You know how it used to be next to impossible for teams to come back after being down 3-0 or 3-1 in a best of 7 series? Does it seem that this has happened more of late?? Maybe as a result of league parity, we will see this happen more and more going forward.

....not that i think the canucks will come back, just that it's perhaps not as much of a long-shot as it used to be.

my .02

I will admit to feeling better when Miller took over last night. Just seemed cool as a cucumber. It's raining today though so I think we're (frank)ed
- bezz44

Not with you at the game. We gonna win.

P.S: you lucky bastid

No Roxy flu for him, till next year.
- we_are_all_canucks

I forgot about the lame BC drinking laws!

First of all, welcome to the asylum

The Sedins argument has been done to death so all I will say is, you are wrong that the Sedins are not good in the playoffs. All you have to do is to check out their play-off scoring and you will see they are right up there. Again and again, the problem is SECONDARY scoring and not the Sedins

P.S. it was a completely different situation with Iggy. Iginila's play is based on power-forward type of style and is not one of a cerebral nature. The Sedins, on the other hand do not rely on their skating or a power game. Their style is having incredible on-ice hockey sense. As such, their career is going to be much longer than a guy like Iginila or any other type of power forward - or even a guy that relies on speed
- Zogg

Agreed, same old complaint as past years, no secondary scoring.
Where's Vrby disappeared to??
plus inconvenient injuries seem too much to overcome...

Elliott Pap ‏@ElliottPap
Nux captain Henrik Sedin when asked whether he plans to make an emotional pre-game speech to his teammates: "You want me to cry?"
- AlexF

that's awesome!

Agreed, same old complaint as past years, no secondary scoring.
Where's Vrby disappeared to??
plus inconvenient injuries seem too much to overcome...
- dbot

We haven't had a second line since well you know when.

You know how it used to be next to impossible for teams to come back after being down 3-0 or 3-1 in a best of 7 series? Does it seem that this has happened more of late?? Maybe as a result of league parity, we will see this happen more and more going forward.

....not that i think the canucks will come back, just that it's perhaps not as much of a long-shot as it used to be.

my .02
- dbot

Very interesting points you bring up - something which I don't believe has really been addressed. It would be curious to do a bit of a study (albeit unfortunately it would be a short sample size) to compare the last few years to years past. I think you are right, however, in that there's more parity than ever and thus we're seeing these great comebacks (winning three straight games is no longer that much of an impossibility)

You know how it used to be next to impossible for teams to come back after being down 3-0 or 3-1 in a best of 7 series? Does it seem that this has happened more of late?? Maybe as a result of league parity, we will see this happen more and more going forward.

....not that i think the canucks will come back, just that it's perhaps not as much of a long-shot as it used to be.

my .02
- dbot

It definitely seems to be happening more frequently (even if infrequently) than it used to but the teams that do it generally are the ones that have character in spades. That said, CGY is not LA or SJ, real solid teams that have dusted us in 1st rounds past. It's possible but still highly unlikely. I think the odds we've been given around 25%.

1-3 playoff comebacks:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=31154

Very interesting points you bring up - something which I don't believe has really been addressed. It would be curious to do a bit of a study (albeit unfortunately it would be a short sample size) to compare the last few years to years past. I think you are right, however, in that there's more parity than ever and thus we're seeing these great comebacks (winning three straight games is no longer that much of an impossibility)
- Zogg

No series lead is a guarantee. Two 3 0 comesbacks in 5 yrs shows this. Wasn't it three the previous 70?

I'll call 4-2 van tonight.

Horvat with 2
Hank and dany with one each.

I'll call 4-2 van tonight.

Horvat with 2
Hank and dany with one each.
- Bieksa#3

Yeah I'm picking the Canucks too. We'll lose the series, but I think we'll take tonight.

I'll call 4-2 van tonight.

Horvat with 2
Hank and dany with one each.
- Bieksa#3

I'm not sure what the score might end up being but I do agree that the Canucks will win tonight. I think it follows a fairly established pattern when a team is down 3-1 and going home. Usually they manage to put together a win on home ice and then get knocked out when they play in the 6th game at the other's team's barn.

Not with you at the game. We gonna win.

P.S: you lucky bastid
- thundachunk

Have a good time, refrain from hitting people in red shirts.

Here's how I'm looking at it. If the canucks can't win game 5 at home being down 3-1 in the series then they had no right being in the playoffs in the first place.

Here's how I'm looking at it. If the canucks can't win game 5 at home being down 3-1 in the series then they had no right being in the playoffs in the first place.
- bloatedmosquito

I think that's fair.

Here's how I'm looking at it. If the canucks can't win game 5 at home being down 3-1 in the series then they had no right being in the playoffs in the first place.
- bloatedmosquito

I wont go as far as to say that, as you dont know how the game plays out. But if they don't come out hard and play high tempo/energy, then I would agree they didn't deserve being in. If they control the play like they are capable of doing but lose from a hot goalie or bad breaks, then you know they were at least worthy of being in

I wont go as far as to say that, as you dont know how the game plays out. But if they don't come out hard and play high tempo/energy, then I would agree they didn't deserve being in. If they control the play like they are capable of doing but lose from a hot goalie or bad breaks, then you know they were at least worthy of being in
- WhiteLie

I'll use ottawa as my example. 1 - 0 win to keep themselves alive. That's how you battle in the playoffs. Let's see if the canucks have a similar heart.

Here's how I'm looking at it. If the canucks can't win game 5 at home being down 3-1 in the series then they had no right being in the playoffs in the first place.
- bloatedmosquito

Ya LA who lost 3 of the last 4 down the stretch against the Oilers, Canucks and Flames deserve to be in.....

Nucks deserved to make the playoffs and Flames deserve to be up 3-1, one thing does not impact the other.

I still believe Vancouver has a chance, will I be disappointed if they lose tonight, sure but I'm a hell of a lot happier this year than I was last year. Enjoy the fact we are in the playoffs because who knows when they will be back.

Here's how I'm looking at it. If the canucks can't win game 5 at home being down 3-1 in the series then they had no right being in the playoffs in the first place.
- bloatedmosquito

Pretty much.

Are you guys as nervous as I am tonight?

Also, why hasn't Kassian been playing?

I'll use ottawa as my example. 1 - 0 win to keep themselves alive. That's how you battle in the playoffs. Let's see if the canucks have a similar heart.
- bloatedmosquito

So the Jets didn't deserve to make the playoffs?
If Nashville loses tonight, what about them?

I'll use ottawa as my example. 1 - 0 win to keep themselves alive. That's how you battle in the playoffs. Let's see if the canucks have a similar heart.
- bloatedmosquito

Yup I would agree, I dont watch Ottawa much but every time I do they work hard. The Canuck's effort is pathetic at times. If they show heart and still lose, I'll be disappointed they didnt consistently show that effort but still will feel like they were a worthy playoff team

Are you guys as nervous as I am tonight?

Also, why hasn't Kassian been playing?
- jazzca1974

why would you be nervous? you guys are in the driver's seat , for gawd sakes!

Kassian has some sort of Forest Gump disorder (ok ok, no hate mail)

(for the record, I've always liked Kassian - when he gets going it's hard to stop such a big body and he also has some nice hands - it's a shame that he's not in the line up, I think he could make at least a little bit of a difference)

PS and of course losing Burrows is a huge blow

First of all, welcome to the asylum

The Sedins argument has been done to death so all I will say is, you are wrong that the Sedins are not good in the playoffs. All you have to do is to check out their play-off scoring and you will see they are right up there. Again and again, the problem is SECONDARY scoring and not the Sedins

P.S. it was a completely different situation with Iggy. Iginila's play is based on power-forward type of style and is not one of a cerebral nature. The Sedins, on the other hand do not rely on their skating or a power game. Their style is having incredible on-ice hockey sense. As such, their career is going to be much longer than a guy like Iginila or any other type of power forward - or even a guy that relies on speed
- Zogg

Hey Zogg, I have to respectfully disagree and challenge your argument about the sedin's bein playoff performers. If I just quickly compare the playoff versus reg season points % vs Games played, here is what I found. I will preface this with I am not a statistician or an expert in any way shape or form where the stats, fenwick or corsci are concerned.

Hank Reg Season 84% points/game playoffs 73%. difference 11%. That is a win or two in the playoffs.

Daniel Reg Season 83% vs 69%. difference 14%.

You can see where the playoff performance can be negatively affected by this. One anchor is all you need to sink a ship if you toss it through the hull.

Now of course those numbers are skewed by the run in '11. I won't bother tossing the high and low numbers and averaging the rest. Clearly this simplistic calculation utilizing elementary mathematics states that there is a drop in performance. You have to agree with that. Your best players MUST be just that in the playoffs.

Just for fun I pulled Iginla out as a comparison and again I utilized some basic math to draw a conclusion here. Like the Sedin's Iginla too had a long playoff run.

Iginla
88% reg season vs 83%. difference 5%. <-- supports my argument.

Of course like kesler Iginla really never had a supporting cast to achieve the numbers that he did. You did point out that he's a power forward like Kesler. This leads me to your second paragraph about longevity.Now as far as that "staying power" in the league due to a perceived dysfunctional cerebellum, I would argue that iginla will have a long career, maybe longer than the Sedins only based on his current age 37, 38 in July and he had 29 goals or there abouts on the back of a rough season for colorado as a whole.

In terms of the "cerebral nature" of the sedin's play, I agree they are methodical in nature and uber skilled as a unit. The Sedin dump in or cycle is getting played out though.I am sure there is more in their repertoire than just that. Teams do have access to video and have a playbook on most players who've been around for a time and they adjust. So without augmentation to their style or the addition of a new element of play I would suggest their time may be limited, moreso than Iginla. My guess is that they will at the end of this current contract head home to close out their career and play for the SEL. So again Zogg I have to respectfully disagree.

So the Jets didn't deserve to make the playoffs?
If Nashville loses tonight, what about them?
- belcherbd

For me, the Jets were in every game. They were leading and were engaged throughout. The Nashville series has been fast paced between two really good teams, with the winner having the chance to really go far. I think the disappointment is that neither Calgary or Vancouver are Cup threats and this was Van's best opportunity Van to win a series. Their performances have been below what they are capable, outside of Game 2, during a time of year when you should be able to bring your best