Be still my heart.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Is that Kessel in the pony outfit?
- Marwood

I'm not sure. I did hear that there was a pair of rubber boots and a set of velcro gloves found in Phanuef's locker though.

Good start, against pretty weak competition.

What was with McGratton? He came out of the tunnel like he won the WWE title.

Then the flinch move he did on Stanton at the end of the 2nd was pretty childish.
- moondawg

Flinch move? I missed it. Someone find me a link!! It sounds comical.

Flinch move? I missed it. Someone find me a link!! It sounds comical.
- vancity787

It was comical, I was at the game Stanton just looked at him like WTF? Don't know if they'll have it because it was after the buzzer.

On another note, why is there no replays of Sbisa's hit on McGratton? He leveled him in the corner and it was a very good clean hit.

It was comical, I was at the game Stanton just looked at him like WTF? Don't know if they'll have it because it was after the buzzer.

On another note, why is there no replays of Sbisa's hit on McGratton? He leveled him in the corner and it was a very good clean hit.
- Loyal_Nuck_Fan

It was a good hit, McGratton turned into it as well which ensured it was a clean hit, a lot of players these days turn away and end up facing the boards resulting self imposed boardings. Obviously you should never aim for the numbers but it drives me nuts when players see a guy coming and turn their back to him.

This team is doomed (in terms of their previous dominance) as long as they continue to suck at faceoffs. As much as people under-estimated Malhotra's game, he was basically dominating possession in the defensive zones. We need a top F/o bottom 6 guy ASAP to do this.

The offense seemed good. Defense was suspect. That should have been a 3 - 0 game.

Also, glad that 2 bad calls eventually went the Canucks way (like when does that ever happen), but the Flames got robbed in the late third on that hand pass call. Guy a) didn't hand pass it and b) had his stick broke. Calgary should have had a man-advantage in the last 5.

It was a good hit, McGratton turned into it as well which ensured it was a clean hit, a lot of players these days turn away and end up facing the boards resulting self imposed boardings. Obviously you should never aim for the numbers but it drives me nuts when players see a guy coming and turn their back to him.
- belcherbd

you mean like the sedins like to do?

you mean like the sedins like to do?
- numbear

Sedins put up with more sh*t than the entire Flames team has for the last ten years. Give it up already

This team is doomed (in terms of their previous dominance) as long as they continue to suck at faceoffs. As much as people under-estimated Malhotra's game, he was basically dominating possession in the defensive zones. We need a top F/o bottom 6 guy ASAP to do this.

The offense seemed good. Defense was suspect. That should have been a 3 - 0 game.

Also, glad that 2 bad calls eventually went the Canucks way (like when does that ever happen), but the Flames got robbed in the late third on that hand pass call. Guy a) didn't hand pass it and b) had his stick broke. Calgary should have had a man-advantage in the last 5.
- Ronning4ever

I've been thinking the same thing. We want to be a puck possession team, but if you can't control the puck the majority of the time off the face off, then that isn't going to happen. Since we lost Malholtra and Kesler, this is going to continue to be a huge problem for WD's game plan.

Vrbata looks like a great fit with the Sedins. They were dangerous just about every shift. Will have to see how they do against the bigger teams in the west, but still feeling a lot better about this team right now if they continue to develop on ice chemistry.

Johnny Gaudreau also looked impressive. Good pick up for Calgary. Pretty sure they won't waive him at the end of the season (ala Marty St.Louis). Even if he isn't "truculent."
- we_are_all_canucks

Agreed with Gaudreau.

I've been thinking the same thing. We want to be a puck possession team, but if you can't control the puck the majority of the time off the face off, then that isn't going to happen. Since we lost Malholtra and Kesler, this is going to continue to be a huge problem for WD's game plan.
- we_are_all_canucks

Even with Kesler last year, this was quite evident on offensive face-offs at the start of powerplays. I recall that it was almost inevitable Canucks would lose 20-30 seconds because they lost the face-off and had to regroup

Agreed with Gaudreau.
- Beatle_john

It boggles the mind that this kid hasn't been squished like a bug on a windshield during his hockey career. I think one of the announcers made a very good comparison - to Patrick Kane (about whom I had the same thoughts when he first came into the league - i.e. that he would get destroyed). Yet he somehow manages to be elusive enough to avoid any heavy contact. Great looking player.

you mean like the sedins like to do?
- numbear

Kinda of a moronic thing to say. I would ask for examples but I know you have none. So I will leave it with this...

What is the over under on your coach being fired? I say 8 games.

It boggles the mind that this kid hasn't been squished like a bug on a windshield during his hockey career. I think one of the announcers made a very good comparison - to Patrick Kane (about whom I had the same thoughts when he first came into the league - i.e. that he would get destroyed). Yet he somehow manages to be elusive enough to avoid any heavy contact. Great looking player.
- Zogg

He can play for a bottom feeder because no one takes him seriously. He is like Grabner in that respect. Both are skill players on non-skill (Albeit NYI have improved) teams. Why worry. Give him room, he will skate in circles, get tired, take a shot from the outside. I wouldn't risk injury to one of my top checkers on him until he really shows he needs it.... especially on the road.

Big Fish, LIttle Pond.

This team is doomed (in terms of their previous dominance) as long as they continue to suck at faceoffs. As much as people under-estimated Malhotra's game, he was basically dominating possession in the defensive zones. We need a top F/o bottom 6 guy ASAP to do this.

The offense seemed good. Defense was suspect. That should have been a 3 - 0 game.

Also, glad that 2 bad calls eventually went the Canucks way (like when does that ever happen), but the Flames got robbed in the late third on that hand pass call. Guy a) didn't hand pass it and b) had his stick broke. Calgary should have had a man-advantage in the last 5.
- Ronning4ever

The hand pass was weak but even with all the technology, look at it at full speed and it is really hard to get that one correct.

It boggles the mind that this kid hasn't been squished like a bug on a windshield during his hockey career. I think one of the announcers made a very good comparison - to Patrick Kane (about whom I had the same thoughts when he first came into the league - i.e. that he would get destroyed). Yet he somehow manages to be elusive enough to avoid any heavy contact. Great looking player.
- Zogg

I remember seeing on one of the replay packages during the game JG hounding Tanev along the boards and being pretty effective at it too - I know Tanev's not the biggest guy (weight-wise) but still pretty impressive.

Wonder if he's got St. Louis-tier thighs

I remember seeing on one of the replay packages during the game JG hounding Tanev along the boards and being pretty effective at it too - I know Tanev's not the biggest guy (weight-wise) but still pretty impressive.

Wonder if he's got St. Louis-tier thighs
- stevekariya

ROTF! Never thought of that as a category before.

BEST HEADLINE OF THE YOUNG HOCKEY SEASON:

Leafs grab Panik off of waivers.

He can play for a bottom feeder because no one takes him seriously. He is like Grabner in that respect. Both are skill players on non-skill (Albeit NYI have improved) teams. Why worry. Give him room, he will skate in circles, get tired, take a shot from the outside. I wouldn't risk injury to one of my top checkers on him until he really shows he needs it.... especially on the road.

Big Fish, LIttle Pond.
- Beatle_john

Well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I'm not really sure if playing on a bottom feeder really matters. You are going to get hounded and hit just like any other time you play upper echelon teams. And as far as being a perimeter player (which I believe is what you're suggesting?), I'm not sure if that's a fair assessment either. He seemed to be getting into the thick of things along the boards as well and hustling to retrieve pucks. And when he did get a chance he looked quite determined to get a good shot off or make a play.

I understand that it's still very early but the kid has a pretty impressive resume, so it's not like he just came out of the blue.

Kinda of a moronic thing to say. I would ask for examples but I know you have none. So I will leave it with this...

What is the over under on your coach being fired? I say 8 games.
- Beatle_john

not at all.

I know they turn to the boards to protect the puck, and use the ruling in their favour.

But I hate watching players that put themselves in harms way like that.

I think its henrik that does it the most. You'll see them do it in many a game.

As for hartley being fired. not going to happen, he's done nothing to deserve that. He's motivating a young team to not give up.

The hand pass was weak but even with all the technology, look at it at full speed and it is really hard to get that one correct.
- Beatle_john

ya could have gone either way. the broken stick is why it could be considered such a weak call though

Sedins put up with more sh*t than the entire Flames team has for the last ten years. Give it up already
- Zogg

didn't say they didn't. Just said that one of them turns to the boards a lot.

Sadly when Byron finished off the check last year that was one of those cases. A bad play, nothing intentional.

But one player put himself in a bad position, and the other player didn't react in time to what went on. Hate to see those things happening.

not at all.

I know they turn to the boards to protect the puck, and use the ruling in their favour.

But I hate watching players that put themselves in harms way like that.

I think its henrik that does it the most. You'll see them do it in many a game.

As for hartley being fired. not going to happen, he's done nothing to deserve that. He's motivating a young team to not give up.
- numbear

They turn into the boards with the puck, but generally do it, in close parameter to the boards, so they can still absorb contact and not get injured.

It gets dangerous when guys do it, and put themselves 2 feet off the boards and then take contact in the back.

One gets you smushed into the boards, but you are still on your feet and in control of the puck, the other gets you a trip to the dark room or a meeting with the dentist.

didn't say they didn't. Just said that one of them turns to the boards a lot.

Sadly when Byron finished off the check last year that was one of those cases. A bad play, nothing intentional.

But one player put himself in a bad position, and the other player didn't react in time to what went on. Hate to see those things happening.
- numbear

You know, I'm kind of getting tired of people stapling people into the boards. Hockey's starting to be football without all the pads that football players wear. I'm not advocating taking hitting out of the game, but the whole idea of a body check is to separate the player from the puck, and not about lighting a guy up. Stick checking is quickly becoming the skill of choice for doing what open-ice hitting/board stapling once did to get the puck away from a player, lot less chance of a penalty or missing and being out of position. Really wish the NHL would get it's head out of it's ass and force a change in the arenas to make them international sized.

They turn into the boards with the puck, but generally do it, in close parameter to the boards, so they can still absorb contact and not get injured.

It gets dangerous when guys do it, and put themselves 2 feet off the boards and then take contact in the back.

One gets you smushed into the boards, but you are still on your feet and in control of the puck, the other gets you a trip to the dark room or a meeting with the dentist.
- moondawg

yup, with you on that.

I just commented that they turn to the boards. Everyone got their panties in a knot thinking I was calling them fragile or something.

Like you said, it can be dangerous if further away. I just don't like seeing elite players getting in potential bad positions by their own choices when they have the skills to do otherwise.

it happens