Flames burned the Canucks to a crisp, 3-1
Well, it seems like only Cory Schneider and the defense showed up for the Canucks tonight? I mean, defensively, the forwards were great, but offensively, which is their number 1 job, they were horrendous.
What the heck happened to the Canucks that scored 3+ goals a game?!!! Come back Canucks!
Anyway, on paper, it looks as though Cory Schneider had a horrendous NHL debut, but it was really far from it. He was fantastic.
He was always in position, he was aggressive on the shooter and kept track of the puck very well. He didn't look shaky at all.
I think the defense helped him a lot, too. He gave away a few crucial rebounds which the D immediately gobbled up and put it out of harm's way. The Canucks forwards collapsed around the net to rally support Schneids in his first game.
Which leads us to what the problem was.
They were too focused to play a perfect game defensively that their offensive game disappeared. It wasn't until the 3rd period that they really started to put it on, but by then it was too late.
The powerplay was especially horrendous. X_X As I was saying in a previous tweet, there should be an option to decline penalties in the NHL just like they do in the NFL. :P It would work well with the Canucks.
They just get out-hustled in the PP. Sometimes it seems like they're playing 5 on 5 because the PKers of the other team can just easily keep them away from the puck and negate any scoring chance.
Blah.
I should just focus on praising Cory. And Willie. Willie was great. Willie is always great. I love when he and Phaneuf was jawing off at each other XD!!! That made me laugh so much... :P I kinda wanted Willie to punch Phaneuf's face in. There's seriously something wrong with it.. I can't describe it.
Speaking of other hilarious things... Jim and Craig were focusing on Kyle Wellwood and how he wins his faceoffs the entire game.
Basically, Welly wins his faceoff by sticking his right foot out with perfect timing to either block the other center's stick or to kick it away. He's been doing this for the Canucks all season, and I'm guessing he's been doing it with the Leafs as well, but the Flames are trying to find ways to beat Wellwood in the faceoffs. XD
Anyway, so beating Welly involves the Flames cheating as well, either by employing the same tactics as him by sticking their own foot out or by dropping their stick faster than he can kick it out.
The funny thing is, it backfired on them 2 times. XD I really laughed out loud when Craig Conroy tried the "stick-foot-out" move during the first PK, and got kicked out of the faceoff circle because it was so obvious that he is cheating, Wellwood eventually won that draw. They just don't have Wellwood's timing. I seriously LOLed when I saw Conroy stick his foot out XD my dad had to ask what I found so funny.
yeah. To summarize, I wasn't too pleased with the Canucks tonight. Just no effort from the forwards, but at least seeing Cory play great for his first start was very... reassuring. To some fans, it is an easy decision as to who they want to keep between Luongo and Schneider, but for me, I really don't know who I would like to keep. I'd like both if possible, but obviously you can't. Schneids is like... the first homegrown goaltender of the Canucks that is showing he has the skill, while Roberto Luongo is this all-world goaltender right now. AHH. I think I will have a bittersweet feeling to whatever course of action the Canucks will take.
For now, I am just pleased with what I saw in Cory tonight and I hope he starts again on Monday. :D
