NOTE: I don't update this section anymore. My hockey thoughts have moved over to Stuffing It Five Hole.
Here I randomly jot down thoughts I have about the Canucks and the rest of the hockey world as a whole on a semi-weekly basis. I am by no means a credible journalist (but then if Al Strachan can keep a job by pulling random rumours out of his imagination, I figure I could at least do something similar based on fact), and I certainly don't expect anyone to take me seriously. I am a serious hockey fan though, and I do have a few opinions on certain things. Bouts of irrationality will overcome my logic at times, but that comes with the territory of being a fan of any sport.
I cannot claim to be completely objective because I do hold allegiance to a particular hockey club. Thus, there will be bias in my opinions, but I will attempt to remain as objective as I can. I am a hockey fan first, Canucks fan second, but as with any kind of fan, I will sometimes claim foul when it just ends up being an unlucky break that, hockey gods willing, will even up before the end of the season. Here's hoping there will be a parade down Robson Street one day.
End of the second month
Another month has passed in the season. A month that started off so well ended with Canuck Nation mashing the panic button. After going 8-0-2, the Canucks reeled off four straight losses. To make it worse, the slump occurred in the midst of a season long seven game road trip, which left little practice time to work on the small things that help you win: penalty kill, outlet passes, et al. To make things worse, a rash of injuries cropped up: Ryan Johnson fractured his hand (and then found out he had a fractured foot), Darcy Hordichuk fractured his foot, so did Kevin Bieksa. Salo got hurt (does it matter how?). Sanford had back spasms for a game, but fortunately Schneider's been playing fairly well.
The Sedins haven't been spectacular, but they have been consistent over the last month. They are practically a point per game pace. The power play is somewhat back on track and the breakout passes aren't so laughable anymore. What has tailed off is the production from the Kesler line. Granted, no one really expected Burrows to score 30 goals this year, but slumps are slumps. Good thing Demitra and the Sedins are scoring, and Bieksa's pitching in from the blue line too. Time for the thumbs up, thumbs down:
Thumbs Up:
- Sedins back on track: They're back scoring! They actually seem kind of lazy most nights, but their stats belie what actually is happening. The Sedins are quietly good, yet there are still detractors out there. If only they could really get a linemate they could gel with. Seriously, now they're playing with Taylor "I don't know what to do with the puck" Pyatt. Can Vigneault finally try Wellwood with them on something other than the power play?
- Canucks are still up there in goals for: Scoring is still pretty spread out. While Kesler and Burrows have tailed off, Demitra picked up their slack. Bernier has also started to find the net again and the defence is chipping in a little more. Bieksa has been nearly a point per game player since he came back from that fractured foot.
- Team cohesiveness: Sticking up for each other, throwing big checks and competing hard. When the Canucks were winning, they were doing all of these things. When they were losing, they were not doing those things. I'm really liking this Jannik Hansen kid; he works hard, has some decent offensive instincts and isn't afraid to mix it up when he has to. I'm looking forward to him getting Kesler and Burrows back on track offensively when Johnson returns.
Thumbs Down:
- Lack of communication: During the losing skid, the Canucks didn't communicate in any of the three zones, leading to poor puck recovery, poor defensive zone coverage and poor neutral zone management. Despite scoring first in the majority of the games, they gave up those leads just as easily from the lack of communication. Coaching is partly to blame here, but players also have to execute. We'll see how the road trip ends to see if they have learned their lesson.
- Penalties: Holy crap did they take a lot of them. This led to too many times shorthanded, and too much time killing penalties. With Ryan Johnson out, the Canucks lost their best shot blocker and had to use more of Mason Raymond and Taylor Pyatt on the penalty kill. A lot more shots got through from the point and the forwards were often overcommitting to the point shots after that. Stay out of the box and they win.
The Engine: Roberto Luongo before he got hurt. His numbers proved he was in a groove and that franchise record shutout streak didn't hurt either. He's the MVP of the team and I'll be estatic if they can go .500 without him. Luongo's standout play creates energy that the rest of the team feeds off of. They will need him at his best down the stretch.
The "Out of Nowhere" Guy: Cory Schneider. We knew he was pretty good and definitely good in the AHL. The question is could he cut it in the bigs? The answer was most definitely yes. He still needs work on his rebound control, but he's definitely #1 goalie material. Either he succeeds Luongo if Luongo bails after next year or he'll be a good trading chip to get some help up front.
The Goat: Shane O'Brien. I know he's basically the #6 guy, but he takes way too many penalties. He does not make decisions well under pressure, often finding himself on the backhand up the boards and giving it away. He's not as much of a goat as Mike Brown, and at least he's in the lineup (unlike Krajicek). This came down to him and Raymond, and Raymond I wanted to punch in the face less after he started playing better in the last week of November.
What other bizarre thoughts will I jot down? Find out next time, same pseudo-week, same pseudo-page.