The Playoff Picture

[Meds]

The Penguins are looking like the team to come out of the East now. Especially if Crosby stays healthy.

I do have to point out that during their recent streak, apart from 2 wins against the Ranger's and the victory over the Bruin's, the wins were against teams that the SHOULD be dominating.

The way the Canucks are playing right now however, Pittsburgh would flip the animal kingdom on it's head and the world would be subject to a group of Penguin's devouring a pod of Orca's.

[Cornuck]

The way the Canucks are playing right now however, Pittsburgh would flip the animal kingdom on it's head and the world would be subject to a group of Penguin's devouring a pod of Orca's.

...or this:

[Cookie La Rue]

Nice work Cornuck (i guess you created it).

[Cornuck]

:lol: Nice work Cornuck (i guess you created it).

Sorry, I can't take credit for it. I just saw it shortly after reading this thread.

[dbr]

So we pretty much have the Northwest wrapped up here, by my math if the Kings win out they can reach 102 points. That means we need three wins to guarantee 2nd seed in the West, although two regulation wins and a loser point would put them in a position of having to win eight games in a row in regulation.

Meanwhile we are four points back with a game at hand over St. Louis for 1st, we will probably not pass them on the ROW tiebreaker (where they lead us by five) so the Canucks would have to win their game at hand and earn three more points than the Blues over the remaining seven games to clinch top spot. The Blues are red hot and getting players back from IR so that may be a tall order.

[Island Nucklehead]

Meanwhile we are four points back with a game at hand over St. Louis for 1st, we will probably not pass them on the ROW tiebreaker (where they lead us by five) so the Canucks would have to win their game at hand and earn three more points than the Blues over the remaining seven games to clinch top spot. The Blues are red hot and getting players back from IR so that may be a tall order.

The good thing is that if we do come 2nd in the Conference we won't play St Louis until the WCF, if at all. That could be well into May, and a lot can happen in two rounds.

I'm just hoping we can get Danny Sedin back in time for the playoffs. Going into the playoffs hurting isn't a recipe for success.

[Zamboni Driver]

Meanwhile we are four points back with a game at hand over St. Louis for 1st, we will probably not pass them on the ROW tiebreaker (where they lead us by five) so the Canucks would have to win their game at hand and earn three more points than the Blues over the remaining seven games to clinch top spot. The Blues are red hot and getting players back from IR so that may be a tall order.

Question: Do we really want 1st in the West?
Assuming that St Louis is 1st and win their first round, they would face the 4-5 winner, either the Wings or Preds.

Vancouver would face the Kings, Stars, Avs or Yotes in both 1st & 2nd round, which looks better for us. (although LA could be tough if Quick gets hot)

However the exception would be if the 6th place Hawks beat the 3rd place (PAC winner) in the first round, then St Louis faces the Hawks in round 2, while we face the Wings/Preds winner. Avoiding the Hawks in round 2 wouldn't be bad for us either, the series will probably be nasty, with some (more) of our skilled players lost to Hawk goonery.
The ultimate goal being the cup, and the plan is to avoid long, nasty, physical series in the first 2 rounds
Doesn't matter if their goon gets a zillion game suspension for taking Henrik/Daniel out with a dirty hit, we can't afford to lose our top players.

[Island Nucklehead]

However the exception would be if the 6th place Hawks beat the 3rd place (PAC winner) in the first round, then St Louis faces the Hawks in round 2, while we face the Wings/Preds winner. Avoiding the Hawks in round 2 wouldn't be bad for us either, the series will probably be nasty, with some (more) of our skilled players lost to Hawk goonery.
The ultimate goal being the cup, and the plan is to avoid long, nasty, physical series in the first 2 rounds
Doesn't matter if their goon gets a zillion game suspension for taking Henrik/Daniel out with a dirty hit, we can't afford to lose our top players.

I would rather play the Hawks than the Predators. The Hawks can play a similar offensive game to Vancouver, but their goaltending is weaker and their D is not nearly as deep. Their bottom six is also lacking compared to us. Give us our top-6 healthy (hopefully by then), and I think we take a 7 game series vs them. Also, Vancouver is the tougher team. Keith threw a one-off cheap shot, then cowered the rest of the game. The Canucks challenged the Hawks all over the ice, and nobody stepped up. They were afraid of us.

Put it this way... both teams have 37 fights this year. Mayers (11), Bollig(who the fuck?? 6), Carcillo (5) and Scott (4) amount for 26 of them. Vancouver offers Weise (8), Lapierre (7), Volpatti (5) and BIeksa and Ballart (4 each). Adding Kassian at the deadline is also important. Chicago may have the bigger "goons", but the boys that throw knuckles on this team (minus Volpatti) actually play minutes. And let's not forget Bitz, who will probably be with the team for the playoffs...

Bottom line, we shouldn't be afraid of the physical stuff this offseason. We have more than enough ability to back eachother up in the physicality department.

[Meds]

I really can't see the Hawk's losing to Dallas, San Jose, or Phoenix.

I also don't see either of the bottom to seeds getting out of the first round.

The Blackhawk's are going to get the 1st place team in the 2nd round.

[dhabums]

I really can't see the Hawk's losing to Dallas, San Jose, or Phoenix.

Please, please, please, stop abusing apostrophes. Think of the children that read this site.

[Island Nucklehead]

I really can't see the Hawk's losing to Dallas, San Jose, or Phoenix.

I also don't see either of the bottom to seeds getting out of the first round.

The Blackhawk's are going to get the 1st place team in the 2nd round.

Chicago is 16-18-3 Away. Being on the road in the first round could be very tough for them.

Either way, I fail to see a downside for the Canucks. St Louis and Chicago win round one, we play Nashville or Detroit. Detroit is always scary but they're a similar style to us and we're better/deeper than them. We faced Nashville last season, we know what to expect. St Louis is upset round one, and we'll play Phoenix with home-ice through to the Finals. Dallas beats Chicago then St Louis can go to war with Nashville/Detroit and we'll play Big D. I've had a few so if I'm wrong about those match-ups I'm sure someone can sort me out...

Either way, the playoffs are a new season and there's very little reason Vancouver can't stack up well against anyone in the West.

[dhabums]

The Blackhawks are going to get the 1st place team in the 2nd round.

That will be us if SJ finishes 8th.

[Zamboni Driver]

The Penguins are looking like the team to come out of the East now. Especially if Crosby stays healthy.

I do have to point out that during their recent streak, apart from 2 wins against the Ranger's and the victory over the Bruin's, the wins were against teams that the SHOULD be dominating.

The way the Canucks are playing right now however, Pittsburgh would flip the animal kingdom on it's head and the world would be subject to a group of Penguin's devouring a pod of Orca's.

Not with their goaltending, they just got smoked 8-4 by Ottawa....

[Meds]

The Blackhawks are going to get the 1st place team in the 2nd round.

That will be us if SJ finishes 8th.

Would you care to explain how the Shark's finishing 8'th would effect the Canuck's finishing in 1'st?

The only team outside of the Pacific Division that is in danger of losing to a team from the Pacific Division is the Hawk's. The other teams from the Central, and the Canuck's are going to handle San Jose, Dallas, and Phoenix with ease. LA could be tough, I'll grant that.

If the Shark's finish in 8th and play the Blue's, St. Louis is the likely winner. If the Canuck's finish in 2'nd and beat the 7'th seed, then 7'th and 8'th are gone and the Blackhawk's (6th place) who will have to knock off the 3'rd seed to advance will end up facing St. Louis.

I'm guessing that you are implying that the Canuck's are going to finish 1'st. But how does that tie into San Jose finishing 8th?



Are those apostrophe's better?

[Meds]

The Penguins are looking like the team to come out of the East now. Especially if Crosby stays healthy.

I do have to point out that during their recent streak, apart from 2 wins against the Ranger's and the victory over the Bruin's, the wins were against teams that the SHOULD be dominating.

The way the Canucks are playing right now however, Pittsburgh would flip the animal kingdom on it's head and the world would be subject to a group of Penguin's devouring a pod of Orca's.

Not with their goaltending, they just got smoked 8-4 by Ottawa....

LOL. I'm guessing this is sarcasm or you missed that it was Theissen between the pipes tonight.....the guy has 4 NHL games to his name.