The Remaining Schedule

[Cornuck]

18 games left, currently in 1st - can we hold on for home ice through the playoffs?

Of the 18 games, 13 are at home. We have the 11th best home record and best road record.
We start now with a home stretch of 7 games in 16 days - not too bad. After St Louis, we only play one team (PHX) that is in the top 12 currently - but will face a few playoff hungry teams.

We follow that with a 4 game road trip to the middle of the country (Minny, Dallas, Chicago, Colorado) - we're done with the east coast until June. After that, we stay out west - without facing any top teams.

Sounds good so far.

We have the "3 games in 4 nights" happening twice. and play 9 games in 14 days (Mar 17 > 31st).

It would be nice to face one or two elite teams before the playoffs, but we don't seem to be taking teams lightly like we historically have.

[donlever]

...this couldn't be better in my view.

We have slogged through the dog days and are on top of the Conference.

Our late season schedule is set up as nicely as ever and this veteran group should be able to focus itself and cruise into the post season not only on a roll but also healthy, happy and wise from being in familiar territory so often during the last weeks of a long season.

[Corb]

I hope we can put the nail in the Flames coffin

[Aaronp18]

I hope we can put the nail in the Flames coffin

Although having to play them in the first round wouldn't be unappealing!

[Mr.Miyagi]

I hope we can put the nail in the Flames coffin

Although having to play them in the first round wouldn't be unappealing!

Oh man that would be nice. Although ... crushing there playoff hopes with two games to go would be pretty darn satisfying as well.

[mathonwy]

Corny, you beat me to this.

I was going to post a Race for the President's Trophy thread.

Wouldn't it be sweet to win that bad boy two years in a row.

[Nuckertuzzi]

We have slogged through the dog days and are on top of the Conference.

To think that this group went through four rounds deep last Spring with little time to recover and prepare for the next season, then go through a grueling sched which had them endure six condensed 4+ game road trips (all with flights out east) in the first three-quarters of the season, with 20 or so of those games going to shootout, and to find themselves sitting here on top of the standings...never would've predicted.

That's the good news...the bad news is the toll may have done its damage as it seems to have been showing in our top players the past few months. There's one more roadsy but thankfully there are a few multi-day breaks from now to the end of the season..those will make all the difference in the world. Perhaps the worst thing is we're chasing down another Presidents' Trophy because I think rest might be more important than placement right now...wouldn't mind sitting a few players, particularly the Twins.

[Meds]

I hope we can put the nail in the Flames coffin

By losing to Colorado twice, Chicago, LA, and Dallas twice, and then beating them in our final two matchups of the season?

It's ironic that Vancouver could totally control Calgary's playoff fate by simply deciding when we want to show up to play.

[clem]

St Louis & Phoenix provide opportunities to see how the new roster measures up. Hope the guys bring it for the game tonight.

Getting the first western seed is more important than last year. In the playoffs, you want to avoid teams that are big, play tough, and are good enough to take you deep into a series..... if you want to maximize chances of getting to the SCF healthy.

The third (or even second) seed could face two of these teams.

[ESQ]

Getting the first western seed is more important than last year. In the playoffs, you want to avoid teams that are big, play tough, and are good enough to take you deep into a series..... if you want to maximize chances of getting to the SCF healthy.

The third (or even second) seed could face two of these teams.

I do agree that home ice is going to be key in the 3rd round, when the Canucks are (hopefully) facing either Detroit or St. Louis, both of whom are totally different teams on the road.

However, there is a very real possibility of facing San Jose or Chicago in the first round as the top seed. Probably the preferable first round matchup would be either Phoenix or LA or Calgary, but I don't think Calgary will makie it.

[Larry Goodenough]

I'll again put this out there.

Kesler should stay home March 18-24 and miss the Minn,Chi,Dal, Col road trip which is 4 games in 6 nights.

That means he would have only one 1 game trip to Calgary in the six remaining weeks in the schedule.

Let him rest and and get in some training that he missed out on in the summer.

He's was the MVP of the forwards in last year's playoffs, he's going to have to be again this year.

[clem]

Getting the first western seed is more important than last year. In the playoffs, you want to avoid teams that are big, play tough, and are good enough to take you deep into a series..... if you want to maximize chances of getting to the SCF healthy.

The third (or even second) seed could face two of these teams.

I do agree that home ice is going to be key in the 3rd round, when the Canucks are (hopefully) facing either Detroit or St. Louis, both of whom are totally different teams on the road.

However, there is a very real possibility of facing San Jose or Chicago in the first round as the top seed. Probably the preferable first round matchup would be either Phoenix or LA or Calgary, but I don't think Calgary will makie it.

I don’t want to face St Louis or Nashville (in playoffs) until after someone else has softened them up. Even then, no more than one of these teams please (to hockey gods).

In terms of physicality, San Jose & Phoenix are no picnic either, but they could be quicker series.

[ESQ]

I don’t want to face St Louis or Nashville (in playoffs) until after someone else has softened them up. Even then, no more than one of these teams please (to hockey gods).

St. Louis doesn't particularly intimidate me, they are too young and I suspect Hitchcock isn't able to make the necessary adjustments in a playoff series (he's won 2 playoff games since the lockout in 2 series). Nashville is intimidating as hell, not only are they big and physical, they're very well coached and they're actually scoring goals.
I'd never considered the possibility of facing both, because I always assumed they'd be 4-5 and take eachother out.

But what would be worse: Nashville/St Louis and Detroit or Nashville and St Louis? Worst case for me is Nashville and Detroit.

[donlever]

St. Louis is a solid team.

Deep and big down the middle (even without Steen) with a legit top grade D man in Pieterangelo a pain in the ass back there in Jackman, a group talented enough to score when they need to and a tight Hitchcock system.

Vets who have been there in Langenbrunner (when healthy) and Arnott. Not to mention the coach.

Can the goaltending keep up?

If Stewart gets on a roll and starts putting the puck in the net they could be extremely tough to deal with. (Rumour has it he is not necessarily willing to go that extra mile...pretty satisfied guy...allegedly anyway).

They just don't give you anything.

[herb]

St Louis, Detroit and Nashville are good teams, no doubt, but the Canucks should be able to beat these teams 4 games out of 7.

A Phoenix series would be a pain and not entertaining at all, but I'd be disappointed if it went more than 5 games.

Chicago, San Jose, Dallas, LA, Colorado and Calgary don't scare me one bit. Those would be quick series too. The only team out of this bunch that looks interested in making the playoffs is Dallas, although it looks like LA may be getting on a bit of a roll.

IMO the Canucks are still the team to beat in the West. There is no team in the league the Canucks can't beat. Should be fun!

The remaining schedule looks to be perfect. 13 home games with only 5 on the road. There is only one more road trip until the playoffs, and it's only a four game trip to the central time zone. There should be lots of time for rest, practice, training and for our offensive players to get back in the scoring groove.