The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
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The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
Despite our poor start and disinterested end of the season, we're 2 points out of first overall. People have said that we shouldn't chase it, and save 'it' for the playoffs. While I agree that going balls out when we have the #2 spot locked up isn't a wise plan, maybe we'll win 1st overall by virtue of our remaining schedule.
One road game, no dominant teams, then we end it with a 'playoff like' every other day. Nice.
Mar 26 - Los Angeles
Mar 28 - Colorado
Mar 30 - Dallas
Mar 31 - Calgary
Apr 3 - Anaheim
Apr 5 - @ Calgary
Apr 7 - Edmonton
Meanwhile St Louis has:
Mar 25 - @ Phoenix
Mar 27 - Nashville
Mar 29 - @ Chicago
Mar 31 - Columbus
Apr 4 - Detroit
Apr 6 - Phoenix
Apr 7 - @ Dallas
3 road games, Nashville, Detroit.
In the East, the Rangers have a few tough games and 4 on the road.
Mar 27 - @ Minnesota
Mar 28 - @ Winnipeg
Mar 30 - Montreal
Apr 1 - Boston
Apr 3 - @ Philadelphia
Apr 5 - @ Pittsburgh
Apr 7 - Washington
Pittsburgh has 3 road games and face Philly twice, the Rangers and Boston once each.
Philly's in the same boat as the Pens.
Anyone coming out of the Pacific will have already been playing 'playoff hockey' for the past 2 weeks.
One road game, no dominant teams, then we end it with a 'playoff like' every other day. Nice.
Mar 26 - Los Angeles
Mar 28 - Colorado
Mar 30 - Dallas
Mar 31 - Calgary
Apr 3 - Anaheim
Apr 5 - @ Calgary
Apr 7 - Edmonton
Meanwhile St Louis has:
Mar 25 - @ Phoenix
Mar 27 - Nashville
Mar 29 - @ Chicago
Mar 31 - Columbus
Apr 4 - Detroit
Apr 6 - Phoenix
Apr 7 - @ Dallas
3 road games, Nashville, Detroit.
In the East, the Rangers have a few tough games and 4 on the road.
Mar 27 - @ Minnesota
Mar 28 - @ Winnipeg
Mar 30 - Montreal
Apr 1 - Boston
Apr 3 - @ Philadelphia
Apr 5 - @ Pittsburgh
Apr 7 - Washington
Pittsburgh has 3 road games and face Philly twice, the Rangers and Boston once each.
Philly's in the same boat as the Pens.
Anyone coming out of the Pacific will have already been playing 'playoff hockey' for the past 2 weeks.
Doc: "BTW, Donny was right, you're smug."
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Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
I like the last four games. LA, Colorado and Dallas are all fighting for their playoff lives. The Canucks have played these kind of games recently (vs Dal and Col) and done just fine, I think it's good for them to get into meaningful hockey games before the playoffs, even if they're only truly meaningful for one team. The last four should be a time to sharpen the tools heading into the playoffs. Enough tinkering, set the lines, set the PP/PK and let's roll. While Anaheim, Calgary and Edmonton surely won't roll over and die, they aren't going to the dance so the Canucks might as well pump the piss out of them to prep for the real season.Cornuck wrote: One road game, no dominant teams, then we end it with a 'playoff like' every other day. Nice.
Mar 26 - Los Angeles
Mar 28 - Colorado
Mar 30 - Dallas
Mar 31 - Calgary
Apr 3 - Anaheim
Apr 5 - @ Calgary
Apr 7 - Edmonton
Which can be both a blessing and a curse. Will they use that momentum to roll into the first round, or will they gas out after blowing their load just trying to get into the dance?Anyone coming out of the Pacific will have already been playing 'playoff hockey' for the past 2 weeks.
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Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
Make that tied for first, the Blues got beat by the mighty Blue Jackets, NY lost today....Cornuck wrote:Despite our poor start and disinterested end of the season, we're 2 points out of first overall.
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
What a difference a week makes...Zamboni Driver wrote:Cornuck wrote:
Make that tied for first, the Blues got beat by the mighty Blue Jackets, NY lost today....
Doc: "BTW, Donny was right, you're smug."
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Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
Ya a week ago we were only 2nd in the West and bouncing between 2nd and 3rd overall. We were so shitty just last week and now...Cornuck wrote:What a difference a week makes...Zamboni Driver wrote:Cornuck wrote:
Make that tied for first, the Blues got beat by the mighty Blue Jackets, NY lost today....
I mean we still may end up 2nd in the West and 3rd in the league and that would be a losing season
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Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
This city is sooo sillyHockey Widow wrote: Ya a week ago we were only 2nd in the West and bouncing between 2nd and 3rd overall. We were so shitty just last week and now...
I mean we still may end up 2nd in the West and 3rd in the league and that would be a losing season
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Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
Yep, better fire the coach, send all the players back to the AHL.Hockey Widow wrote: We were so shitty just last week and now...
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
Exactly.Cornuck wrote:What a difference a week makes...Zamboni Driver wrote:Cornuck wrote:
Make that tied for first, the Blues got beat by the mighty Blue Jackets, NY lost today....
The loss to the Hawks was EXACTLY what the good doctor ordered. I also feel that the injury to Daniel kind of woke up the team........and made them realize (well....maybe not realize.....since these guys aren't stupid....but at least fully appreciate) that
1) nothing is guaranteed. Injuries can occur at anytime.
2) Even if one is trying to "rest up" and "take it easy" for when it matters most, injuries can still occur.
Going balls out isn't necessary when gearing up for a long playoff run, but playing like a bunch of pansies isn't acceptable either. Think this is what the Canucks realized after their loss to Chicago.
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
I would be inclined to say the game against the Hawks is exactly what the good doctor ordered.Farhan Lalji wrote: Exactly.
The loss to the Hawks was EXACTLY what the good doctor ordered.
They were clearly far more ready to play that night than they had been previously.
The loss may have been the maraschino cherry however.
I don't know if it did the precise things you are suggesting but I do think it pissed them off and provided both a galvanizing effect and motivation for games thereafter.Farhan Lalji wrote: I also feel that the injury to Daniel kind of woke up the team........
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Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
The President's Trophy is possible, but in an almost backhanded way for the team - certainly not what I'd expect them to be gunning for vs. last year. I think as a group they're beyond wanting/needing to prove anything.
But....1st in the West seems to be in their cross-hairs. From today's scrum (via Canucks Twitter feed):
"3 games left. It's our goal to win the Conference. That's within striking distance." - Higgins
But....1st in the West seems to be in their cross-hairs. From today's scrum (via Canucks Twitter feed):
"3 games left. It's our goal to win the Conference. That's within striking distance." - Higgins
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
2 games to go. Tied with the Rangers for top spot overall.
Rangers have the Penguins and Capitals on the menu, and I'll be surprised if they take 4 points away from those games. Pittsburgh is red hot lately, and Washington is in a fight for a playoff spot.
We have Calgary and Edmonton on our card. Both are divisional rivals, and both would love to spoil a back-to-back President's Trophy for us. Both are completely out of the playoff picture and Vancouver should be able to take both games.
Of course, anything can happen.
An aside on the Ranger's.....
Henrik Lundqvist, one of, if not the, best goaltenders in the NHL this year played the 3rd period of tonight's game against Philly with an injury. He said after the game that he could hardly hold onto his stick at times. As much as that says "warrior" and he got the win, I was much more impressed with Luongo's bowing out with a nagging sore neck. If that's a playoff game and you have a goalie who can't hold onto his stick, I'm not sure he's the best option. It is Lundqvist though.....
Rangers have the Penguins and Capitals on the menu, and I'll be surprised if they take 4 points away from those games. Pittsburgh is red hot lately, and Washington is in a fight for a playoff spot.
We have Calgary and Edmonton on our card. Both are divisional rivals, and both would love to spoil a back-to-back President's Trophy for us. Both are completely out of the playoff picture and Vancouver should be able to take both games.
Of course, anything can happen.
An aside on the Ranger's.....
Henrik Lundqvist, one of, if not the, best goaltenders in the NHL this year played the 3rd period of tonight's game against Philly with an injury. He said after the game that he could hardly hold onto his stick at times. As much as that says "warrior" and he got the win, I was much more impressed with Luongo's bowing out with a nagging sore neck. If that's a playoff game and you have a goalie who can't hold onto his stick, I'm not sure he's the best option. It is Lundqvist though.....
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
Probably still a better option than Marty Biron.
The Rangers have five more ROWs than the Canucks so we will have to beat them on points to take the Trophy; at this point it's certainly possible but with the Rags winning 7 of their last 10 I could certainly see them bagging two more.
The Rangers have five more ROWs than the Canucks so we will have to beat them on points to take the Trophy; at this point it's certainly possible but with the Rags winning 7 of their last 10 I could certainly see them bagging two more.
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
It's possible, but they are up against a very tough opponent in Pittsburgh. Every game in the NHL is up for grabs though.dbr wrote:Probably still a better option than Marty Biron.
The Rangers have five more ROWs than the Canucks so we will have to beat them on points to take the Trophy; at this point it's certainly possible but with the Rags winning 7 of their last 10 I could certainly see them bagging two more.
Ovechkin will likely put on a show if it means playoffs or no playoffs in Washington.
Winning on points alone, the chips are in Vancouver's favor based on opponents.
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
The Pres would be nice, but 1st in the West is actually more important. Rangers won't be in the SCF, so we'll have home ice.dbr wrote:Probably still a better option than Marty Biron.
The Rangers have five more ROWs than the Canucks so we will have to beat them on points to take the Trophy; at this point it's certainly possible but with the Rags winning 7 of their last 10 I could certainly see them bagging two more.
Re: The President's Trophy & Remaining Games
#1. Kudos on the use of apostrophes. (or apostrophe's)Mëds wrote:It's possible, but they are up against a very tough opponent in Pittsburgh. Every game in the NHL is up for grabs though.dbr wrote:Probably still a better option than Marty Biron.
The Rangers have five more ROWs than the Canucks so we will have to beat them on points to take the Trophy; at this point it's certainly possible but with the Rags winning 7 of their last 10 I could certainly see them bagging two more.
Ovechkin will likely put on a show if it means playoffs or no playoffs in Washington.
Winning on points alone, the chips are in Vancouver's favor based on opponents.
#2. The SE could come down to 3rd with home ice or 9th.