[GDT] Nucks @ Leafs Feb 29 2020 - 4:00 Pacific - HNIC - Leap Year Edition

[PhillipBlunt]

3 minutes ago, 189lb enforcers? said:

If there ever was a need to dress certain “skill” required to expose the depleted, nervous Leafs D, tonight was it. 

Exactly.

Seriously. 
 

What would make Liljegren more nervous? Seeing Roussel or Eriksson casually skate into the Leafs end, mumbling something about the antioxidants in syrup, or MacEwen and Bo barreling down on them?

[Squamfan]

why the hell is erikkson still playing

[Elias Pettersson]

You know Kyle Clifford has instructions to run around tonight.  Petey and Quinn aren’t safe. I wonder who is going to stop him...

[PhillipBlunt]

2 minutes ago, Elias Pettersson said:

You know Kyle Clifford has instructions to run around tonight.  Petey and Quinn aren’t safe. I wonder who is going to stop him...

Just like Domi and Chabot. Those guys aren’t hulking players either. If Pettersson or Hughes is injured as a result of some unwanted attention and line mates look on rather than get involved, it’ll be ugly. 

[WHL rocks]

Mac in lineup to bring physicality to TML D would've been good. But I think Green going with more defensively responsible and veteran lineup.

 

Leafs offense can score in bunches. Mac has limited NHL experience. it might be tough to handle that speed and skill of Leafs top young stars. With Leafs getting last change tonight Green likely thought a more veteran lineup is better.

[higgyfan]

These 2 teams are very similar.  They both rely on their offence to win games and have suspect d.  They are streaky, inconsistent and can get fired up in the 3rd period (after resting on their laurels in the previous 2).

 

Very hard game to predict which team wins and even harder to predict the score. 

 

 

 

 

[theo5789]

56 minutes ago, Slegr said:

We came out hot. Lou wasn’t in the line up to start the season, and we were pretty healthy. The most frustrating parts of those games was watching Edler fumble the puck on the first unit power play.

Yes but you're suggesting that we "squandered points" due to Green being stubborn with Edler on the PP. I showed that our record disagreed. Loui wasn't in the lineup then, but he was also part of the lineup and was a key player during a hot streak not long ago. Hughes was part of the 1st unit PP even when we had that rough patch. There have been positive and negatives with the moves, it's not all fire Green moves.

[EdgarM]

1 hour ago, debluvscanucks said:

Who's Kessler?

 

We catered to the Sedins because they were our scoring leaders...your own words "you stop the Sedins, you stop us from winning" so of course they were catered to.  It also provided Ryan/others an open door to pick up where they dropped off when they became targeted.  Sort of what happens when Petey's the focus but it opens up room/opportunity for others...who take it and make it something special.    

 

Kes was given a fair shake here.  Sometimes you place strong players with others to raise their game (too)...it's a team game.  So placement isn't always a punishment to one guy and can be more of trying to spark others.  

 

 

 

You missed the point Deb. Secondary Scoring should be a priority. You don't put all your eggs in one basket. I seen KESLER get upset many times and I am sure with his compete level, he wished he had some talent to help him along the way.  Bo is being treated the exact same way, our "defensive specialist" even though he has more offensive abilities then the rest of the team not on the topline.

Yeah "Kes was given a fair shake here", that's why he left the way he did then, right?  Just don't want past mistakes repeated is all.

[Ghostsof1915]

Eriksson's agent is JP Berry, maybe Benning has to go easy on Eriksson or he'll never sign another client of his? (Jett Woo for example?)

Maybe the Canucks covet Fabbro or Forsberg? 

[EdgarM]

36 minutes ago, 189lb enforcers? said:

I would like to watch what Gaud could do with two scoring wingers. 

Both EP and Horvat’s health have prevented this from happening, but you have to think that at some point the injury bug will get Horvat, the guy with the most scars and bruises out of every Canuck except for Edler and Tavev. 

 

Horvat has put on so many hard miles already. Luckily, he’s built to absorb those unlike EP40 who is an absolute treat to watch as a Canucks fan. 
 

I think Gaud has an Andrew Cassels style and ceiling, but hasn’t yet had the assignment to build his case. I’m not hoping for injuries, but here is a sliver lining, IMO. 
 

 

I disagree, I see him strictly as a  North/South player who has a "shoot first" mentality. A "Mason Raymond" type. I actually think he would make a better winger but I don't think TG will try that.

[Canucks-12]

1 hour ago, Ghostsof1915 said:

I wish I knew what pull Eriksson has? 

He made an agreement that if they play him every game this year he’ll agree to retire from the NHL at the end of the season. 

Edited February 29, 2020 by Canucks-12

[Phil_314]

Please no to Myers and Fantenberg... that's a tire fire waiting to happen.  57 should go back with Edler IMO, even though Stecher and Edler play well together.

 

Next, if the team can't beat a patchwork defense without 3 of their top 4 guys (Rielly, Muzzin and Ceci are all out) I doubt this team could really go far, and it also doesn't make sense how just a short while back we could beat up on a contending Bruins team 9-3 then get embarrassed by a tanking Sens team 5-2.  I hope they really bring their A game on the defensive end as a unit because they're going to need it against Matthews/ Marner/ Nylander/ Tavares.

 

Here's to a bounceback game, Go !!  

[PhillipBlunt]

18 minutes ago, WHL rocks said:

Mac in lineup to bring physicality to TML D would've been good. But I think Green going with more defensively responsible and veteran lineup.

 

Leafs offense can score in bunches. Mac has limited NHL experience. it might be tough to handle that speed and skill of Leafs top young stars. With Leafs getting last change tonight Green likely thought a more veteran lineup is better.

I certainly hope that they come out with some semblance of life tonight. 

[Hairy Kneel]

Please not another 2 goals in two minutes to start again.

If they can please play like they did in the 3rd period last game...

Edited February 29, 2020 by Hairy Kneel

[EdgarM]

9 minutes ago, Canucks-12 said:

He made an agreement that if they play him every game this year he’ll agree to retire from the NHL.

When your making 6 Million Dollars a year for nothing, there is room in there for a little bribery. 

[Lazurus]

TO has had a ton of pressure put on them and they are playing much better through their slump.

 

IMO Virtanen should be on the second line by himself he just isn't enough of a threat to draw added attention away from Petey and company and Horvat's line can use more of an offensive threat. I can see Green is trying to balance the lines but IMO it is load up time.

 

Still think the flu bug is present.

 

TO will be a big challenge, younger, faster and they are playing with grit now, not a lot but a lot more than before.

 

Demko might be a little shaky after Ottawa got to him but that could have been worse if Ottawa didn't go into a defensive shell to protect the lead.

 

Lot of Canucks auditioning for contracts next year.

 

 

[Trebreh]

37 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said:

Exactly.

Seriously. 
 

What would make Liljegren more nervous? Seeing Roussel or Eriksson casually skate into the Leafs end, mumbling something about the antioxidants in syrup, or MacEwen and Bo barreling down on them?

I really want to like Travis Green as a coach, but his decision making is irritating. Team got beaten by an AHL squad last game, you'd think that would be a good reason to tinker with the line up... but no, go with the same boring group.

 

MacEwen has done pretty much everything you could ask for in the games he played. He hit, fought, scored, provided the team energy... I don't get it... this after Banning said he is a regular nhler.

[Lazurus]

7 minutes ago, EdgarM said:

17 minutes ago, Canucks-12 said:

He made an agreement that if they play him every game this year he’ll agree to retire from the NHL.

When your making 6 Million Dollars a year for nothing, there is room in there for a little bribery. 

Eriksson I guess.

Still on that "he will retire and leave over 5 million on the table" dream eh? IF he is going to do that it will after next season when he leaves only 1 million on the table. Canucks would still get a cap hit. Why would he do that anyway, he wasn't doing the Canucks a favor signing here Benning just over bid all the other teams for his services for 6 years, it is not his fault he got old, anyone could see that would be happening

 

Besides forget about his contract, as a player is he being effective as a checker only?

[DIBdaQUIB]

36 minutes ago, WHL rocks said:

Mac in lineup to bring physicality to TML D would've been good. But I think Green going with more defensively responsible and veteran lineup.

 

Leafs offense can score in bunches. Mac has limited NHL experience. it might be tough to handle that speed and skill of Leafs top young stars. With Leafs getting last change tonight Green likely thought a more veteran lineup is better.

Coaching dedensively and not to lose...again.  spending time in the offensive zone would be a great way to reduce scoring chances against but i guess we will again go with the retreating D, 5 man box set up and hope Demko can stop 40+ shots.

[tas]

58 minutes ago, WHL rocks said:

Who said he has to follow the exact same path as Markstrom?

 

Why didn't he follow Patrick Roy who won a Cup as a rookie at 20 yrs old. Saying things like that doesn't make sense. This isn't school where all Kids start grade 3 together in September and finish in June.. 

 

Every goalie has his own path. Why would Demko follow exact same path and timeline as Marky?

 

I'm not sure what you mean....

 

 

 

 

he doesn't have to -- but the point is, he might, and it's ok if he does. it's about setting reasonable expectations.