Morrison and Nonis? Meet Wellwood and Gillis.
Oct 31st, 2008 | By Mike | Category: News, Previews, ReviewsIt JUST occurred to me now that I should have been Chris Pronger with a giant stompy skate for Halloween. I’m slow.
Before we attack the Ducks, let’s do a small one word recap on the Kings game: damn! Where the hell did that come from? I missed the first goal but took the rest of the game in and this was a team possessed. Raymond’s goal? Holy smack-a-midget Batman was that a beautiful goal. Seriously, check it out if you missed it. The Sedins clicked, the power play came alive, Luongo was God and even Pyatt showed up. It was, in fact, everything I had suggested had to happen for the Boston game. So they’re a few days late? No worries.
With the offense slowly finding itself, Luongo doing his thing and the defense holding strong (one goal in two games this week) it’s perfect that this team has no rest and has to out and do it again against the Ducks. The motherfucking Ducks. Ahhh, there’s that sweet zone of hate I haven’t had since the Calgary opener.
The teams are pretty evenly matched if you stare at the numbers: Ducks are scoring 3.00 goals a game and giving up 3.18; Canucks are scoring 3.11 a game and giving up 3.22. The power play looks similar (Ducks: 18.2%, Canucks: 16.7%) and, as you probably guessed, so is the penalty kill (Ducks: 81.8%, Canucks: 78.6%). The gritty manchild Kesler leads the Canucks in points (9) while a similarly-agitating Ryan Getzlaf leads the Ducks (11).
Some will make a big deal out of this game being the first for Pronger and Kesler to meet again but, honestly, who cares. We all know what Pronger is and what he does. This time around, however, if Pronger does anything (Raymond, keep your head up please) he’ll have far more voices to answer to. This version of the Canucks doesn’t take the high elbows or the errant foot stomp too lightly like they may have last year.
Which brings us to old pal Brendan. I suppose as a Canuck fan I’m supposed to say something chipper here about what a great guy he is, his ironman streak blah blah blah. Whatever, he left. Here’s what I do know: despite being ninth in TOI, he has a single point and a team worst -5. Bertuzzi is more of a force these days (and a detriment); I don’t know if that has something to do with Morrison’s role on the PK or his linemates.
It also brings us back to old GM Burke’s house (at least for now) and he’s currently letting another old GM Dave Nonis bunk in the zamboni shed. In fact, including these two and Carlyle, Morrison, McIver, May (oops, just kidding) and Hedican (and on our end Krog and O’Brien) it’s a cute reunion of sorts.
Bottom line: the Canucks needed to win last night and did. I’d venture that they really need to win tonight too; to beat a top level team on little rest and continue their PP success and stingy play on the back end will be huge before they return for a homestand that includes the Wings and Wild. The Kings didn’t play the Sedins, Raymond or Wellwood too physically, but the Ducks will change that. Expect some “spirit” out there between both squads, but if the Canucks fall back into bad first periods and stupid penalties, it’ll get gross right quick.
Without question, this is the sort of game they need to win if they want to hang with the big boys. Get it done. Go ‘nucks.
October 31st, 2008 9:48 pm
hey may not be the right place but i gotta say please forget sundin he was way over hyped his whole carrer and we dont need him here in vacouver.
August 3rd, 2011 4:37 pm
After checking out some of the posts on your web site now, I seriously like your knack of writing a blog. I book marked it to my website list and will be checking back shortly. Please check out my website as well and let me know what you think.
August 6th, 2011 3:04 am
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is great blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.
August 7th, 2011 4:37 pm
My husband and i ended up being absolutely satisfied that John managed to do his investigation through the entire precious recommendations he came across out of the web page. It’s not at all simplistic just to possibly be giving freely guidelines other people might have been trying to sell. We really already know we need the website owner to thank for this. Those explanations you made, the simple website navigation, the relationships you will assist to instill – it’s most superb, and it’s really facilitating our son and the family reckon that the concept is brilliant, and that’s unbelievably indispensable. Many thanks for the whole lot!
August 9th, 2011 3:55 am
http://www.bi3t.ir/?p=165
August 16th, 2011 4:17 am
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently fast.
August 19th, 2011 1:01 am
I like the helpful info you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly. I’m quite certain I will learn plenty of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!
December 10th, 2011 11:27 pm
You have remarked very interesting details ! ps decent web site . “The appearance of right oft leads us wrong.” by Horace.