Carol Schram: Stecher's game-winner keys Canucks' full-team Game 1 win over the Blues The Vancouver Canucks are taking to this playoff thing. On Wednesday, they got strong performances from their full lineup and weren't intimidated by the physical St. Louis Blues as they earned a 5-2 win in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Thanks Carol!

The "good talk" from Bo at the podium cracked me up last night!!!

Thanks Carol! 1 down 3 to go!

TY Carol Schram of the NY Times.

Good game , great analysis

Carol Schram: Stecher's game-winner keys Canucks' full-team Game 1 win over the Blues
The Vancouver Canucks are taking to this playoff thing. On Wednesday, they got strong performances from their full lineup and weren't intimidated by the physical St. Louis Blues as they earned a 5-2 win in Game 1 of their first-round series.
- Carol Schram

Thanks Carol

Has there been any chatter about when Toffoli could be back? Also with the team buzzing like this, where does Gaudette slot back in??

Good problems to have.

Has there been any chatter about when Toffoli could be back? Also with the team buzzing like this, where does Gaudette slot back in??

Good problems to have.
- noisewater

Obviously no official word but Rick Dhaliwal reported yesterday that Toffoli out for at least another week. Take it for what it's worth. He was reported in a walking boot.

Good job Carol!

That was the most fun Ive had watching a game in almost a whole game.. This team has come so far, so fast. It is fun being a fan again.

Ty Carol

Sure, but he's likely one of he last players they sign this year. There is going to be a ton of guys squeezed out waiting to be signed a couple months after Free agency begins. Personally I wouldn't sign any depth players until you see who falls through the cracks.

Guys like Fast, Sheary, Eakin are going to be available for that same million IMO.
- belcherbd

No thx to those 3. Motte is a Canuck & a proven & earned it.

Thank you Caorl! The exact kind of win the Canucks needed to keep their confidence and create a crack of doubt in the Blues' minds.

Thx Carol.
1 game down, 15 to go.

Thank you Caorl! The exact kind of win the Canucks needed to keep their confidence and create a crack of doubt in the Blues' minds.
- NewYorkNuck

Totally.
The team just needs to keep playing with the same intensity, like they did in the late part of the game yesterday.
So good to see them NOT sit back and try to protect the lead, but actually keep the foot on the gas.

Thanks Carol it sure was a memorable win the kind of team building that can last. Do you have access to give us some scoops on the players off ice activities?

Just read this 'rumour' in EK's main blog, which I jokingly stated last week:

On PK Subban...
Speaking of Toronto...I keep hearing PK's Name mentioned along with the Maple Leafs...The latest and most interesting deal I heard would send Subban (with NJ retaining salary) and a first rounder to Toronto for Nylander.

Thanks Coral it sure was a memorable win the kind of team building that can last. Do you have access to give us some scoops on the players off ice activities?
- NuckUp

via GIPHY

CBJ up 3-1.
Wennberg with a beauty (doing his best Bo Horvat impression).

Just read this 'rumour' in EK's main blog, which I jokingly stated last week:

On PK Subban...
Speaking of Toronto...I keep hearing PK's Name mentioned along with the Maple Leafs...The latest and most interesting deal I heard would send Subban (with NJ retaining salary) and a first rounder to Toronto for Nylander.




- dbot

Oh my god that would be hilarious

Are you saying you're EKs source?

I know I dont post too much, but I had some free time at work today and got ambitious. Please dont rip me apart too bad, I just wanted to have some fun and hopefully spark up some healthy debate about the glory years

Having so much fun watching these last few games and seeing the incredible potential of this team had me wondering how this team would stack up against the 2011 team that came just shy of winning it all. Below are both rosters with best case* lines. (*We can debate these all day)

2011 Lineup when fully healthy* (I realize that most never finished the season, but this is all hypothetical)
Burrows - Sedin - Sedin
Raymond - Kesler - Samuelsson
Higgins - Malhotra - Hansen
Torres - Lappierre - Glass

Erhoff - Edler
Hamhuis - Bieksa
Salo - Ballard

Luongo
Schneider

Depth available
Alberts - Rome - Tanev - Hodgson - Kassian - Weise



2019 Lineup when fully healthy*
Boeser - Pettersson - Miller
Pearson - Horvat - Virtanen
Eriksson - Sutter - Toffoli
Motte - Beagle - Roussel

Houghes - Tanev
Myers - Edler
Stetcher - Fantenberg

Markstrom
Demko

Depth available
Gaudette - Ferland - Leivo - Benn - Juolevi - MacEwen



For the forward lines, I see it like this
Line 1 - I give the advantage to 2011. I believe that the Lotto line has potential to be just as good someday (even soon), they arent quite there yet.

Line 2 - I would give to 2019 in a very slight advantage. I think Kesler before the hip injury was a little better than Bo, but the current second line has better balance for playoffs.

Line 3 - Another slight advantage to 2019.

Line 4 - Big advantage to 2019.

As for defense:
Pair 1 - Advantage 2019. Hughes is the already the most dynamic defenseman we have had and Tanev is now one of the best shutdown guys in the league. I see these 2 as one of the top pairs we have had ever
Pair 2 - Big advantage to 2011. No disrespect to Edler, but Myers is terrible. Juice and Hammer were solid both ways.
Pair 3 - Advantage 2011

For the goalies:
I love Marky but he is not prime 2011 Lou. Demko we havent really seen in a pressure situation, but I would still think 2011 Schneider would be better for a backup. - Huge advantage to 2011

Depth help: I think the current depth is much better than what 2011 had to work with. In the end with all of the injuries, the lack of depth is what did that team in.

After comparing everything, I have to admit that the 2011 team is still better overall. Mainly on the backend and in net, but this current team is clearly heading in the right direction and has the makings of being something special.

via GIPHY

- dbot

Miss that show TWD lol its like that in RL now eh..

CBJ up 3-1.
Wennberg with a beauty (doing his best Bo Horvat impression).
- dbot

Pierre-Luc Dubois with another 2 points (4g 4a) and 4 shots. That kid is outstanding.

Oh my god that would be hilarious

Are you saying you're EKs source?
- NorthNuck

I guess so!
OR that anyone can make these things up.

Pierre-Luc Dubois with another 2 points (4g 4a) and 4 shots. That kid is outstanding.
- bloatedmosquito

He's working very hard to keep pace with Hughes, 1 more point in 2 more games

I guess so!
OR that anyone can make these things up.

- dbot

You didn’t make it up. You started a rumour. EK reports rumours so it’s legit.

I know I dont post too much, but I had some free time at work today and got ambitious. Please dont rip me apart too bad, I just wanted to have some fun and hopefully spark up some healthy debate about the glory years

Having so much fun watching these last few games and seeing the incredible potential of this team had me wondering how this team would stack up against the 2011 team that came just shy of winning it all. Below are both rosters with best case* lines. (*We can debate these all day)

2011 Lineup when fully healthy* (I realize that most never finished the season, but this is all hypothetical)
Burrows - Sedin - Sedin
Raymond - Kesler - Samuelsson
Higgins - Malhotra - Hansen
Torres - Lappierre - Glass

Erhoff - Edler
Hamhuis - Bieksa
Salo - Ballard

Luongo
Schneider

Depth available
Alberts - Rome - Tanev - Hodgson - Kassian - Weise



2019 Lineup when fully healthy*
Boeser - Pettersson - Miller
Pearson - Horvat - Virtanen
Eriksson - Sutter - Toffoli
Motte - Beagle - Roussel

Houghes - Tanev
Myers - Edler
Stetcher - Fantenberg

Markstrom
Demko

Depth available
Gaudette - Ferland - Leivo - Benn - Juolevi - MacEwen



For the forward lines, I see it like this
Line 1 - I give the advantage to 2011. I believe that the Lotto line has potential to be just as good someday (even soon), they arent quite there yet.

Line 2 - I would give to 2019 in a very slight advantage. I think Kesler before the hip injury was a little better than Bo, but the current second line has better balance for playoffs.

Line 3 - Another slight advantage to 2019.

Line 4 - Big advantage to 2019.

As for defense:
Pair 1 - Advantage 2019. Hughes is the already the most dynamic defenseman we have had and Tanev is now one of the best shutdown guys in the league. I see these 2 as one of the top pairs we have had ever
Pair 2 - Big advantage to 2011. No disrespect to Edler, but Myers is terrible. Juice and Hammer were solid both ways.
Pair 3 - Advantage 2011

For the goalies:
I love Marky but he is not prime 2011 Lou. Demko we havent really seen in a pressure situation, but I would still think 2011 Schneider would be better for a backup. - Huge advantage to 2011

Depth help: I think the current depth is much better than what 2011 had to work with. In the end with all of the injuries, the lack of depth is what did that team in.

After comparing everything, I have to admit that the 2011 team is still better overall. Mainly on the backend and in net, but this current team is clearly heading in the right direction and has the makings of being something special.
- djlarose

2019 line up could be changed get that LE out of there for starters lol. Though you can't compare because 2011 they led the league in every category just about and core was in its prime years. Here we have a lot of potential with team building in every game.