Canucks / Avalanche Preview
I am loving this time of year! The races for final playoff spots especially in the East, but also in the West between Colorado and Calgary have been a thrill to watch.
Colorado's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. It could be over for them tonight.
There is no doubt that the Avs will be scoreboard watching, as they are 5 points behind Calgary. The Flames play the Sharks starting at 7:30 pst. The Canucks/Avs game starts at 7:00 pst. A win by the Flames will terminate the Avs' hopes. A win by the Canucks tonight in regulation will terminate the Avs' chances.
Tonight, you would have to think that if the Avalanche players look up and see Calgary beating the Sharks say, 3-1 early in the 3rd, that it will negatively affect their psyche and potentially ruin their momentum and desire. But we'll see.
Odds are stacked against Colorado. Even if the Sharks beat the Flames in regulation tonight, and the Avs beat Vancouver, Calgary plays Edmonton on Saturday, and you know how lousy the Oilers are. A win by Calgary against the Oilers would make Sunday's Flames/Avalanche game nearly pointless. That's no fun....
The Canucks, who still have 3 games left, need the win tonight to clinch top spot in the Northwest. They will get a tremendous boost as Mattias Ohlund returns to the lineup, hopefully to shut down Joe Sakic.
Tonight is Fan Appreciation Night in Vancouver, as they play their next and last 2 games on the road against San Jose and Phoenix.
My prediction:
A bold one. The Sharks will beat the Flames. The Avs are relentless and defeat the Canucks 4-3 in OT, making the race between Calgary and Colorado that much more exciting, and prompting Naslund to give one of his 'We Choked' speeches! Haha, ok, I kid. Ironically, the Avs, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10, have only lost to the Canucks in that span. Does that mean anything?
The Avs have more on the line tonight. Given the Canucks' recent lack of intensity during prolonged sections of games, I think that will be the difference. Colorado is going to come at them hard. I think it will take a massive Luongod effort to stop them.
Anyone else got a prediction?
Tech Tags: Canucks Avalanche Preview
14 Comments:
Who needs a prediction when I have yours to cheer me up.
I will predict Minnesota loses to clinch the division for Vancouver anyways.
Pick an actual score! I dare ya!
4-2 Avs
3-2 Sharks
Hmm i guess i didn't realize Edmonton was playing minnesota... It's hard to pick edmonton these days, but i'll be cheerful and do it
2-1 (OT) Oilers
Bold indeed! Nice!
2-1 Canucks. Daniel and Naslund...the latter no doubt with an empty netter.
Oh yeah, I said 4-3 Avs. Naslund, Smolinski and Danny score for Vancouver. Sakic scores 2, Stastny scores 1 and McLean scores 1.
I very much doubt CO will pull Budaj in a 1-1 game... so how would Naslund get the empty netter?
That is one bold prediction
Could be 1-0 with like 90 seconds left and he gets pulled...then Nazzy chips one in and Sakic scores afterward anyway. God, that really sounds like something that would happen to last year's team.
Really more of a shot against Naslund's goal scoring issues, but whatever, I'm nothing if not bold!
As much as I want to grill you for picking the Avs, this time I have to agree with your anti-homer shenanigans. It's "Fan Appreciation Night" for cryin' out loud. And we all know what means.
The fans go home disappointed.
4-1 Avs
Sakic (3 goals and a five minute standing ovation), Brunette
Morrison
Conversely....
4-2 Canucks
Naslund, Morrison, Pyatt, Bieksa
Sakic (2... and a standing ovation)
Am I allowed to make two predictions? Will I be seen as dishonourable for doing so? Can this new multi-prediction trend become commonplace? Do my ramblings appear more sensible with a questions mark?
Forgive me, I'm drunk on playoff aspiration.
"God, that really sounds like something that would happen to last year's team"
Holy shit! Isn't that the truth?!
Jin, I'll take your first one. Ya can't have 2!
Wow, you are finally developing a bit more of a sense of reality!! :)
However, it would show a hell of a lot of resolve for the Canucks to beat the Avs tonight. Just to give them the ol' "fuck you" for a decade of misery. I hope that happens, but I just doubt it.
Seriously though, if the Flames are up 4-0 on the Sharks in the second tonight, you KNOW the Avs are going to fold like cheap lawn chairs. I would!
Hey, anyone interested in joining my TCF hockey pool? I'm giving the winner 50 bucks!
I love a good hockey pool... TCF?
click on the link in my left sidebar.
All you have to do is register and then join my pool there. It's called Waiting For Stanley.
It is TCF, yes.
No i didn't know what TCF stood for... now i know
i'm gonna say 3-2 canucks
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