Canucks 2008/09 Edition, 3/4 mark - exceeding expectations!

[aznboi9]

2007 Vancouver Canucks team finished 3rd in the conference with 105 Points based on a 49-26-7 record. They won the first round - great.

Yes, Vancouver finished 3rd in the conference, but that was by virtue of the seeding rules. If your going to use points to compare the Habs to other teams, then I think it's only fair to do the same with the Canucks, who finished behind 5 other teams in the conference based on the same standard. Still in the upper half of the conference; but lets be real, no one was picking them as a favourite.

But in typical Canuck fashion - they found a way to give up a 2-0 lead at home against Anaheim and could not score more than 2 goals per game.

I don't think you can blame Luongo for the teams lack of scoring. That's where the rest of the team comes in; so I disagree that it's distraction to bring those points up.

Roy has proven to be a clutch goalie both in the playoffs and in the regular season. Until Luongo can put up respectable playoff numbers (whether it be with the Canucks or with another team in a few years) - he will not be able to be regarded in quite the same manner (similar to the Peyton Manning anaology).

But that's the thing, the rap that Manning wasn't a playoff performer was based on his actual performance. He had an actual history of very poor play in the post season. Heck, I even remember in the year they won the Superbowl, he was flubbing it in their first game and Al Michaels was expressing his amazement on how Manning was one of the greatest regular season QB's of all type, yet he somehow always managed to screw the pooch in the post season. So I don't think the Manning analogy is exactly apt.

And I'm not saying that Luongo is Roy. But the debate that numbnuts put forth is that Luongo is not a playoff performer. Past history says otherwise. Luongo put up very respectable numbers in his lone playoff appearance. Could it have been a fluke? Of course, but we'll find out soon enough.

 

[kalel]

i think one of the problems with hockey in the playoffs is that the rules changes. detroit has to be the best example of a team that has a killer power play in the regular season and because alot of the same penalties don't get called they don't have that success in the playoffs. they stumble with first round opponents, and quite often don't make the second round.but if they do they pick up momentum and shit kick a very worthy opponent in the finals (an opponent much better than what they faced in the first round).

still roy - won first time around and many since. clearly mentioned when you think of greatest goalie ever. tom brady, joe montana won first time out and many since. clearly mentioned when you think of greatest qb's.

all three of these guys carried their team(s) first time around. and each one played with a star studded cast on the next few championships. the canucks haven't demonstrated that fire yet. they do however have a history of beating top tier teams in the regular season and then losing to the bottom feeders. they also have a history of either being down 3-1 and then forcing game 7 or being up 3-1 and going to game 7.

 

[teejay69]

Yes, Vancouver finished 3rd in the conference, but that was by virtue of the seeding rules. If your going to use points to compare the Habs to other teams, then I think it's only fair to do the same with the Canucks, who finished behind 5 other teams in the conference based on the same standard. Still in the upper half of the conference; but lets be real, no one was picking them as a favourite.

The other teams ahead of them (which were lower seeds) were Nashville (110) and San Jose (107) and Dallas (107) and they benefited from having crappy teams in their respective divisions (Columbus, Chicago, Kings, Phoenix). The gap was not as bad as you portray things and to reiterate - they won their division it was much tougher given travel and there was only one really bad team (Oilers).

Who gives a shit as to whether or not it is points. It does not change the fact that the Canucks were seeded 3rd and coming off one of their best regular seasons ever. The point I was making is that the expectations for Vancouver (who with one of the top regular season goalies and the best penalty killing unit) was greater than that expected of Montreal (with a rookie goalie).

 

[aznboi9]

Who gives a shit as to whether or not it is points.

Well, I don't. You guys brought it up, not me

It does not change the fact that the Canucks were seeded 3rd and coming off one of their best regular seasons ever. The point I was making is that the expectations for Vancouver (who with one of the top regular season goalies and the best penalty killing unit) was greater than that expected of Montreal (with a rookie goalie).

Well I don't know what the expectations of Montreal were. But if I recall, Vancouver wasn't even favoured against Dallas.

At any rate, talking about expectations is kind of moot because we're talking about past history. So if you can look at the make up of both teams and still believe that the '86 team in front of Roy is inferior to the team in front of Luongo in '07, then we'll just have to agree to disagree.

 

[Arrrg]

But if I recall, Vancouver wasn't even favoured against Dallas.

Bingo, we didn't want that match up at all...

 

[wilde]

The biggest reason the Habs won the cup in 1986 is without a doubt a little known chap at the time by the name of Patrick Roy. The second biggest reason, IMHO, is because the Oilers was knocked out because of the now infamous Steve Smith goal. Bob Gainey has stated many times that winning the cup that year was unexpected and a pleasant surprise.

.

 

[BJhunter]

The biggest reason the Habs won the cup in 1986 is without a doubt a little known chap at the time by the name of Patrick Roy.

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that's what I've been saying to these canuckleheads who love to suck on Luongo's bad cock.

Luongo wishes he can carry Roy's jock strap If Luongo can even win 1 playoff round ALL BY HIMSELF, like that year Roy won against Boston after having his appendix removed.

So cry me a river over Luongo's groin

 

[aznboi9]

The biggest reason the Habs won the cup in 1986 is without a doubt a little known chap at the time by the name of Patrick Roy.

Of course he was. The argument is whether the team in front of him is worse than the '07 Canucks, who BJ already described as being comprised of "no name defense" and "swedish meatballs".

 

[teejay69]

The point here is not about which team was worse. It is which team was expected to do more AT THE START OF THE PLAYOFFS. Based on regular season results and the fact that the Habs had an unknown rookie goalie - how the fuck would anyone expect them to do much in the playoffs.

If your expectations are to have a good regular season (not last but not first) - not winning the division title and the usual early exit from the playoffs - just say so.

 

[BJhunter]

The point here is not about which team was worse. It is which team was expected to do more AT THE START OF THE PLAYOFFS. Based on regular season results and the fact that the Habs had an unknown rookie goalie - how the fuck would anyone expect them to do much in the playoffs.

If your expectations are to have a good regular season (not last but not first) - not winning the division title and the usual early exit from the playoffs - just say so.

Right on there, Teejay. You understand where I'm coming from, and same for Wilde, and not just b/c he's a Habs fan

Maybe i have to make myself more clear to the biggest Canucklehead??? (Aznboi, Ferry or Trackster, take your pick). I don't keep track of everything b/c they say the most ridiculous things, but my whole point about Loungo, well, the media here, the bandwagons, the homers (Taylor, Larshield, Garrett), make him like a god, that ppl actually think he's that good. He's BETTER than anyone we've had, yes.

Well, Roy won a Cup in his first playoff year, and he played UNBELIEVABLE. Luongo did play good in his first playoff, but no Cup. How can you when you have Naslund & Sedins in your lineup for playoff battle? we can go on and on, about which team was better, but Mtl sure wasn't a fav in 1986, like Detroit would been now. Til then, playoffs it's a new ballgame.

It's as simple as that.

 

[teejay69]

This is about expectations and the Canucks' recent history is not very good. Look at 2003 - we had two guys in top 5 scoring - Naslund 104 points and Bertuzzi 97 points. Cloutier had another 30 win season with a franchise record 7 shutouts. We won a playoff series for the first time in eight years by beating St Louis. We had home ice advantage and were up 3-1 against a young and inexperienced Minnesota Wild team (who had upset Colorado). Everyone knows the rest of the story so please do not counter with the BUT WE DID WELL IN THE REGULAR SEASON argument.

Even Calgary (6 seed in 2004 with Kiprusoff) and the Oilers (8 seed in 2006 with Roloson) both made "unexpected trips" to a cup finals without a Luongo calibre goalie. In fact - that was Kipper's first season with the Flames after being a backup with San Jose. While the team is doing better now - I am not sure what everyone is expecting but let's wait until the playoffs. Don't get me wrong - I am not trying to instigate things here - I follow them all the time but at least I am more realistic. One needs to take the good with the bad and it seems that some have a hard time with any negative comment about our beloved team.

 

[Cock Throppled]

If he REALLY was the best goalie in the league he wouldn't need a month to get into top form, he wouldn't regularly give up weak goals and he'd learn how to handle the puck behind his own net.
Like a $20 crack ho he goes down too fast and opens the five hole too often.

 

[Karl Blues]

I am not trying to instigate things here - I follow them all the time but at least I am more realistic. One needs to take the good with the bad and it seems that some have a hard time with any negative comment about our beloved team.

That's a valid point. I think though that the issue is this BJH guy's constant barrage of taunts, insults and un-balanced point of view. He loses some good points cause they get lost in foul language and personal attacks.

Calling fans nuckleheads, canuckleheads, insulting people's nationality, making broad sweeping statements about Swedish players, then calling them swiss cheese, comes across as very arrogant. It is bound to incite an angry reaction.

Methinks (as someone already said) that he just loves attention and loves to incite, kinda like Sean Avery!

 

[Inamorato]

kinda like Sean Avery!

Except nobody wants his sloppy seconds.

 

[kalel]

.

The second biggest reason, IMHO, is because the Oilers was knocked out because of the now infamous Steve Smith goal. Bob Gainey has stated many times that winning the cup that year was unexpected and a pleasant surprise.

are you sure that wasn't THE biggest reason?

yes, you are a true fan to remember the impact of that goal, and the fact that if the oil won that year that would have made it 5 in a row for them.

 

[teejay69]

Yeah - that makes losing to the Wild that year all the more frustrating. In the playoffs - it is sometimes a situation of who you do not have to face. They had the components to go deep and would have matched up well against the Ducks. Sometimes - a team needs to catch breaks and that year - the top 3 seeds were knocked out and we would have had home ice advantage against Anaheim (seeded 7th) had we beaten the Wild.

 

[teejay69]

Except nobody wants his sloppy seconds.

In true BJH fashion - it would typically be COF Sloppy seconds.

 

[trackstar]

Hey, I just reached the number of posts matching the year bjh dropped out of high school!

 

[BJhunter]

If he REALLY was the best goalie in the league he wouldn't need a month to get into top form, he wouldn't regularly give up weak goals and he'd learn how to handle the puck behind his own net.
Like a $20 crack ho he goes down too fast and opens the five hole too often.

It's too bad that Trackstar has his ASS all the way thru Luongo's tonsils by now Maybe Luogno could play a lot better w/o carrying such a canucklehead like a used, oily rag.

You know, all this talk about Luongo's traditional 'slow' starts, is that a pathetic excuse or what? Is he out of shape during the off-season? does he take awhile before he gets his bearings? do u see Roy, Brodeur, Hasek, Belfour having these issues? That's why Luongo will so far, NEVER, be mentioned in the same breath as those other greats.

Look, even I have to admit that he's the best -ever the nucks have had, which isn't saying much. With crap shit like Cloutier, Weekes, Auld, Essena, Caprice, Irbe, Burke, yeah, I guess even Aznboi would look good between the pipes

You get paid $6 million per, you better have quicker starts! Imagine the CEO telling his board, that "I dont' really get going til maybe the 3rd or 4th month of the fiscal year, but still pay me full rate, I'll get there eventually" lol.

 

[trackstar]

It's too bad that Trackstar has his ASS all the way thru Luongo's tonsils by now Maybe Luogno could play a lot better w/o carrying such a canucklehead like a used, oily rag.

You know, all this talk about Luongo's traditional 'slow' starts, is that a pathetic excuse or what? Is he out of shape during the off-season? does he take awhile before he gets his bearings? do u see Roy, Brodeur, Hasek, Belfour having these issues? That's why Luongo will so far, NEVER, be mentioned in the same breath as those other greats.

Look, even I have to admit that he's the best -ever the nucks have had, which isn't saying much. With crap shit like Cloutier, Weekes, Auld, Essena, Caprice, Irbe, Burke, yeah, I guess even Aznboi would look good between the pipes

You get paid $6 million per, you better have quicker starts! Imagine the CEO telling his board, that "I dont' really get going til maybe the 3rd or 4th month of the fiscal year, but still pay me full rate, I'll get there eventually" lol.

You have never seen me say fuck all about Luongo being better than anybody numb-nuts. Must be the Alzheimers kicking in you old fart