in front of him didn’t show up? Yet, that’s essentially what Vigneault did when he decided to give Cory Schneider his first career playoff start. In the most important game of the Canucks’ season at the Madhouse on Madison. AV is known to say that he’ll play the players he thinks will give him the...

Outcoached. Again.

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Outcoached. Again.

For much of the series, talk has been about how much the Chicago Blackhawks are in the Canucks’ players heads. How else do you explain the Sedins’ play, who looked good in the first 3 games and then essentially outplayed once Dave Bolland returned? How do you explain getting outscored 16-5 in the last 3 games when a win in any of those games would have sent the Blackhawks home for the summer? But it’s not just the players. After watching the series build and piss away a 3-0 series lead, it’s obvious the Blackhawks are in coach Alain Vigneault’s...

WQF Game 6: Canucks 3 Blackhawks 4

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WQF Game 6: Canucks 3 Blackhawks 4

I was pissed off after game 5’s no-show. I’ll admit last night’s loss hurt. The Canucks played a good game. Scratch that, they played their best game of the series. They took the game to the Hawks and had three, separate, 1-goal leads. Cory Schneider was a surprise starter (more on that in a separate post) and was mostly solid, especially on an extended 5-on-3 Chicago powerplay. At least he was until his legs cramped up after failing to stop Michael Frolik on a penalty shot, forcing Roberto Luongo to enter the game. Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and Mason Raymond...

Ballard vs. Rome: Why is this even a debate?

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Ballard vs. Rome: Why is this even a debate?

Unless there are other factors at play that we’re not aware of, I don’t see the logic of making Keith Ballard a healthy scratch in last night’s game and replacing with Aaron Rome. No, Ballard hasn’t been great. Certainly, he hasn’t played or produced as should be expected from a $4.2 million defenseman. But then again, he hasn’t called on to play much – or do much – considering that Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa, Christian Ehrhoff and Sami Salo are all ahead of him on the Canucks’ depth chart. That said, I thought Ballard had been decent in...

WQF Game 5: Canucks 0 Blackhawks 5

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WQF Game 5: Canucks 0 Blackhawks 5

In light of Tuesday night’s embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, I think most fans, myself included, expected a much better effort from the Canucks. Boy, were we wrong. For a team who didn’t serve up a lot of stinkers in the regular season, the Canucks have now failed to show in two consecutive playoff games. What once seemed like an indomitable 3-game series lead is down to a single game. The swagger the Canucks had at the start of the series has been replaced with stunned disbelief. Momentum is clearly on the Blackhawks’ side now with the series...

A Canucks Fan in Chile

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A Canucks Fan in Chile

“Despite being so far away, I never stopped following the Canucks,” says 29-year-old Francisco Varas. “I will be a die-hard fan forever.” Varas was born in Richmond, but his parents moved him back to their home country of Chile when he was 13. “Being raised in a hockey town I think I was born with hockey skates,” Varas adds, “So I can pretty much say I have been a Canucks fan my whole life.” Varas is a business analyst for L’Oreal’s Active Cosmetics Division in Santiago, crunching numbers and marketing products to dermatologists. Since moving to Chile, following the team...

Round 1 Game 4 Frame-by-Frame: Brian Campbell’s Goal

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Round 1 Game 4 Frame-by-Frame: Brian Campbell’s Goal

After every Canucks playoff game, we’ll break down one key play, frame-by-frame. The Situation The score is knotted at 1-1 early in the second period. Vancouver has just killed off a Chicago powerplay and dumped the puck behind Crawford’s net. CBC’s commentators mention how quiet the crowd is. Frame 1 (5:12) Kesler briefly waves his stick at Campbell before heading to the bench. Notice the horrible timing of this line change. Frame 2 (5:13) Campbell passes the puck to Kane as the Sedins jump over the boards, already behind the play. Frame 3 (5:14) Kane skates over the blueline as...

Round 1 Game 3 Frame-by-Frame: Daniel Sedin’s Goal

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Round 1 Game 3 Frame-by-Frame: Daniel Sedin’s Goal

After every Canucks playoff game, we’ll break down one key play, frame-by-frame. (Editor’s note: Sorry folks. I know we’re a bit behind here.) The Situation After being under siege for the first half of the game, Vancouver strikes 7 seconds into its first powerplay on a Christian Ehrhoff marker. Immediately after, Chris Higgins hits the post, the puck comes out of Chicago’s zone, and Edler carries it back in as the Sedins come over the boards. Frame 1 (10:51) In the middle of a line change, Edler takes Bieksa’s cross-ice pass on his backhand. Frame 2 (10:52) Edler goes down...

Patrick Kane: The Diver

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Patrick Kane: The Diver

Really, Patty? Really? Needless to say, he won’t be challenging Colin Firth for the Best Actor Oscar anytime soon.

Don’t mess with the Bieksa

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Don’t mess with the Bieksa

Because I’m looking for positives from the game last night, here’s Kevin Bieksa’s beat down of Viktor Stalberg.

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