[PGT] Vancouver Canucks vs. Buffalo Sabres

[Phat Fingers]

11 hours ago, DefCon1 said:

I doubt he can get even 40 points this season with the way the Sedins are playing right now. I also don't want to see them on the team for 3 more seasons.

It’s not even ten games into the season. Last year they still

managed to score about 50p each with Jason ‘the right handed shot’ Megna. 

 

Think that once Green has his lines sorted out that the twins should be able to at least match last year’s totals. 

 

Still a reach for Henrik to beat lidstrom. If they come

back for two more years, very likely. 

[riffraff]

1 minute ago, Eastcoast meets Westcoast said:

It’s not even ten games into the season. Last year they still

managed to score about 50p each with Jason ‘the right handed shot’ Megna. 

 

Think that once Green has his lines sorted out that the twins should be able to at least match last year’s totals. 

 

Still a reach for Henrik to beat lidstrom. If they come

back for two more years, very likely. 

This team needs to move on from henrik and Daniel.

[Phat Fingers]

11 hours ago, Chip Kelly said:

I could see Hutton being forced out Travis Green knows and trusts Pouliot.

 

Hutton has size but doesn't play physical doesn't have a great shot either or great offensive numbers.

 

Could be redundant now with Stecher and Pouliot present.

 

 

 

I have tend to believe that Hutton peaked early and he will be really challenged to take things to the next level. He is decent, but lacks the snarl I would want for a middle d man. We can’t always get KB3 defenders with our 5th rounders. 

 

I think that Hutton will be on the block all season, with Pouliot being brought along by Green. When Edler gets back, I could see Hutton and Pouliot rotating, both competing for the 3rd LD and PP specialist.  

 

In a another ER year or two, Tram would be available to come

back and OJ should be ready.  Hard to see Hutton beating out OJ, Pouliot and Tram for a spot. 

[riffraff]

6 hours ago, JamesB said:

 

 

Saw the game late on PVR and would like build on some of the other comments.

 

1. Obviously a well-played game by the Canucks. I was glad to see the empty-net goal as that made the score closer to a reflection of the play. Not sure if the Canucks are that good or Buffalo is that bad (and let's not sign Kane as a UFA) but the Canuck skaters really dominated. If not for below average goaltending by Marky and above average goaltending at the other end the score would have been more one-sided.

 

2. Congrats to the first line for an excellent game. By the first line I mean the Sutter line. I guess that is an exaggeration, but in terms of minutes played, the Sutter line had the most ice time tonight. Sutter led the forwards at 19:16, Dorsett was third at 18:20 and Granny was 5th at 16:41. That is more combined time than the Horvat line and a lot more than the other two lines. For the season overall, it is very close between the Horvat line and the Sutter line (both as constituted tonight) for the most minutes. And great to see Granny finally get on the scoreboard tonight.

 

3. Speaking of time on ice, I was surprised to see how much Hutton played. His play on the second Buffalo goal was obviously bad but Green must have thought he was generally playing well. I notice that Green does like to give guys a chance to come back from mistakes. He left Dorsett on the ice after his poor play on the first Sabre goal and he did not miss a shift, which turned out to be a big plus. Same story with Hutton. As @ThaShady1 says, there are a lot things to like about Green. His post-game press briefings are so much better than Willie's.

 

4. Looking forward, the goaltending situation is definitely up for grabs. Both guys have had some problems and the overall team save percentage is not great. While I assume Demko will spend the season in Utica, it would not surprise me to see him make the team next year and maybe challenge for the #1 spot.

 

5. Nice to see Jake on the board as well and to see the Sedins score. The Sedins still look slow out there but I agree Jake might the right fit for them. I still think consistency is an issue for Jake. It seems like he has to really focus to consistently make the right play. It does not come instinctively for him like it seems to for Boeser or Horvat. (Although no doubt that "instinct" is due partly to thousands of hours of practice and playing experience in their careers so far.) Jake's speed and physical play seem like a natural complement to the Sedins and, with all three playing best with limited minutes at this stage of their respective careers, it should work -- at least on paper.

 

 

 

Was last night your only basis for this statement?

 

kane, if he sticks to hockey, is exactly what this top six needs.

 

i have eichel in my pool and I've been keeping a close eye on the sabres through rogers game centre.  I have concerned about signing kane based on some history but his play this year has been good.  Can make plays at speed, has good hand eye and goes to the net all. The. Time.

 

ill take slightly "shady" guy with a killer instinct on our softy top six any day.

 

this team has been boy scouts for far too long.  What has become of it?

[Phat Fingers]

7 minutes ago, riffraff said:

This team needs to move on from henrik and Daniel.

Don’t disagree, but they will decide based on their performance this season.  Too early to say they can’t contribute in a more limited role.  

[riffraff]

Just now, Eastcoast meets Westcoast said:

Don’t disagree, but they will decide based on their performance this season.  Too early to say they can’t contribute in a more limited role.  

My hunch is they call it a day.  Love em but they stand out in a negative way.

[HorvatToBaertschi]

How was Virtanen not offside? 

[EdgarM]

11 hours ago, oldnews said:

Nice to see Virtanen pushing himself - and get rewarded.

 

He creates a whole different dynamic for the Sedins - is backing opponents off and creating ice for them.

I agree the Twins don't seem as slow playing with Virtanen, They also actually seem to be getting better offensive chances with him on their line.

[EdgarM]

11 hours ago, Jimmy McGill said:

So here's why Jake probably wasn't offside (sorry if its been posted already) ""Control of the puck" means the act of propelling the puck with the stick, hand or feet." (http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=24982)

 

So if thats how the ref's were interpreting control out of the rule book it makes sense. 

I agree. If the puck "bobbled" at any time when he crossed the blue line then he would not have had control and would have been called offside, but he appeared to have complete control throughout the entire play.

[stawns]

7 hours ago, JamesB said:

 

 

Saw the game late on PVR and would like build on some of the other comments.

 

1. Obviously a well-played game by the Canucks. I was glad to see the empty-net goal as that made the score closer to a reflection of the play. Not sure if the Canucks are that good or Buffalo is that bad (and let's not sign Kane as a UFA) but the Canuck skaters really dominated. If not for below average goaltending by Marky and above average goaltending at the other end the score would have been more one-sided.

 

2. Congrats to the first line for an excellent game. By the first line I mean the Sutter line. I guess that is an exaggeration, but in terms of minutes played, the Sutter line had the most ice time tonight. Sutter led the forwards at 19:16, Dorsett was third at 18:20 and Granny was 5th at 16:41. That is more combined time than the Horvat line and a lot more than the other two lines. For the season overall, it is very close between the Horvat line and the Sutter line (both as constituted tonight) for the most minutes. And great to see Granny finally get on the scoreboard tonight.

 

3. Speaking of time on ice, I was surprised to see how much Hutton played. His play on the second Buffalo goal was obviously bad but Green must have thought he was generally playing well. I notice that Green does like to give guys a chance to come back from mistakes. He left Dorsett on the ice after his poor play on the first Sabre goal and he did not miss a shift, which turned out to be a big plus. Same story with Hutton. As @ThaShady1 says, there are a lot things to like about Green. His post-game press briefings are so much better than Willie's.

 

4. Looking forward, the goaltending situation is definitely up for grabs. Both guys have had some problems and the overall team save percentage is not great. While I assume Demko will spend the season in Utica, it would not surprise me to see him make the team next year and maybe challenge for the #1 spot.

 

5. Nice to see Jake on the board as well and to see the Sedins score. The Sedins still look slow out there but I agree Jake might the right fit for them. I still think consistency is an issue for Jake. It seems like he has to really focus to consistently make the right play. It does not come instinctively for him like it seems to for Boeser or Horvat. (Although no doubt that "instinct" is due partly to thousands of hours of practice and playing experience in their careers so far.) Jake's speed and physical play seem like a natural complement to the Sedins and, with all three playing best with limited minutes at this stage of their respective careers, it should work -- at least on paper.

 

 

 

Aside from the second goal, Markstrom was excellent.  His one weak goal a game needs to go though, I agree.

[BananaMash]

42 minutes ago, HorvatToBaertschi said:

How was Virtanen not offside? 

The ruled him to have been in control of the puck as he crossed the blue line because he batted it out of the air and didn't double-clutch on taking the puck, I suppose.

 

You can cross the line before the puck and still be onside as long as you're ruled to be in control of the puck.

[JM_]

50 minutes ago, EdgarM said:

I agree. If the puck "bobbled" at any time when he crossed the blue line then he would not have had control and would have been called offside, but he appeared to have complete control throughout the entire play.

thats the only reference to "control of the puck" in the sense of handling it thats in the NHL rule book - the phrase appears a couple of different times but thats the wording. It makes sense now in context with the offside rule:

 

83.1 Off-side - Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck

into the attacking zone.

The position of the player’s skates and not that of his stick shall be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side. A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play.

A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line regardless of the position of his stick. However, a player actually controlling the puck who shall cross the line ahead of the puck shall not be considered “off-side,” provided he had possession and control of the puck prior to his skates crossing the blue line. 

 

 

 

“Control of the puck” means the act of propelling the puck with the stick, hand or feet. If while it is being propelled, the puck is touched by another player or his equipment, or hits the goal or goes free, the player shall no longer be considered to be “in control of the puck”. 

 

 

 

 

[aliboy]

It essentially means that, if you have control of the puck, you can't put yourself offside.

[alfstonker]

1 hour ago, Eastcoast meets Westcoast said:

I have tend to believe that Hutton peaked early and he will be really challenged to take things to the next level. He is decent, but lacks the snarl I would want for a middle d man. We can’t always get KB3 defenders with our 5th rounders. 

 

I think that Hutton will be on the block all season, with Pouliot being brought along by Green. When Edler gets back, I could see Hutton and Pouliot rotating, both competing for the 3rd LD and PP specialist.  

 

In a another ER year or two, Tram would be available to come

back and OJ should be ready.  Hard to see Hutton beating out OJ, Pouliot and Tram for a spot. 

Give him a break. Apart from a couple of mistakes he was sound.

 

This is the same cr-p we get about Edler. Any player who is forced into an almost 1st/2nd D role (minutes) with only 2 season's experience of the NHL is going to make a few mistakes, especially in this Canucks team.

 

The only problem I see with Hutton is he tries to take too much responsibility (like Edler) and sometimes it gets him in trouble. He needs encouraged not criticised imo and thankfully Green sees just how much he contributes - not one of our defenders is perfect, it just happens that if one of your mistakes leads to a goal you become the whipping boy on here.

[EdgarM]

12 minutes ago, Jimmy McGill said:

thats the only reference to "control of the puck" in the sense of handling it thats in the NHL rule book - the phrase appears a couple of different times but thats the wording. It makes sense now in context with the offside rule:

 

83.1 Off-side - Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck

into the attacking zone.

The position of the player’s skates and not that of his stick shall be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side. A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play.

A player is on-side when either of his skates are in contact with, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line regardless of the position of his stick. However, a player actually controlling the puck who shall cross the line ahead of the puck shall not be considered “off-side,” provided he had possession and control of the puck prior to his skates crossing the blue line. 

 

 

 

“Control of the puck” means the act of propelling the puck with the stick, hand or feet. If while it is being propelled, the puck is touched by another player or his equipment, or hits the goal or goes free, the player shall no longer be considered to be “in control of the puck”. 

 

 

 

 

Yes he touched the puck prior to entering the zone and then cradled the puck without bobbling it before he made the pass to Sedin.

[JM_]

2 minutes ago, EdgarM said:

Yes he touched the puck prior to entering the zone and then cradled the puck without bobbling it before he made the pass to Sedin.

I guess if McDavid had done it instead of Jake it would be an example of Connors "greatness" instead of a "controversial" call eh? 

[EdgarM]

17 minutes ago, Jimmy McGill said:

I guess if McDavid had done it instead of Jake it would be an example of Connors "greatness" instead of a "controversial" call eh? 

Haha!  Ain't that the truth

[Pete M]

1 hour ago, stawns said:

Aside from the second goal, Markstrom was excellent.  His one weak goal a game needs to go though, I agree.

He has been watching Miller too much last year while sitting on the bench...Miller usually let a softie in per game.

 

Hopefully Marky can fix that by being ready and focused for 60 min. or Nilsson rises to the challenge and competes for the #1 spot.

Those soft goals can really hurt when the team isn't scoring.

 

Sutter, Granlund and Dorsett line looked solid...especially Sutter.

JV with the twins...now a days, it's the third guy who will make the twins better and not the twins making the third guy better. Hopefully JV realizes this and takes the power forward play to another level and Green keeps playing JV with the twins. Speed, power, hitting and shooting are good attributes to have in order to compliment the Sedins.

[WeneedLumme]

6 hours ago, alfstonker said:

Except I would feel sorry for Jake having to carry that role every night. I would rather see him maybe alternate with DD/Granny in that role, at least then he gets to have some fun.

It's like you are on the ice to bust your chops retrieving the Twins mistakes - they don't want to acknowledge you until they want you back checking for them. They are not what they were in the days of Burr where you could feed off them.

I have a feeling that Jake doesn't feel sorry for himself over having to play with two former Art Ross winners who are still very good playmakers. In fact, I suspect that if asked, he would jump at the chance to play the rest of the season with the twins.

[ilduce39]

4 hours ago, spook007 said:

For all the stick they've received regarding leadership... this is leader ship right here.

Hank also had Gudbranson's back in the media as well.  

 

Was the the last one in the locker room to answer questions after that crappy loss in Boston.  

 

They're still doing a lot for this team.