GDT: Expansion cousins - Van vs Buf - 7pm - Taxpayer TV

[nyintensity]

Gragnani is not really good at defense....I kinda told you guys that.

Your guys came out slow in the first 10 minutes, they looked really flat and indecisive. IDK what got into the Sabres. After that (and if Luongo hadn't dicked the dog) it would have been a much different game. The Sabres kind of returned to their old selves, and spent a lot of time on their heels.

[Zamboni Driver]

Gragnani is not really good at defense....I kinda told you guys that.

Yep!
He's going to need to get with the program and learn defence or he'll be back in the press box.
AV pairing him with Rome (our weakest D) was a really bad idea though.

Edler & Bieksa had some of these bonehead moments too, it helped pairing them with a responsible partner.
Probably what MAG needs too.

Your guys came out slow in the first 10 minutes, they looked really flat and indecisive. IDK what got into the Sabres. After that (and if Luongo hadn't dicked the dog) it would have been a much different game. The Sabres kind of returned to their old selves, and spent a lot of time on their heels.

Maybe Luongo was trying to pump your tires.
Without Luongo's first 5 min, Schneider's game was 3 - 1 for Vancouver (obviously no empty net if we aren't behind)
Kinda sucks for Schneider that he has to eat the loss.

[RoyalDude]

David Booth, David Booth, David 'you dumb blonde' Booth. What a way to put a damper on a decent game with one of your patented brain fart puck possession turnovers. Nice work.

I love Kasssian, but hate losing CoHo. So torn up on the deal. Ya just don't trade away young skilled centreman, especially when one of your top two centre's - Ryan Kesler is playing like he is no better than a 3rd line centre. How many even strength goals does Mr. One Move Kesler have now, cross the blue line then wrister, - 6???

So, after the Sedins and Kesler the bottom six is a grouping of 'Shut Down' forwards? Yay, it's quite assuring that when the Sedins ain't going and Kesler and his revolving door of wingers ain't going we have the likes of Pahlsson, Malhotra and Lappy and Stone Hands Hansen to pick up the slack. And where was Higgins last night? Did he play? You can see why Higgins has been a journeyman since being drafted by the Canadians, he disappears.

One skilled line - the Sedins and boring lines after that, shite does the absence of CoHo change the skill make-up of our forward group, but hey I do like Kassian, I hope we won't be seeing CoHo's replacement Mr. Kassian parked on the 4th line with Lappy and that complete uselessness - Manny Malhotra like we saw at times last night. Gotta love AV

[Listercat]

God awful start to this game. Canucks 3rd & 4th lines were absolutely mauled by the Sabres bottom 6 at the start.

Luongo didn't make the saves he could have but in his defense he got hung hung out by horrible play in front of him.

Don't get the " bench Raymond" attitude. He has struggled offensively without doubt but continues to be a + player and does make plays in the offensive zone that result in scoring chances. I think moving Kassian to the 2nd line and Mase down had more to do with defensive play than the other way around. That said Kassian did play the type of game that is expected of him. Used his size on the wall, finished his checks and added some offense.So far I like what I have seen from him.

The Sedins have all but disappeared the last 10 games. Production wise they are down significantly from last year. Hank's shot totals are way down this year which IMO is part of their problem.

The PP has coughed and died. With the # of penalties down league wide it is critical for this team to up the urgency factor when they do get one. For the past 10 games they have been more successful at killing the penalty for the opposition than creating chances for themselves.

Rome and Grags were not good and Alex Edler was not much better. The unlucky bounce off Rome's leg was just that. He made a good play to box out the Sabres forward but the shot hit him and bounced in. Some very "casual" play from Alex in this game.

[RoyalDude]

Don't get the " bench Raymond" attitude. He has struggled offensively without doubt but continues to be a + player and does make plays in the offensive zone that result in scoring chances. I think moving Kassian to the 2nd line and Mase down had more to do with defensive play than the other way around. That said Kassian did play the type of game that is expected of him. Used his size on the wall, finished his checks and added some offense.So far I like what I have seen from him.

He's the whipping boy now to some fans, when they lose, 'blame Raymond'. It don't matter that he played a decent game, just blame Raymond when things go sour for the team.

Some idiots around here can't seem to get over the fact that he is more of a two-way 'Play Making' winger instead of a high end goal scorer. Yes, he is struggling offensively, but his puck handling, ability to turn on the dime with the puck, pull away from checks with his shifty-ness, great skating and vision in the offensive zone makes him valuable to the team. Everyone expects too much of this 2.5 million dollar player, if you ask me the pressure should be put on some forwards making twice as much as he is, like uh, Ryan 'I can only score on the PP' Kesler. I mean, doesn't Malhotra make the same coin as Raymond? If anyone deserves a consistent beat down in the criticism department it's that guy, GREAT ON FACE-OFFS, who the fuck cares.

[RoyalDude]

So, looking past this game and beyond to the playoffs. Who picks up the slack in creating offense when the Sedin line is getting Webered, Sutered and Gilled and Kesler continues to play by himself? Pahlsson? Hansen? Higgins? Booth? Malhotra? Lappierre? Raymond? Kassian?

Is Gillis is turning this team into the new Calgary Flames, hoping to beat you with goaltending (Kipper and Luongo), one line (The Sedins and Iginla) and a bunch of boring, low skilled, lunch bucket, blue collar middle aged shut down forwards and some middling defenseman with one good one (Edler,Bouwmeester). Yay

[dhabums]

Is Gillis is turning this team into the new Calgary Flames, hoping to beat you with goaltending (Kipper and Luongo), one line (The Sedins and Iginla) and a bunch of boring, low skilled, lunch bucket, blue collar middle aged shut down forwards and some middling defenseman with one good one (Edler,Bouwmeester). Yay

This is bang on RD. The loss of Cody has changed us from the #1 team in the league to an almost ran. With all of the changes we've seen in the last year I can't believe we all didn't make this incredible deduction.

[RoyalDude]

Is Gillis is turning this team into the new Calgary Flames, hoping to beat you with goaltending (Kipper and Luongo), one line (The Sedins and Iginla) and a bunch of boring, low skilled, lunch bucket, blue collar middle aged shut down forwards and some middling defenseman with one good one (Edler,Bouwmeester). Yay

This is bang on RD.

Maybe not 'bang on' dhabum, but more like 'ball park'.

[dhabums]

Is Gillis is turning this team into the new Calgary Flames, hoping to beat you with goaltending (Kipper and Luongo), one line (The Sedins and Iginla) and a bunch of boring, low skilled, lunch bucket, blue collar middle aged shut down forwards and some middling defenseman with one good one (Edler,Bouwmeester). Yay

This is bang on RD.

Maybe not 'bang on' dhabum, but more like 'ball park'.

No, seriously, that was an incredibly astute post. How you find the time to carry on with a real life AND have time to ponder such complex ideas is astounding. So you know, http://royaldude.com/ is available. If you decide to start sharing these ideas on your own site, I will subscribe. Or twitter, however that works.

[RoyalDude]

No, seriously, that was an incredibly astute post.

Why, thank you dhabum.

You notice that I don't make fun of your handle anymore, dhabum? Cornuck PM'ed me to stop picking on you. I'm doing good, eh?

[rats19]

Astute or not....we are 2nd In goals for..only philly has more. 5 more, our offense Is In a mini slump. better now than 20 games from now.

[RoyalDude]

Astute or not....we are 2nd In goals for..only philly has more. 5 more, our offense Is In a mini slump. better now than 20 games from now.

Gut check time is now, Rats. This is the home stretch to the playoffs. Where are the Sedins? Where is Kesler? And when they disappear, who picks up the offense? Pahlsson? Or like Mark Ley says - Gragnani?

[coco_canuck]

No, seriously, that was an incredibly astute post. How you find the time to carry on with a real life AND have time to ponder such complex ideas is astounding. So you know, http://royaldude.com/ is available. If you decide to start sharing these ideas on your own site, I will subscribe. Or twitter, however that works.

The worst part of the Hodgson trade, who is going to lead us to the moon?

[Jovocop]

Don't get the " bench Raymond" attitude. He has struggled offensively without doubt but continues to be a + player and does make plays in the offensive zone that result in scoring chances. I think moving Kassian to the 2nd line and Mase down had more to do with defensive play than the other way around. That said Kassian did play the type of game that is expected of him. Used his size on the wall, finished his checks and added some offense.So far I like what I have seen from him.

He's the whipping boy now to some fans, when they lose, 'blame Raymond'. It don't matter that he played a decent game, just blame Raymond when things go sour for the team.

Some idiots around here can't seem to get over the fact that he is more of a two-way 'Play Making' winger instead of a high end goal scorer. Yes, he is struggling offensively, but his puck handling, ability to turn on the dime with the puck, pull away from checks with his shifty-ness, great skating and vision in the offensive zone makes him valuable to the team. Everyone expects too much of this 2.5 million dollar player, if you ask me the pressure should be put on some forwards making twice as much as he is, like uh, Ryan 'I can only score on the PP' Kesler. I mean, doesn't Malhotra make the same coin as Raymond? If anyone deserves a consistent beat down in the criticism department it's that guy, GREAT ON FACE-OFFS, who the fuck cares.

RD, you are the best! You just keep defending Raymond like AV defending Rome. You complain about others not contributing offensively but ignore the fact that some players are defensive specialists. Raymond, as a top-six forward, is to create offense. However, he has not been successful. Booth scored two goals but made one bad play and you called for his head? You are simply amazing.

[Sticky]

So, looking past this game and beyond to the playoffs. Who picks up the slack in creating offense when the Sedin line is getting Webered, Sutered and Gilled and Kesler continues to play by himself? Pahlsson? Hansen? Higgins? Booth? Malhotra? Lappierre? Raymond? Kassian?

Why, isn't it obvious? Of course the incredible two-way play making forward Mason Raymond will pick up the slack... I can't believe you would show any doubt in your boy by even asking that question...