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Game Day- Canucks visit Chicago |
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The last time the Canucks were in Chicago Roberto Luongo pulled out a playoff performance that Flames fans are still reminding Canucks fans about. It was a brutal show not just from Luongo but the entire defensive core leading to 7 goals against. It was a sad effort in an elimination game.
After the loss to Edmonton on Tuesday one has to wonder how the Canucks will look against Chicago. It was not a bad game for the team but the clear and obvious issue is that teams are making it hard for the Canucks defense to operate efficiently and effectively. They are soft on their own zone and brutal behind the net on puck retrieval. That cannot happen anymore.
It's a simple fix and one that all hands on deck need to participate in- get to the puck first. When the Canucks get control of the puck in their own end they have far more success than not. In almost every loss the team has been beaten too and off the puck in the defensive, neutral and offensive zones.
As I mentioned in the comments of the last blog this is not a team in position to make a deal despite early season futility. The solutions to the early season struggle have to come from within, by better team effort and individual play. Wellwood and Raymond need to amp it up. Edler needs to move his feet a bit more and Bieksa has to play a physical game some time this season so now is a good time to start. Burrows needs to get greasy in front of the net and wreak havoc for the opposition goalie and Samuelsson has to rip shots with more frequency.
Essentially it's time to get back to basics- hit the player with the puck and go to the net with your stick on ice. It's not much different than a Pee Wee team. When injuries have you down and the chemistry is off go back to simple- it isn't always pretty but most teams don't want to play that way and when you win it still feels just as good.
Enjoy the game.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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