Monday, January 19, 2009

Canucks-Sharks Preview: The Glass is Half Full

Too much gore for the post image? Oh well.
The Canucks finally get away from home to play the Sharks at the tank tomorrow/today. Before this big homestand they just failed at miserably, we were saying how much they needed to get off the road and away from the insane schedule. Now it's the other way around. I'm sure it's too tense for a team struggling with having a fragile confidence level to be playing that many games at home.
Unfortunately they play the best team in the West on the road before the All Star break hits.
Last time these 2 teams played wasn't all that long ago, and the Sharks had their way with us. I'm thinking the teams' effort may be better this time around, even if the end result is possibly the same.
There was some fight in the Canucks' game against the Blue Jackets. After the 4 goals against brain fart the Canucks showed resiliency to tie it up at 5. They showed that they aren't quitting. That's a good thing. That is one reason why I think the glass is half full with this team and not half empty.
Another reason? Sundin is looking better. Luongo and Sundin are going to need more time to play at the level that we expect of them. Sundin is progressing. Luongo has only had 2 games under his belt since his return and looks like he needs a lot of work. But he'll get there. Luongo called himself a "work in progress" after the loss to Columbus and that he is.
The defence, with Bieksa being center stage for his follies will improve. There just isn't a lot of confidence there right now and the D is not making smart decisions getting the puck out of their zone. But they were being smart earlier in the season. They'll get back to that smart play.

Demitra's groin injury shouldn't spell demise. When he hurt his ribs in late October, the Canucks went 6-2-1 in his absence. The were 3-4-0 before that injury and had lost the previous 3 straight games. Demitra is not the cog that holds this machine together. He's only an inconsistent drifting part of it.

Sami Salo is ready to play against the Sharks. Speaking of not getting the puck out of their zone...Salo can help with that, and he can also play a tonne of minutes. Oh and his shot on the power play is missed. But remember, Salo is not going to save the day. The team as a whole needs to build on the positives of the game against Columbus.

More updates pre game as they happen.

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14 Comments:

At January 19, 2009 at 7:40 p.m. , Anonymous Anonymous said...

How dare you refer to Lou as 'brain fart'. That's CAPTAIN Brain Fart to you, sonny, and don't you forget it.

p.s. Girls don't brain fart.

p.p.s. The boys are due a storybook ending. No time like the present. Maybe this time, they won't get skunked. A goal would be nice. Maybe a couple. It's possible.

I'm calling Burrows in the First, with 7:26 left on the clock. Just to get things rolling. Anyone else?

 
At January 19, 2009 at 8:51 p.m. , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd like to say I have faith that the team can pull out a win, but I'd be happy with a solid effort where they hit anything that moved and carried the puck, played some sound defence, and made Toskala stand on his head to win the game. Go into the break on a good note/effort against a good team.

I'm also psyched to see Burr introduce himself to Claude "The Turtle" Lemieux. They can talk about tea or something.

 
At January 19, 2009 at 9:47 p.m. , Blogger Sean Zandberg said...

Sorry mother Nucker. :) I'm with Chris on this one. Should be a spirited effort and a 5-4 loss. I wouldn't completely count out Vancouver though. Beating San Jose would probably end this team's slumping nature. It's a lot to ask for at this point in time.

 
At January 19, 2009 at 10:50 p.m. , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, I didn't say they would win...Just that they would (hopefully) score a couple. Just to keep their spirits up (and ours.)

Your predicted score sounds about right, Sean. Unfortunately.

Speaking of brain farts, Chris: Toskala? Am I at the wrong rink? I do agree with you, though, that a solid effort before the break is crucial. Let's hope.

 
At January 20, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. , Blogger Temujin said...

9-3 Canucks

The power of Trevor Linden compels them

Sundin (3), D Sedin, Bernier, Kesler, Wellwood, Bieksa, Mitchell

Thornton, Clowe (2)

 
At January 20, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. , Blogger Sean Zandberg said...

Ah, you underestimate the power of Thornton and Marleau! haha

5-4 Sharks. Last game they took it easy on us and won 5-0.

 
At January 20, 2009 at 4:50 p.m. , Blogger Temujin said...

We're gonna pull out a big win tonight.

 
At January 20, 2009 at 6:06 p.m. , Blogger Sean Zandberg said...

It would be somewhat of a miracle.
Claude Lemieux is gonna past someone face first into the boards Draper-style!

 
At January 20, 2009 at 7:14 p.m. , Anonymous Anonymous said...

When you look at the Sharks' numbers, doesn't it just make you want to puke green stuff? I mean, come on! Enough already. We get the point. Bugger off. I think I hear your shark-mother calling.

 
At January 20, 2009 at 8:53 p.m. , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Keep the faith...

 
At January 20, 2009 at 10:06 p.m. , Blogger Marja said...

What a load of crap. Big effort and still a loss.

And we know we are officially in the dogdays of the season. Phoenix, Edmonton ahead of us :)

Hopefully we will rise in after the break and the bottom feeders will go back to there respective cellars...

 
At January 20, 2009 at 10:20 p.m. , Anonymous Anonymous said...

My heart is broken...no jokes tonight.

p.s. Check the time on that first (and only) goal though. Pretty fucking close, n'est-ce pas? Spooky. (And Burrows and Pyatt do kinda look alike...if you squint...)

 
At January 20, 2009 at 10:49 p.m. , Anonymous Anonymous said...

@Nucker: I blame it on getting old, but serious brain fart indeed - I figured it out while on the bus this morning and if I had the opportunity, I would have sat in the box for two and felt much shame.

 
At January 21, 2009 at 12:31 a.m. , Blogger Sean Zandberg said...

god damnit. That was a close one. We could have taken that one.
Good to see Luongo back on his game tho. That can only mean good things ahead.

 

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Waiting For Stanley was created in June 2006.