Canucks Vs Sharks, Round I

[herb]

I am surprised and happy to learn our first round games will be on TSN!

TSN has a much better picture and overall product. We'll probably get Cuthbert and Ferraro, who I very much enjoy as broadcasters, and we will avoid Cherry, Weekes, Hrudey, Stock and Simpson, who I cannot stand.

[Hockey Widow]

I am surprised and happy to learn our first round games will be on TSN!

TSN has a much better picture and overall product. We'll probably get Cuthbert and Ferraro, who I very much enjoy as broadcasters, and we will avoid Cherry, Weekes, Hrudey, Stock and Simpson, who I cannot stand.

Ya, I'm OK with TSN too but then I already have the full HD package. For those that don't it is a huge slight that HNIC went this way. But like you I prefer the TSN broadcasters and intermission panels much more than I do HNIC.

[5thhorseman]

I don't mind PJ Stock; he's alright. The rest of them are no better than your average viewer's babbling.

[herb]

Ya, I'm OK with TSN too but then I already have the full HD package. For those that don't it is a huge slight that HNIC went this way. But like you I prefer the TSN broadcasters and intermission panels much more than I do HNIC.

Don't get me wrong, as a taxpayer and payer of exorbidant cable rates, I hate our nationalized TV channel. Only shows I have watched on that channel in years are HNIC and Dragon's Den.

I think TSN and CityTV are partners...I've seen TSN games on that channel before. Is City available on rabbit ears? Maybe NHL playoff games will be broadcast on City as well...

[herb]

Schneider is taking the full team practice today (not a huge surprise, but good to see none the less).

Tanev still has a walking boot on.

Lines today in practice are (I'm assuming this is pretty indicative of the game 1 lineup):

Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Raymond-Roy-Hansen
Higgins-Kesler-Kassian
Ebbett-Lapierre-Weise
Sestito-etc-etc-etc

Hamhuis-Garrison
Edler-Bieksa
Alberts-Corrado

Barker-Ballard

People will bitch about Ballard being the odd guy out...my only comment is I'd rather Ballard play over Ebbett. This would be the second time in his Vancouver Canucks career that a healthy Ballard would sit in lieu of a rookie.

[Lancer]

Schneider is taking the full team practice today (not a huge surprise, but good to see none the less).

Tanev still has a walking boot on.

Lines today in practice are (I'm assuming this is pretty indicative of the game 1 lineup):

Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Raymond-Roy-Hansen
Higgins-Kesler-Kassian
Ebbett-Lapierre-Weise
Sestito-etc-etc-etc

Hamhuis-Bieksa
Edler-Garrison
Alberts-Corrado

Barker-Ballard

People will bitch about Ballard being the odd guy out...my only comment is I'd rather Ballard play over Ebbett. This would be the second time in his Vancouver Canucks career that a healthy Ballard would sit in lieu of a rookie.

Judging from traditional line placements (Higgins with Roy, Garrison with Hamhuis, etc) I suspect the line-ups are more to familiarize guys in case AV juggles the line-ups. With those D pairings, I wouldn't be surprised if Ballard skates on the 4th line.

[herb]

Judging from traditional line placements (Higgins with Roy, Garrison with Hamhuis, etc) I suspect the line-ups are more to familiarize guys in case AV juggles the line-ups. With those D pairings, I wouldn't be surprised if Ballard skates on the 4th line.

Perhaps, but of late AV has been running with his practice and game day skate line combos.

Made a change in my above pose; Garrison is practicing with Hamhuis and Bieksa is with Edler.

Alberts has played well of late, and deserves to start Game 1, IMO.

[Lancer]

Alberts has played well of late, and deserves to start Game 1, IMO.

Agreed. He's actually been one of the few on the blueline whose made life uncomfortable in the slot for opposing forwards. The little I saw of him and Corrado reminded me of Ballard-Tanev. Once Tanev gets back, it would be interesting to see if Vigneault doesn't swap in D-pairs vice individual Ds (Ballard-Tanev in for Alberts-Corrado and vice versa), or if he alters the pairings to slot Tanev in.

[Larry Goodenough]

From Fearthefin.com - here's the Sharks lines and pairs from their April 24th game against Phoenix

T.J. Galiardi - Joe Thornton - Brent Burns
Patrick Marleau - Logan Couture - Martin Havlat
Raffi Torres - Joe Pavelski - Tommy Wingels
Andrew Desjardins - Scott Gomez - Adam Burish

Scott Hannan - Dan Boyle
Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Justin Braun
Matt Irwin - Brad Stuart

[Hockey Widow]

I agree Alberts deserves to draw in. He has been fairly steady and a good physical presence. Bieksa with Edler I think is more a comment on how Edler cannot play the right side and needs a solid R'dman beside him whereas Hamhuis and Garrison work well together. Not a slight on Elder as I think a lot of D'men have a problem switching sides.

Same as Corrado being in, he gives us that second r'handed shot. Tough luck for Ballard but you can bet if the kid falters he won't be in for long. Ebbett can kill penalties Ballard cannot so I don't mind him drawing in on the 4th line. Ballard looked good as a forward but then never really did much. His problem when he plays forward is in the defensive zone. He covers like a D'man and screws everyone up. He is out of place as a forward when in the D zone.

I like the line up better splitting Kesler and Roy. I mean they have played very well together and form a very good line but we need the centre depth spread out more. Thats why we brought him in.

Great news that CS is practicing. Hopefully he is still fine tomorrow.

[Arachnid]

Schneider is taking the full team practice today (not a huge surprise, but good to see none the less).

Tanev still has a walking boot on.

Lines today in practice are (I'm assuming this is pretty indicative of the game 1 lineup):

Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Raymond-Roy-Hansen
Higgins-Kesler-Kassian
Ebbett-Lapierre-Weise
Sestito-etc-etc-etc

Hamhuis-Garrison
Edler-Bieksa
Alberts-Corrado

Barker-Ballard

People will bitch about Ballard being the odd guy out...my only comment is I'd rather Ballard play over Ebbett. This would be the second time in his Vancouver Canucks career that a healthy Ballard would sit in lieu of a rookie.

Schneider was always going to be our guy, AV/MG was just fucking with everyone (media & opposition).

Luo is a good back-up in the play-offs but let's face it, that's all he is. Even if CS has a bad game there is no way in hell Roberto is getting in the drivers seat again. He had his chance to prove himself in big Championship games and he failed.
Only if Cory truly gets badly hurt will Luongo get a game and then it's anybody's guess as to how we do.

Game on!

[tantalum]

Certainly looks like Schneider's body injury was simply being used for rest of nagging bumps and bruises. I pretty much doubt he misses anytime if they needed some points the last couple of games. His "injury" allows the rest and allows Cannatta to get a couple of days of NHL pay.

[herb]

Schneider was always going to be our guy, AV/MG was just fucking with everyone (media & opposition).

Luo is a good back-up in the play-offs but let's face it, that's all he is. Even if CS has a bad game there is no way in hell Roberto is getting in the drivers seat again. He had his chance to prove himself in big Championship games and he failed.
Only if Cory truly gets badly hurt will Luongo get a game and then it's anybody's guess as to how we do.

Game on!

It certainly seemed as though Schneider wasn't actually injured, or had a very minor injury, but it's nice to see it confirmed that he's alright.

For what it's worth, Schneider said he's still day-to-day, so maybe he was actually injured afterall?

[Topper]

CBC's choices were dictated by Don Cherry's bedtime.

[tantalum]

For what it's worth, Schneider said he's still day-to-day, so maybe he was actually injured afterall?

And I can believe it. Some days he'll be able to play and others wouldn't be able to. Luckily the former will fall on game days and latter on days off.

I'll be shocked if he isn't the game 1 starter.