I'm pretty sure somebody has to... It's not like they end the playoffs after the 1st round.
- micah555

I think he was suggesting teams go THROUGH not past the 1st round... I could be wrong... a bad joke??

I agree. But if the injuries with Hansen, Higgins and Tanev linger into the playoffs then I expect another one and done playoff. Whoever beats us lately ends up winning the cup anyways.
- Nucker101

Honestly, if we can't win without a guy who should be a 3rd line winger and a 5th Dman, we weren't in good shape to begin with.

I know AV is hated by many on this board, but the tear the team is one right now has also overlapped with some major injury issues. Pretty impressive with the players we've had playing regular minutes, being so weak at centre and on the powerplay and also so very bad at faceoffs.

I think he was suggesting teams go THROUGH not past the 1st round... I could be wrong... a bad joke??
- kneughter

Ah. Perhaps too clever for this board.

Ah. Perhaps too clever for this board.
- micah555

I agree.. BAN HIM!!!!

Nice to pick up 2 pts when we play like ass.

Veteran team plays against AHL. Could have backfired but it didn't. Brodie looked pretty good out there.

Nice to pick up 2 pts when we play like ass.

Veteran team plays against AHL. Could have backfired but it didn't. Brodie looked pretty good out there.
- golfingsince

Going into the 3rd tied, it was just a matter of time. Calgary isn't going to win too many more games this year. Kipper just isn't into it. They need to play the other guys. On CBC they were talking about what a class act Kipper is for refusing a trade when he's planning to retire. I'm thinking, what an ass he is for wasting the Flames money and the fans time when he's just riding out the season. Retire now if you're going to be such a dud.

6-12-2 with a 3.58 GAA and a .873 S%. Embarrassing.

just to add to the penguins, given the discussion about them earlier.

1. Crosby is fine. there is just no point in rushing him when we are pretty much going to get the #1 or #2 seed.

2. The real guys we need back are Martin and Letang. Our defense has been stretched to the limits. getting those two back might make us a better team than just getting Crosby back.

3. MAF has been amazing this season. besides, even if he has a tough game, we have Vokoun that can step in.

4. Our defense has really improved compared to last season. Murray has not missed a beat.

5. Our 3rd line could be one of the best in the playoffs. Morrow-Sutter-Cooke. doesn't sound great on paper, but they have been a very good line and have gelled really well.

6. Malkin is the guy that needs to get going. I'm thinking Iginla will be moved to Crosby's line and Kunitz will move with Malkin. Malkin cant slow his game down to help out guys like Iginla. Crosby slowed his game down and made Guerin look like a stud again.

really the only thing i'm worried about is our size. we don't have size on the 4th line, just some talented guys and speed.

I don't want the Rangers first round. whoever said that the problem with the penguins last year was the fact that the flyers brought out the worst in us, I think they nailed it.

last season's playoffs wont happen again. not worried about that at all.

Its his blog he can make any F'ing odds he wants. So what if he's a little bias. Maybe you don't realize this is a Canucks blog.
- thundachunk

Keep it real is all........Nucks should be at very best 20:1

Keep it real is all........Nucks should be at very best 20:1
- nellie04

Completely healthy they're 10:1, right now with the injuries I'd agree they're about 15:1 to 20:1

Hawks lack of goaltending and soft play will be their undoing, I'd say 20-1 would have been generous.
- 1970vintage

Hawks have given up the fewest goals in the west. Everybody needs to put their pipes/drinks away

Leafs will go farther than the Canucks this year..book it homers

Leafs will go farther than the Canucks this year..book it homers
- JIMI-JAMES

Nope, you're slated to play Montreal in the first round, not even close to how far we go to play St. Louis. Toronto to Montreal is shorter than Vancouver-St. Louis.

Travis, where do you get your possession stats from?
- rollpards19

He counts by himself. If that doesn't work he guesses.
Everything can be reduced to an equation.

Leafs will go farther than the Canucks this year..book it homers
- JIMI-JAMES

I'm still hoping for the Leafs to miss the playoffs.
How funny would that be?

I think Chicago has better top end talent at both forward and defence, perhaps Canucks have a slight edge in the bottom 6 forwards? Chicago has a few guys with some grit, but against the bigger teams who play along the wall instead of in open ice I'm not sure they will be successful. I guess we'll see.

As Canucks fans, we're experts on how fast, puck possession, presidents trophy winning teams don't win the cup (often...)
- 1970vintage

Unfortunately Hawks fans are too. See 90-91 when they won it and lost in the first round. It's the kiss of death. I'd actually lower their odds of winning just on winning that trophy alone.

Hawks have given up the fewest goals in the west. Everybody needs to put their pipes/drinks away
- Ballam

Yea the toughness worries me but at the end of the day, they don't give up much especially since they spend a ton of time in the other teams zone.

Yea the toughness worries me but at the end of the day, they don't give up much especially since they spend a ton of time in the other teams zone.
- golfbard

Playoffs are a different animal, nobody will get the kind of space and time they got in the regular season as everyone tightens up defensively. It's why you guys better hope that your goaltending will be as good as it was for the first half of the season, you run into a hot goalie in the first round and you might end up like we did.

I'm getting old, everything hurts now. 2 aleve before every sporting activity.
- Scooby_Doo

Me it 's 2 viagra before every activity. That's when you know you are getting old ,junior .

Which ever team knocks out the Canucks will win the cup! Book it!

I'm pretty sure somebody has to... It's not like they end the playoffs after the 1st round.
- micah555

Oiler fan .

It is the end of the playoffs already.

Playoffs are a different animal, nobody will get the kind of space and time they got in the regular season as everyone tightens up defensively. It's why you guys better hope that your goaltending will be as good as it was for the first half of the season, you run into a hot goalie in the first round and you might end up like we did.
- DariusKnight

No question but I feel this season for the most part has been a playoff like atmosphere every night because of the shortened season and how important points are. The key for the Hawks is the D in front of the goalies. Niemi was an unknown but had a great D in front of him and a lot of depth - two components of this year's team. All they needed was for him to make a key save when needed. I'm more concerned about the powerplay than anything else.

Canucks at 4-1???? Really??? They're the 5th best team in the West IMO behind Chicago, Anaheim, LAK and STL.

Canucks at 4-1???? Really??? They're the 5th best team in the West IMO behind Chicago, Anaheim, LAK and STL.
- dan9189

What is your opinion worth?

Canucks at 4-1???? Really??? They're the 5th best team in the West IMO behind Chicago, Anaheim, LAK and STL.
- dan9189

I don't see the Hawks as a playoff team. As PT winners the last two years we know all about regular season teams. You don't have Byfuglien Ladd Brouwer Eager and that toughness anymore.

I know that you can roll out 3 good lines but if history is any indication of how the playoffs are reffed with clutching grabbing and fighting , Chi are not the top team

No question but I feel this season for the most part has been a playoff like atmosphere every night because of the shortened season and how important points are. The key for the Hawks is the D in front of the goalies. Niemi was an unknown but had a great D in front of him and a lot of depth - two components of this year's team. All they needed was for him to make a key save when needed. I'm more concerned about the powerplay than anything else.
- golfbard

For the life of me I can't figure out why CHI hired Kompon after the abject failure that was the LA powerplay last year.