It's a mystery... Sedins and Vrbata getting bucketloads of chances... but not a lot of production

[*Buzzsaw*]

For the past 3-4 games, since Vrbata has been put back with the Sedins, I have been seeing this line get 6-7 quality scoring chances a game... but not a lot of goals are actually going in.

I am not pointing the finger of blame... but I have to say I think the major reason is Vrbata's timing seems to be a little out of sync with the Sedins.  He always seems to be a little behind the pass, or his stick is not on the ice, or he is not square to the net.

And when you combine this with the fact the Sedins are reluctant to shoot the puck themselves, you get a line which is misfiring on a lot of great chances.

It's a totally different situation than last year... then Vrbata came out of the gate like a racehorse, and you could see he was perfectly in sync with the Sedins.  Even when he was switched to the second line, his timing was still there.  But this year, he doesn't have the perfect anticipation and placement which made him standout and basically be the team MVP.

Gotta wonder if he has some kind of minor nagging injury which is hampering him.

Either this is going to be resolved in the next few games with a massive breakout in scoring with the line doing 4-5 goals and 10+ points or its going to be a problem which will get worse.

Not yet time to breakup the line, and anyway, Sutter/Burrows/Virtanen are clicking well together, but gotta hope Vrbata finds the groove.

 

[Lost_Viking]

The Sedins/Vrbata really aren't looking as dangerous as last year, yet we are first in our division and third in our conference in goals scored. Its early and we'll need to get our big guns going if we want to survive later in the season, but I take this as a good sign none the less.

[MeanSeanBean]

Crosby hasn't been capitalizing either. Sometimes it just happens. 

[Nucks-4-Life]

Sedins played better with Sutter. Try these lines out:

Sedin - Sedin - Sutter

Hansen - Horvat - Vrbata

Burrows - McCann - Virtanen 

Dorsett - Cracknell - Gaunce

Reunite Sedins/Vrbata for the Powerplay, and please get our top goal scorer out there (McCann):

Vrbata - Sedin - Sedin

Burrows/Virtanen - Horvat - McCann

[Mr.DirtyDangles]

Vrbata  forgot how to shoot. He passes every chance he gets now instead of unloading on the net.   Kill the fancy sh.. and just blast the biscuit and all will be fine.

[nom_de_plume]

The hockey Gods have a strange way of evening things out in the long run.  Patience, young grasshopper, patience...

[tyhee]

Sedins played better with Sutter. Try these lines out:

Sedin - Sedin - Sutter

Hansen - Horvat - Vrbata

Burrows - McCann - Virtanen 

Dorsett - Cracknell - Gaunce

Reunite Sedins/Vrbata for the Powerplay, and please get our top goal scorer out there (McCann):

Vrbata - Sedin - Sedin

Burrows/Virtanen - Horvat - McCann

With Gaunce reassigned to Utica, presumably you'd move Dorsett back to his natural side (RW) and put Higgins or Baer on the left side.  Higgins may be the more natural fit.

I'm not advocating for or against your lines.  The idea is a possibility but I'm guessing the coaches will be reluctant to move Sutter to the wing again.

[Rollieo Del Fuego]

For the past 3-4 games, since Vrbata has been put back with the Sedins, I have been seeing this line get 6-7 quality scoring chances a game... but not a lot of goals are actually going in.

I am not pointing the finger of blame... but I have to say I think the major reason is Vrbata's timing seems to be a little out of sync with the Sedins.  He always seems to be a little behind the pass, or his stick is not on the ice, or he is not square to the net.

And when you combine this with the fact the Sedins are reluctant to shoot the puck themselves, you get a line which is misfiring on a lot of great chances.

It's a totally different situation than last year... then Vrbata came out of the gate like a racehorse, and you could see he was perfectly in sync with the Sedins.  Even when he was switched to the second line, his timing was still there.  But this year, he doesn't have the perfect anticipation and placement which made him standout and basically be the team MVP.

Gotta wonder if he has some kind of minor nagging injury which is hampering him.

Either this is going to be resolved in the next few games with a massive breakout in scoring with the line doing 4-5 goals and 10+ points or its going to be a problem which will get worse.

Not yet time to breakup the line, and anyway, Sutter/Burrows/Virtanen are clicking well together, but gotta hope Vrbata finds the groove.

 

Rad has fearoftraditis...it's a circular condition...propagates on itself.

[Alflives]

The hockey Gods have a strange way of evening things out in the long run.  Patience, young grasshopper, patience...

you better look in your hand.  Young grass hopper has the pebble.  

[Quoted]

The last few games or so have also included some stronger teams, so that's a factor too

 

[CanuckinEdm]

remote control pucks is the only thing I can think of.http://youtu.be/smyIu37MFPo

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Vrbata looks spooked out there.  It almost seems that if you stare at him too long, he'll curl into the fetal position.

[Mathew Barzal]

People are really pushing the agenda that the Sedin's and Vrbata have great chemistry. They don't.

The Sedin's are great at dishing the puck, Vrbata is great at finding the open space and putting the puck in the net. That's about as far as they compliment each others playstyles. 

Vrbata's game is tailor made to succeed at North-South hockey. His quick, deceptive shot works best off the rush and the Sedin's rarely generate those odd man rushes nowadays because they stay back to help on defense a lot more.

I think he was right to try and succeed with Horvat earlier this year but Bo's off to a slow start and consequently has been slowing down his wingers. I think they should go back to that duo once the kid starts hitting his stride again. 

Higgins - Bo - Vrbata

is ideal IMO.

[Gaudette Celly]

Sedins played better with Sutter.

Vrbata looks spooked out there.  It almost seems that if you stare at him too long, he'll curl into the fetal position.

I prefer Sutter with the Sedins as well.  For now we just need to keep Purrbata with the Sedins for the pump-and-dump, then McCann can go to 3C and Sutter back up with Hank and Danny for the playoff push.

 

 

[Matt_T83]

Vrbata clearly isn't working well with the Sedins.  And he wasn't doing well with Horvat either.  I'm thinking Burrows/Sutter/Vrbata would be the optimal line for him.  I like the idea of putting Hansen with the Sedins for now,

Sedin Sedin Hansen
Burr - Sutter - Vrbata
Higgins - Horvat - Virtanen
Baertschi - McCann - Dorsett

That line-up is actually incredibly balanced.  Baertschi needs a skill, offensive centre, which McCann is.  Dorsett is a great player, and adds some grit to that 4th line.  Overall this lineup just gives a balanced attack, in my opinion.  I'd roll those 4 lines

[Mcfly]

I'm not worried.

You just know this guy is tough on himself as it is.

The scoring will come with some patience from himself and from fans (...which he won't get of course)

These guys are too amazingly talented to go on scoring droughts that last a long time.

[jdatb]

People are really pushing the agenda that the Sedin's and Vrbata have great chemistry. They don't.

The Sedin's are great at dishing the puck, Vrbata is great at finding the open space and putting the puck in the net. That's about as far as they compliment each others playstyles. 

Vrbata's game is tailor made to succeed at North-South hockey. His quick, deceptive shot works best off the rush and the Sedin's rarely generate those odd man rushes nowadays because they stay back to help on defense a lot more.

I think he was right to try and succeed with Horvat earlier this year but Bo's off to a slow start and consequently has been slowing down his wingers. I think they should go back to that duo once the kid starts hitting his stride again. 

Higgins - Bo - Vrbata

is ideal IMO.

Hansen-Sutter-Vrbata is better IMO.

[laddie]

I think some of us are forgetting what Vrbata did for us last season.  He is currently one of our best pure goal scorers but he is in a slump and we should allow him to work through it.  We still have 3/4 of the season to go and we will need him firing on all cylinders to contend.  Now isn't the best time to be messing with his confidence level by switching him from line to line.

[Alflives]

I'm not worried.

You just know this guy is tough on himself as it is.

The scoring will come with some patience from himself and from fans (...which he won't get of course)

These guys are too amazingly talented to go on scoring droughts that last a long time.

when was the last time Linden, Bure, or Cortnell scored?  Guys age.  It's reality.  Talent fades.

[CANUCK-EXPRESS]

Yeah they're not producing right now but I still wouldn't change the line, they're getting chances and it's just a matter of time until they start getting points. 

This line up is balanced right now and unless you want the rookies getting benched in the third we gotta stick with these lines.