The Vancouver Canucks

Slinky · Minors Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Canton, GA

there's no telling what Ozzy is going to do. but i definitely see Detroit as Vancouver's most troublesome potential opponent. Vancouver's defense isn't the fastest, and tends to let the opposing forwards win the races to the puck, and then just try crush them and take the puck, but Detroit's forwards may be too quick moving the puck to Lidstrom, Kronwall and Rafalski on the point... and you don't want to be giving them the puck on the blue line.

Anaheim could also be big trouble with that defensive corp they have. Having 2 scoring lines doesn't do much when you're up against a team of 3 defensive pairings that could be top 2 defense on a lot of teams. Pronger, Neidermeyer, Whitney, Beauchiman (sp?), Wisniewski.... who the hell let Burke put that back end together? (Whitney wasn't burkes doing, granted)
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Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:10 pm Post subject:

Add in the fact that Niedermeyer is insane. He's an amazing Defensive D player and an even better Offensive D person...I still think that the Ducks lack the scoring to get past Detroit or Vancouver. Doesn't matter if you go 7 OTs with a 0-0 score, I guarantee Hiller will fold before Ossy assuming Ossy keeps up his current play. That's one of the perks of having a veteran minder.

Slinky · Minors Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Canton, GA

Getzlaf is a monster. Finished with 93 or 94 points i think. Neidermeyer and Pronger both provide a lot of offense from the blue line. Selanne is getting older... yes. I think Anaheim's offense isn't that far behind Vancouver's, but both of them are behind Detroit by a good margin (obviously). Anaheim has goalie issues, Hiller isn't going to turn it on and carry them through the playoffs.

Offense:
1. Detroit
2. (neither team is close enough to Detroit to earn 2nd)
3. Vancouver
4. Anaheim

Defense:
1. Detroit
2. Anaheim
3. Vancouver

Goaltending
1. Vancouver
2. (see offense)
3. Detroit
4. Anaheim.
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Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

Detroit has good defense, but I don't think it's good enough to rate first. I'd definitely have to give that to Anaheim then Vancouver then Detroit.

Slinky · Minors Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Canton, GA

if you're rating on defensive ability, yes.

if you consider defensive and the ability to create offense from the blue line, or start a breakout, I have to give it to detroit... 3 defensemen with over 50 points this season, and that was with kronwall and lidstrom having a slightly down years, where as anaheim only has neidermeyer with more than 50, and vancouver only has two with more than 25 points.

detroit's defensive corp may not have the same shutdown ability as the other two, but they can turn any situation in their own end into an offensive chance at the other end, and they are a huge reason why detroit has the most lethal power play in the NHL (there were some on nhl.com and espn.com speculating the best powerplay in NHL history)
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Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject:

But, just like looking at Wins to judge a goalie, Points for defensive players is kind of stupid because Kronwall and Lidstrom were obviously not scoring 50 goals meaning that most of the points probably came from passes to players who scored...and look at who they were passing to-Datsyuk, Franzen, Hossa, Holmstrom. I mean if Niedermeyer or 1/2 of the other teams D were passing to those guys they'd easily have as many if not more points. Anaheim lacks the scoring players that Detroit has...I think Anaheim truly has the best D players, then Vancouver, then Detroit.

Slinky · Minors Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Canton, GA

good point. defense do mainly get points on assists, as well they should. i guess we'll see who is better off... 1 of those 3 teams will almost surely make it out of the west, and 2 of them will probably face off in the west finals.
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itechwarrior · Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

GO CANUCKS GO. Wink

Vancouver can handle Detroit. We split the series 2-2 this year, and they weren't playing good hockey the last two games. Luongo was also injured during that time.

Canucks vs Ducks, went 3 win's vancouver 3 overtime wins for the ducks. And the win's also came when Luongo was playing his best.

Chicago or Flames, should be able to handle either of these guys with equal ease. Smile

Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:01 pm Post subject:

Chi/Cgy...that's why I didn't even bring them up. The series between them is AWESOME! But they're most definitely not contenders.

Slinky · Minors Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Canton, GA

oh yeah, i'm loving the hawks and flames series. just ridiculous, but the goaltending is a touch lacking in it. everything else is there in excess though.

after due deliberation, arth, you convinced me, i'll give anaheim the best d-corp in the west, but i think detroit still edges vancouver.
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Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:00 pm Post subject:

I definitely think the best possible matchup is Vancouver-Detroit...great goalies, pretty evenly matched D and great shooters for both.

puckstopper135 · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject:

Slinky · Minors Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Canton, GA

i had detroit and vancouver playing in the 2nd round b/c i have the sharks beating anaheim, but i firmly believe if they don't meet in the 2nd round it'll be the west finals. detroit plays so well, i really makes me wonder if anyone can beat them, in the west I have to say Vanc has the best chance, Boston has the best chance out of the east, but Boston would really have to play much more puck possession to do it. I really like Vancouver to win it all though. Good set up for next year's Winter Olympics too
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Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:53 pm Post subject:

puckstopper135 · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:15 am Post subject:

At one point - 21 shots, 5 goals. CRAAAAAPPPPYYYYY
That's the Ozzie we all know and love Laughing