Hockey Widow wrote:
I'm not even angry. This is the same team we have watched all season. Nothing special. Lsat year's team was special but this year's version is just missing something.
I doubt we go deep this year folks. Oh, I'll still watch and cheer but I have seen nothing to make me think this team has another sustained gear.
For someone who is most often fair and balanced, I take this as a pretty damning comment for the team.
I tend to agree with you, but it hasn't been all year. Between the slow start and Boston game, the team looked at like last year's version.
But, since Gillis started flipping guys and AV started putting the lines in blender things have not been even remotely similar to last season. I've said many times, last year was the year. And at this point, this year doesn't feel the same at all.
You hardly ever see first place teams move out 3-4 key pieces (Erhoff, Samuelsson, Torres and Hodgson) and maintain their place in the league. Ultimately, I think Gills said one thing "we're not going to change the way we play to match up with one team" but did another. Just too many trades and signings after the season we had last year. I mean Erhoff wasn't going to stay, but at this point can we really say that Booth is more valuable than Samuelsson? And Kassian than Coho?
With all that being said, Daniel needs to shake the cobwebs and get out there and AV needs give those lines some semblance of consistency.
S - S - B
B - K - H
H - P - L
W - M - K
I'd be inclined to ditch Raymond completely, and might even go with Ebbet over Kassian. Then I'd be inclined to leave the lines alone for a game, or two.
Never in a million years would I have thrown frigging Brian Blitz or whatever his name is into last night's game after being out for 20 game and getting back in the lineup for only two mean-nothing games. Wiese played 68 games this season, he was the obvious choice. Anyways, Blitz is probably done for the season after his boneheaded penalty, particularly if he is suspended.
As for the Ds, Ballard needs to get better. But really, he's not much of an upgrade on Rome or Alberts. I might go with Alberts in the next game, just because sometimes Rome tries to play like Ed Jovanovski instead of Aaron Rome. The safe play is often what's needed from your 6th D.
And another thing, since when does the Presidents Trophy team play a game they haven't played all season to start the playoffs? The Kings were in 8th for reason, they couldn't win close games. No need to change the style of play to accommodate the Kings.
Anyways, game 2...in the bag. Go Canucks Go.