[PGT] Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators // December 19, 2023

[Steamer4GM]

2 hours ago, Johnny said:

Haha

 

This is funny

 

hes in the press box and the team is doing just fine

And if one or two guys get hurt?

[Kragar]

23 minutes ago, Hairy Kneel said:

When things go wrong with a Col team.

Well said, but it's sure not as fun as a "pissy Leon" postgame

[Pure961089]

6 minutes ago, Attila Umbrus said:

Goal differential is my gold standard on how a team is actually playing.

 

Been a very long time since we had a nice goal diff.

 

All the best teams that go to the cup are pretty much all in that category.

The last Canucks team that had the top goal differential in the league was the 2011 team.  

[Goose]

A certain poster here might try to tell you Aman is a “plug” but that’s my boy scoring a big goal right there 

[Dr. Crossbar]

9 minutes ago, Attila Umbrus said:

Goal differential is my gold standard on how a team is actually playing.

 

Been a very long time since we had a nice goal diff.

 

All the best teams that go to the cup are pretty much all in that category.

 

Great way to put it. I view it the same. It's also a great barometer/indicator of which teams will make the playoffs. 

[Blue]

Low key Allvin is awesome 

Edited December 20, 2023 by Blue

[N4ZZY]

3 hours ago, HKSR said:

Just lmao to those guys that kept saying this team is trending down and is truly just a .500 hockey team.  Lmao.

 

who's saying that?? 

 

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

I was very critical of the team in the Minny and Blackhawks game.

 

But the Canucks responded with a strong performance tonight. Really liked how relentless they were in all three zones. Win or lose, if they come up with these kind of efforts majority of their games, I'd be very happy. Glad to see this team getting back to their stingy identity again.

[Ballisticsports]

1 hour ago, BIGGESTCANUCKSFANEVER said:

Not surprised that just like Messier, the 11 are  losers

 

[Keslers Ghost]

Joshua continues to impress.

[JamesB]

Convincing win against a hot team playing in their own arena. Could not ask for more. Here are some points that stood out for me.

 

1. All four lines won the expected goals battle. That is very unusual. The Miller line (with Boes and Hogs) matched up against the Forsberg line and dominated, including a very nice goal from Hogs. But the Pettersson line (with Mik and Suter) dominated even more. They scored two goals and had an 11-3 Corsi advantage and 8-1 shot advantage. Expected goals against were virtually zero. Once again (as in the last game) they were strong offensively and gave up nothing defensively. That line has to stay together. The Garland line was pretty good, slightly more than holding their own. And Joshua led the team with 4 hits. Even the Aman line has a slight edge in expected goals although they gave up both actual goals. 

 

2. Overall, an excellent night from the forwards. Everyone is playing hard and playing the "right way" (playing Tocchet hockey). Kuzy will no doubt get another chance soon but, right now, he looks like the odd man out.

 

3. On D, Hughes had a great night and got the highest rating across all 11 games in gamescore. He looked great tonight. The Myers/Zadorov pairing continues to look good. I am really beginning to appreciate the value of good coaching. Tocchet, Gonchar and Foote have really elevated the play of several players, including both vets (like Miller and Myers and Joshua) and younger guys  like Hogs.

 

4. Loved the first goal -- Petey off the rush blowing by Tyson Barrie. (Petey is fast but not exceptionally fast). Luke Schenn was Barrie's partner and he was losing ground even faster than Barrie although it did not matter.

 

5. I have mentioned Juulsen a lot recently and have been cheering his improved performance. However, the second Nashville goal was really his fault. I know others have discussed this and you could argue that throwing the puck up the boards is the normal play and the Canuck winger should have been there. But that play still showed poor situational awareness.  He was not bad tonight overall but he still finished at the bottom of the Canuck list based on expected goal differential. But no-one played badly tonight. Very satisfying game.

 

6. Finally, I have to comment on DeSmith. It is such a luxury to have a backup goalie of his calibre. The trade that brought him in is looking like an absolute steal as there is a decent chance that Pearson would not have been able to make the team. The Canucks were the better team, but DeSmith turned what could have been a close game into a comfortable win thanks to some big saves. It is such a pleasure to have front office that knows what they are doing instead of Bozo the Clown.

 

One more game to go on the road trip and probably the toughest opponent of the four, but I would not bet against the Canucks right now.

[Future Considerations]

can you believe it  !  

[Future Considerations]

this team seems really good, no ?  are you serious.  team playin' with the opposition right now.  figured out how to win.  quick strike offence.  everybody's gonna resign if we fall short this year,relaxed confidence, legit Stanley Cup Contender in 2024,  as will be every team that makes the playoffs.  Yeah man, Canucks are good again.... woohoo!

Edited December 20, 2023 by Future Considerations
last part just to respect the opposition. go Canucks go.

[LillStrimma]

4 hours ago, Hogs and Podz said:

See Kuzy... He's smiling, being supportive and being a great teammate. 

 

Is he frustrated?... for sure.  But rather than pout like so many here are.... "It's not fair!!!", he's choosing to take it to heart and get better as a player!!!   

 

Step away from the cliff everyone... I know we feel protective of our players, especially the guys like Kuzy but remember.... 

 

Tocc's approach is making Högs a legit fulltime top 6 player and  Joshua a revelation, a difference maker on the 3rd line.

 

Give him some time to figure this out... This isn't a instant gratification video game or movie.  This is life for any of us learning, failing and hopefully persevering.

 

Have faith in the process... AND MANAGEMENT.  In the meantime, we're winning!!!!! 

Kuz have the time of his life with 11 mill in the bank if he plays or not so he’s happy.

And when Toch needs him to score he just puts him in position and the ball is rolling again.

 

4 hours ago, MattJVD said:

"Wagon" is sometimes used in hockey jargon to mean a really good team. It's a play on that.

So it has nothing to do with the wagon wheels still attached to the wagon.

Some here thought the wheels had fallen off when we started losing. 

[MikeyD]

Goddamn center ice cut off 90% of the 2nd period on my recording but for the other 2/3rds I was allowed to watch Canucks played amazing. Really really solid game and finally seeing better structure and creativity on the rush.

 

Phenomenal game by a lot of players. Great to see DeSmith get rewarded. 

[Rounoush]

Who do you sit next game to put Kuzmenko back in?

 

Di Giuseppe? Lafferty? Someone else?

[MikeyD]

5 hours ago, Rip The Mesh said:

Blue - Blue....

 

I'm a straight male and Casey DeSmith is fucking adorable man! He's so wholesome! 

[MikeyD]

2 minutes ago, Rounoush said:

Who do you sit next game to put Kuzmenko back in?

 

Di Giuseppe? Lafferty? Someone else?

Probably Hughes is my guess.

 

Seriously though... Lafferty? Really? It's obvious that it'll be PDG when it does happen. 

[DeltaSwede]

6 minutes ago, MikeyD said:

I'm a straight male and Casey DeSmith is fucking adorable man! He's so wholesome! 

I think he's almost too humble! Seems like a great person

[stawns]

2 hours ago, I.AM.THE.WALRUS said:

Draft pics maybe?

 

They don't need picks, they need a roster player back, imo

[Rounoush]

14 minutes ago, MikeyD said:

Probably Hughes is my guess.

 

Seriously though... Lafferty? Really? It's obvious that it'll be PDG when it does happen. 

Lafferty hasn't done anything recently and Toch likes to keep his guys fresh. PDG just got back in.

[Curmudgeon]

1 hour ago, JamesB said:

Convincing win against a hot team playing in their own arena. Could not ask for more. Here are some points that stood out for me.

 

 

Always enjoy your thoughtful post game analyses. Here are a couple that stood out for me:

 

1. I can't remember the last time I saw a Canucks team this strong on the forecheck. They are like dogs on a bone and force turnovers regularly. 

2. I sense this team is starting to gain a little swagger, like they believe in themselves, the system and each other. Great to see.

3. When Rutherford was hired, and then hired Allvin, the message was that major surgery was necessary. Two and a half years later Allvin has added about a dozen roster players along with some good prospects in Abbotsford. Surgery seems to be going well.

4. I really like the way the players support each other in the defensive zone in keeping the threats to the outside and closing off the middle. Really sound coaching.

5. Adam Foote and/or Sergei Gonchar has worked miracles with Tyler Myers. Paired with Zadorov, he's playing with confidence and making the simple plays with the puck.

6. Quinn Hughes always thrills and amazes with his skating. Vancouver has never had a defenceman who can skate like that. And he only seems to get better.

7. The bottom six hasn't been this solid since the 2010-2011 season. While there are nights when they don't accomplish much in the way of offence, there isn't a soft spot there at all.

8. Life is so much nicer when the Canucks are winning.

[Elias Pettersson]

Tyler Myers is having a great last couple of weeks.  Playing with Zadorov has really helped his game.  I can easily see him coming back next year.  Especially if Willander isn't ready yet.  With Myers playing well, we don't really need an upgrade on D right now, as we still have Soucy who is coming back soon, so one of Cole or Juulsen will sit.

 

Speaking of Juulsen, he is also turning it around.  Great to see.  Foote and Gonchar are like Manna from Heaven in helping this defence.  Juulsen is now a solid 6/7 Dman in this league and can play on the bottom pairing on alot of teams.  We haven't even seen Friedman in a long time and that is a good thing.

 

As for Kuzy, he probably sits again next game.  We will see what happens.  The Italian has come back down to earth and is playing to his usual skill level, which is missing empty nets.  Can't believe he was actually ahead of Hoglander at one point and playing in the top 6.  We definitely need an upgrade on PDG for the 4th line.  Trenin was all over the ice tonight.  I'd love to get him here in Vancouver...

Edited December 20, 2023 by Elias Pettersson

[Blue]

It's 2 am. Why are you guys still up 

 

Someone will probably overpay for Myers. Like Gudbranson. id rather just keep him on a good deal but it rarely happens like that.

Edited December 20, 2023 by Blue

[Blue]

55 minutes ago, Rounoush said:

Who do you sit next game to put Kuzmenko back in?

 

Di Giuseppe? Lafferty? Someone else?

PDG. Next game , we will probably need a clutch goal from the top line and Kuz won't be on the ice. Just like the loss after he sat the first time. Let's not make that error again. Talent doesn't go away. Kuz is in a funk. He just has to play his way out of it. Put him on the 2nd or 3rd line. Not this 4th line bullshit. 

 

Kuz is a one way player. It's ok to have one of them. And it's not just about effort on the back check. Kuz is probably having a hard time managing his energy. He is gassed at the wrong times. Maybe that's just the way he's built and why he's a one way player and not a Selke candidate. Ilya Kovalchuk was a one way player. Would Tocc put him on the 4th line too ? This is bullshit.