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If this were Edmonton, there would be a sweater lying on the ice after that period. I hope Torts calls these guys out like never before. Just an embarrassing effort fro so called professionals.

This team's pathetic Jekyl and Hyde performances are becoming the embarrassment of the professional sports world.

Bieksa and his rubber stick!

the new NHL rules>>>drive to the net and run the goalie as hard as possible. As long as the puck is within 20 feet, it's okay. NHL is a fing joke.

santo was certainly not hooked 3 times there and the Nucks end up short handed. typical NHL game management bull

Nucks sitting around watching the game all of a sudden. Their confidence is shot and they're hanging on already Could be a long night. I think this stems form the attitude that they need to win 2-1 games. They score 2 goals and stop pressing for another

Nucks look like they're playing not to make a mistake instead of moving the puck l and their feet quickly

agree. Brown is one player I would not be sad to see get a career ending injury. He's a dirty little puke

bieksa has to lay off the booze

worse . skate

Mental mistakes of a mentally fragile team.

Anaheim will re-group for the second. Important for the Nucks to really gthe O zone to keep the momentum from shifting to Ducks. Liking Santo with the Sedins , very slippery and good with the puck. smart player. Sestito with Kass and Kes look dangerous and certainly aren't going to get pushed around.

sestito the secret weapon!!

sestito key to that goal. Has 2 guys tied up in front of the net. I also think Kesler plays bigger with a guy like Sestito on his line. Just like the Sedins would if they had a big mean winger.

have to wonder if he isn't the source of the injury rumour? He has been passive and pretty weak on the body lately.

I don't get it...if Ferriero is a sniper-type, why call him to play on the 4th line and put Sestito on the 2nd? Would it not make more sense to call up Archibald for that role? Having said that. I am looking forward to seeing Tom on the 2nd with players who can actually play. That could be a pretty tough line to play against and could net some nice (though ugly) goals. My only concern would be for Sestito's endurance. The guy only plays 5 minutes a game and now will be asked to triple or quadruple that.

^^This is why I tell my kids not to drink to excess!

From the second period on, the Nucks were dominated last night! Only Lu's stellar play made it a game at all. For Hank to say afterward that they didn't play that bad or when asked about the lack of goal scoring saying they play their best when the score is 2-1 and they play good defensively is concerning to say the least. The Sedins aren't built for tight, tough low scoring games. their role is to score goals and the more the better. If the idea is to have the Sedins play 20+ minutes in low scoring games where their focus I defense, Torts is mis-managing his personnel. The Sedins are very average players in the D zone and will get dominated/exploited by the large and skilled top lines in the west.

...further depleting our young prospects pool and continuing/cementing the downward spiral of this team.

yup! I would add that they are "aging wimps". I think they are great people and try as hard as they can but it doesn't change what they are or how they play. Gillis continues to roll the dice that the Sedins and a supporting cast of 3rd and 4th liners can take the Nucks to the promised land. THe result is a team that is on continual decline and reaching the point where it is no longer able to compete against the real contenders in the league. My fear is that despite what MG says, he will attempt to make his vision a reality by hanging on to underperforming/declining assets while making moves that see our young assets relegated to the AHL or traded for more "projects".

Sadly, I think the Sedins are past their "sell by date". While I respect what they brought and their abilities, I think it is clear they are not built for the western conference of NHL playoffs. re-signing them at a price reflective of their past exploits and not what they will be bringing during the new term worries me. I see it as being a major hurdle to bringing in the younger, talented and more energetic/physical players. They are producing more like 2nd line players and would be a great compliment to a strong first line.

you need to get over your love affair with Kes and your adoration for your own opinion. his best year was when he was the shutdown specialist and playing on the PP. we haven't seen that kesler in 3 years. I didn't say he was just a checker but I believe that is a big part of what makes him effective. I also don't believe he has the offensive talent to solve this team's offensive challenges. I don't expect you to agree (based on your previous comments) and frankly I don't give a sh1t!

Yup he won the Selke and deserved it largely for his shutdown skills but that's ancient history now. He has talent but he is not offensively talented enough to provide the scoring this team needs. The Sedins have dropped their production and there is no one on this roster that is replacing that and I don't see Kesler as the saviour. btw - if you don't agree fine. but drop the name calling, it makes you look foolish and childish.

Kesler is an ideal third line shutdown center with some offensive upside. Higgins is a third line checking wing with less offensive upside. Santorelli has been way better than expected but he is not going to carry a 2nd line either. The Sedins are 75% of what they were in 2011 and they couldn't get it done then. Gillis has. in 3 years, taken this team from a contender to a team that can't win a playoff game and this year, will likely not make the playoffs. The core is old and tired looking and doesn't fit the mold of what Gillis himself says the team needs...younger, faster, bigger. Our top 6 is soft and slow. Gillis likes to reward average players for past service just as their production is beginning to drop instead of moving those assets for younger players on the up-swing. Right now, this team is not a contender and without a major upgrade to its top 6, isn't going anywhere. I think every player on the roster should be made available and they should be told so. Too many passengers and under-performers.

don't we have enough already? I mean, our 2nd and third lines plus whoever is put with the twins are all of that category on a contender.