Canucks

TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS OF THE VANCOUVER THE CANUCKS…ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT ONE STAT…
THE CANUCKS HAVE GIVEN UP 25 GOALS IN THEIR LAST 5 GAMES…
AS A THE RESULT…
THE CANUCKS MANAGED TO EARN JUST 1 OUT OF A POSSIBLE 10 POINTS DURING THEIR 5 GAME HOME STAND…
NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART…
THE ATTACHMENT OF “BLAME”…
RIGHT NOW THERE’S PLENTY TO GO AROUND…
BUT…GET SOME DISTANCE FROM THIS MESS…AND LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO…OFFENSIVE STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO ADD PLAYERS WHO COULD FIT INTO THAT STYLE…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MATS SUNDIN…PAVOL DEMITRA…KYLE WELLWOOD…AND STEVE BERNIER…
NO LONGER ARE THE CANUCKS COMMITTED TO A “DEFENCE FIRST” PHILOSOPHY…
THE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ASKED…HEADING INTO THE ALL-STAR BREAK…IS THIS…
DO THE CANUCKS HAVE “THE FIRE POWER” TO PLAY THIS BRAND OF HOCKEY???
THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 7 OF THEIR LAST 8…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…IT’S WHO THEY’VE LOST TO…
5 OF THOSE 7 LOSSES HAVE COME AT THE HANDS OF TEAMS “BELOW” THEM IN STANDINGS…
THEY’RE ALSO 1 AND 6 IN THE SHOOTOUT…
NOW ALL THIS IS NOT TO SUGGEST…THE CANUCKS SHOULD GO BACK TO THE “DULL AND BORING STYLE” THEY USED IN THE PREVIOUS TWO SEASONS…
NOBODY WANTS THAT…NOBODY!!!
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND…
TWO YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS WERE THIRD IN THE NHL IN “GOALS AGAINST”…
THEY WON THEIR DIVISION AND KNOCKED OFF DALLAS IN THE FIRST ROUND…
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS…ROBERTO LUONGO WAS A FINALIST FOR 3 LEAGUE AWARDS…INCLUDING THE HART TROPHY…
AND…OF THE 49 WINS THE CANUCKS ENJOYED THAT SEASON…LUONGO WAS IN GOAL FOR 47 OF THEM…
QUITE SIMPLY THE CANUCKS ARE NOT “GOOD ENOUGH” TO OUT SCORE THEIR MISTAKES…
SO MAYBE IT’S TIME…THEY STARTED CONCENTRATING ON MAKING A LOT LESS OF THEM…