Tag Archives: vancouver canucks

Preparation Pays Off: The NHL Playoff Upsets

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Whatever the sport may be, the playoffs are the most important time of the year.  The regular season and training camps evaporate in haste, fooling the shortsighted with a cheap parlor trick.  It’s a brutal realization if you’re a victim. Months of hard work are wasted, but for the survivors it’s invaluable hope.  It’s a reminder that sports are one of the few unscripted forms of entertainment still available.  It’s also a reminder that preparation is the surest way to prepare for the unpredictable, mental slips can separate champions from mediocrity, and so can mental strength.

Watching these enormously entertaining hockey playoffs, it’s easy to see how two huge upsets are brewing.  For the Canucks it’s simple, without Daniel Sedin, the pressure they’re putting on Jonathan Quick isn’t yielding enough goals.  Quick has been the best goaltender in the playoffs thus far, and has demonstrated an astounding toughness in the face of the President’s Cup Champion.  Last night must’ve been frustrating for the Canucks, who watched Cory Schneider match Quick every step of the way until a third period goal that was out of his reach.

The Penguins have fallen victim to a lack of discipline.  There’s no excuse for the way they’ve lost.  The crazy, whimsical series has been riveting and shameful in the same sense, and I’m not even referring to the fighting.  The Penguins have wasted an All-Star team with foolish turnovers and gaping defensive holes.  In game two, two short-handed power play goals propelled the Flyers over the Penguins, it’s simply sloppy.

So the Penguins and Canucks, the two Stanley Cup favorites in my book, are on the verge of getting swept.  It shouldn’t be so shocking in the playoffs, where upsets have become the only thing you can count on.  The Kings and Flyers used their strengths to their advantage and out prepared the Goliaths, good for them!

NHL Playoff Preview: Western Conference

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Part 2 of my NHL Playoff preview takes a look at the Western conference matchups and explores who has the edge in each.

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings

Possibly the most interesting matchup in the NHL. Though most don’t expect the Kings to be able to hang with the Canucks…I beg to differ. The Kings showed guts down the stretch by hanging on to a playoff spot despite strong pushes from the Calgary Flames and the Dallas Stars, and in doing so may have gained the confidence they need to pull off quite an upset. However, it won’t come easy for the Kings as the Canucks really earned the league’s top record and they did it down the stretch without key scorer Daniel Sedin. Getting last year’s Hart Trophy winner back will provide instant offense and the duo of Daniel and Henrik Sedin is in my opinion the most formidable in the league today. Look for their twin chemistry to ignite Vancouver, despite a resilient effort by the Kings’ aggressive defense (ranked 2nd in the NHL in GA average with 2.18). The only way I see Vancouver losing this series is if Los Angeles can get in the head of Roberto Luongo and force the Canucks to bring in capable backup Cory Schneider. Doing so will rattle Vancouver and could spoil another very good regular season.

Prediction: Canucks 4 Kings 2

#2 St. Louis Blues vs. #7 San Jose Sharks

San Jose was one of the most opportunistic teams as the season winded down. They rode a four game winning to the 7th seed and in doing so may have saved themselves an early exit from the playoffs. The Blues come into this matchup on somewhat of a lull as they traded wins and losses over the final ten games which cost themselves the top seed in the conference. That being said the Blues had the best defense in the NHL all season long, giving up a league low 165 goals (14 better then the 2nd best team – L.A. Kings). The Blues however have had trouble scoring at times and the Sharks have the firepower needed to win a playoff series. The key in this series will be the contributions from Joe Thornton and Logan Couture, because if those guys can get it going they can win games alone, but Jumbo Joe just doesn’t seem to be “that guy” anymore. I look for the Blues stingy defense and twin headed monster of a goalie unit (Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliot) to thwart any hopes of a San Jose upset. Blues in 5.

Prediction: Blues 4 Sharks 1

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #6 Chicago Blackhawks

The Star Studded Blackhawks are the underdogs in this series, but this matchup will be very even. The goaltending play of Mike Smith for Phoenix has made fans forget all about that Ilya Bryzgalov chump (just kidding Philly fans). Smith was a man on a mission over the past month of the regular season as his play was the sole reason Phoenix won the Pacific Division. However they earned a matchup with the always dangerous Blackhawks, and with the return of Captain Jonathan Toews appearing to be imminent the Coyotes could have their hands full. I like for this one to go six or seven with the difference being the play of now veteran Patrick Kane and Toews proving to be the difference.

Prediction: Blackhawks 4 Coyotes 3

#4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Detroit Red Wings

The battle of offense versus defense is in full effect in the 4 vs. 5 matchup, and it should be a good one. The guy I’ll have my eye on in this series is Pekka Rinne, the gifted goalie for Nashville. Rinne is a special player capable of shutting a team out despite his team being outplayed, and with the amount of offense the Wings have he may have to do just that. If the Wings start playing their type of game and utilize those long tape to tape passes only they have the skill for, they could turn this into a high scoring affair, and Nashville simply can’t beat them at that game. For Nashville to pull this off they have to keep the scoring down and play smart and physical. Stud defenseman Shea Weber and fellow star defenseman Ryan Suter must play at the Norris Trophy level there capable of if they want their team to have a chance.

Prediction: Red Wings 4 Predators 2

Agree With Me? Am I Lost? Comments?

The Canucks Desperate Quest To Win

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For most teams, two straight Presidents Cups would be an indicator of success, it would mean those two years were good years.  For the Canucks, it’s a reminder of what truly matters in hockey.  It’s a reminder of a city scorned by self-loathing.  What else could explain violent riots after a loss in the 7th game of the Stanley Cup finals?  It’s a reminder of the zero championships the Canucks have won.  It’s a reminder that they’re the only Canadian franchise other than the Senators to have never won the cup, and that the Senators were only founded in 1992, while the Canucks entered the NHL in 1970.  Finally, It’s also a reminder of just how awful losing feels, and how hard they must work to take advantage of another golden opportunity to win the championship.

With injured Daniel Sedin returning, the Canucks face the Kings in what should be a relatively simple series for them.  Obviously there are no easy playoff series in hockey, but the Canucks have established themselves as one of the top two teams in hockey.  They’ve proven they could win on the big stage and their roster is Heat-like in it’s talent.  However for the Canucks, nothing will satiate their desire to win other than that final obstacle.

Last year, they were so close!  The Bruins entered Vancouver as underdogs, over-matched and under-talented for a road game in Canada.  The Canucks lost to the Islanders in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1982 and again to the Rangers in 1994.  They were ready to finally beat a big market American hockey team, one of the original six, however the loss sent Vancouver into a rage.  Photos of screaming fans throwing Molotov cocktails through windows surfaced, epitomizing the uncontrollable and shameful rage that filled residents so invested in their sports team that they didn’t care how the rest of the world perceived them.  We’ve all experienced the sensation.  When our sports allegiances are tested, we say and do things we don’t mean.  It’s an oddly obsessive commitment we make to our teams.  For Vancouver, a hockey championship has began to represent a fleeting pride in identity and a sense of nationalism, and the longer the Canucks go without winning a Stanley Cup the longer Vancouver represents the opposite of what they want.

15 Years of Doc And Chico: An Ode To Mike Emrick

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This past Friday was a special day for New Jersey Devils’ fans of this generation as we paid tribute to the great voice of the Devils’, Mike “Doc” Emrick (earning the nickname for his PhD in Communications). Joining the Devils 21 seasons ago Emrick stormed onto the scene with his unique style of calling a game as well as his childlike enthusiasm that he displayed so routinely. What made Doc special was his unique insight on the game and his ability to explain a story with extraordinary detail. His knack for telling a quirky story such as the one about a young player shooting rocks at a tree to improve accuracy because it was too warm for ice to form (true story, I kid you not). Doc had a special way of bonding with the audience, captivating us with his limitless knowledge of statistics and history of the game, all in addition to being a fun “on-air” personality.

As a lifetime New Jersey fan I’ve known the voice of the team to be Doc & Chico (Glenn “Chico” Resch), one of the best announcing pairs I’ve seen across any sport. As a team these guys complemented each other perfectly, each having their individual strengths that the other lacked. Doc was always the lead guy, but with Chico being an Ex-Goalie for both the Islanders and Devils, he offered (and still offers) a different view of the game that Doc as a non-player could never emulate (not that he needed to). The tandem worked together for all three of the Stanley Cups the Devils have won in their history (95’,00’ and 03’), and they made each victory feel real & special because of how much they made their jobs part of their lives.

Today half the tandem still works for the Devils, that being Glenn “Chico” Rescch. Doc was chosen to be a lead announcer on all of the NHL’s biggest games working for NBC Sports.  Emrick had been doing this for years already but on July 21, 2011 it became official as “The Dean of American Hockey” would sadly be moving on. This to all fans meant the insertion of Steve Cangialosi, the long time stat man of the team who earns his nickname, Mr. Know It All. Cangialosi is an intelligent announcer, but the void Doc left is still felt, and rightfully so.

On Friday, February 24th The Voice of the Devils was given his day, “Doc Night”, and despite the team falling to the league leading Vancouver Canucks (2-1), all those who attended or watched from home got to hear Emrick give an inspired speech that touched on many key moments in the team’s history, coming from the man who called it all; it was very touching have seen the majority of the games he referenced. Great announcers only come around once in a while…..Docs’ only come around once ever. Thank You Mike “Doc” Emrick for the passion you displayed in your job, you made watching the New Jersey Devils the past 21 seasons a sports fan’s dream.

Comments? Who’s your favorite announcer?

Thursday Night Power Play: Top NHL Picks of the Day

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With The NHL All-Star Game just behind us, the second half of the season is now in full swing. Teams are beginning that hunt for the playoffs and every game matters. This means the players are picking their level of play up and it’s paying big dividends for fantasy owners. Thursday night features nine hockey games, so there’s a big selection of talent out there. Here are your best picks for your FanSaloon.com Fantasy Hockey Leagues for Tonight.

Left Wings

Evander Kane, Winnipeg Jets ($5,438): Kane has already eclipsed his 2010-11 goals total and he isn’t done yet. The speedy winger is averaging 4.35 Fantasy Points a game, putting his production right up there with the elite players at his position.

 

James Van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia Flyers ($4,600): JVR is coming off a tough injury, but don’t let that be a concern. In his two games back he has 2 assists and 10 shots on goal, he hasn’t lost a step. Picking Van Riemsdyk also makes sense as they play the often shaky Edmonton Oilers tonight, only making him more likely to get you points.

 

Right Wings

Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers ($6,825): Giroux has been the epitome of productive this season and tonight’s favorable match-up makes him a must pick. Giroux has been a rock all season for the Flyers while operating at a point-per-game clip; pick him with confidence.

 

Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks ($6,125): Last season’s MVP has been having a tough year…until lately. Seemingly haven awoken over the past month, Perry has been a machine while getting Anaheim back into the playoff race. Every game is crucial for his team so look for Perry to bring his A-game tonight and come through for your fantasy team as well.

 

Centers

Logan Couture, San Jose Sharks ($5,425): Last season’s rookie standout was an early victim of a sophomore slump, but he’s beginning to find his way again. In a match-up against Winnipeg tonight look for Couture to continue gaining confidence and to translate that into points. This guy can score goals for you and I think he’ll cash one in tonight.

 

Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes ($4,650): Last Year’s Rookie of The Year hasn’t really found his way this season, but he’s still shooting the puck a lot (149 SOG) and has been playing better as the season wears on. Skinner plays against the streaking Anaheim Ducks tonight, but if anyone can put a puck past the red-hot Jonas Hiller, I like that guy to be Jeff Skinner.

Goalies

Jonas Hiller, Anaheim Ducks ($5,400): Hiller has been a monster the past month in leading his team (along with Corey Perry) into playoff contention. Hiller’s play has helped give Anaheim consistency, and tonight’s game against the Hurricanes could be a big day for the man in goal. Carolina isn’t the most offensive bunch around and a shutout could be in the works – Hiller could well be today’s best value pick.

Ilya Bryzgalov, Philadelphia Flyers ($5,275): Fantasy is all about match-ups people and tonight the Flyers have a great one. Bryvgalov hasn’t been as dominant as he’s been in seasons past, but tonight should be a good way for him to find his stride and begin to be the force he was during his time with the Phoenix Coyotes. Although Ilya has been shaky all year I think he’ll put in a solid performance tonight and make you a happy fantasy owner.

Defense

Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks ($3,063): A player that many expected to compete for the Norris Trophy (Leagues’ Top Defensemen) has been a letdown this season. However, tonight against the Dallas Stars I look for him to break out and have a big game because he’s just too good to bottle up for this long. I’m a firm believer that skill must take over at some point, and that point is tonight for the talented defenseman, take a chance on him.

Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings ($3,925): Playing fantasy hockey I’ve learned one thing for certain…Lidstrom is a must pick. The ageless veteran is a fantasy machine and although Detroit has an unfavorable match-up against Vancouver tonight, someone must score in this game. Lidstrom isn’t killing it this season, but he’s always capable of scoring a goal or putting up multiple assists; this may be one of those nights where they need him to come up big.

High Risk-High Reward Pick of the Day

Roberto Loungo, Vancouver Canucks ($6,913): Luongo has been looking like his past self over the last couple of weeks and that has teams across the NHL in fear, and rightfully so. Loungo on any given day can be the best goalie you’ve ever seen take the ice, but his inconsistency has plagued him throughout his career. In a showcase game against Detroit tonight, Loungo has an opportunity to prove doubters wrong and show he’s still a Vezina Candidate. A shutout from Luongo would be enormous and would do your fantasy squad well. However, Detroit is riding that NHL Record 23 Straight Wins at Home (this games at Detroit)…will Loungo be the man to stop that?

Who’s your pick of the night? Will Detroit’s streak end tonight? Let Me Hear What You Think!