Clifford and Doughty Hits

In retrospect, I have seen a better angle on the Doughty hit and it is clear that it is not a hit to the head. It was still a blindside hit, however Doughty will definitely not be suspended.

The Clifford hit is most definitely dirty. Out of respect for Tanev I do not want to post a video of it on this blog. Clifford should get a couple game suspension out of this. He checked Tanev headfirst into the boards. It is clear now that by the NHL trying to reduce concussions, they have placed too much emphasis on blindside hits to the head, and not enough to other dirty plays that cause concussions, like checks from behind. Matt Cooke's hit was not very much dirtier than Kyle Clifford's, but Cooke is gone for a very long time. NHL will have to readjust this in the offseason.



-Hark

Canucks Win Presidents Trophy

No surprise Here. The Canucks had this thing on lockdown. Lets Celebrate it for the night and then move on from it. Canucks have to make sure that they keep their focus on going far in the playoffs, and got get caught up with the small celebrations on the way to Lord Stanley.

The Canucks/Kings Game got really out of hand tonight. The refs were letting a lot of things go early on and throughout the game, and it culminated in Kyle Clifford hitting Chris Tanev into the boards from behind. Clifford was frustrated because his team was down a goal and they couldn't muster a single shot in the entire third period. Clifford fucked over his team by taking a 5 minute major late in the game ensuring his team stood no chance of coming back. It was a really bad play on his part, especially because how dirty it was. Tanev was definitely concussed on the play and did not return to the game.

The other bad hit of the night was on Danel Sedin's second goal. At the same time as getting a shot to the head, Daniel Sedin scores a goal. Talk about taking the hit to make the play. Doughty was out of line and you don't make that kind of hit against a superstar in the league. He also should go for the puck and try and stop Daneil from shooting (Doughty played terrible tonight singlehandedly causing the Canucks first two goals). Doughty has to alter that hit so he takes Daneil's body and not his head. This is what the NHL is trying to get rid of. Of course the NHL won't make an example out of Doughty because they don't care about the safety of their players. That has become clear from the Bertuzzi hit the other day. Watch the video of the Sedin goal and the subsequent headshot on Daniel. Vote on our suspension poll.




-Hark

I want my brother

Brrrr.... It's Getting Cold in Here

Alex Burrows made his return to the canucks lineup last night. He was held off the scoresheet and had zero hits and zero blocked shots. Part of the reason about him being held off the score sheet is because the Canucks are not playing him on the powerplay. the top unit is still kesler-sedin-sedin.
Burrows looked good in the first period, fast on the rush and jumping at chances at the net. One of Burrow's chances involved a pass from a Sedin to Burr right in front of the net, but Burrow was not quick enough to see it or get the shot off before the oilers got rid of it. Maybe with a little less rust under his belt that would have gone in.
A lot of Canucks fans have been saying all year that we need Burrows back before we can start playing well. I dont agree with this logic. In the playoffs last year Burrows was sent down to the second line and Samuelson went onto the top line. In the most clutch time of the year Burrows couldn't put up numbers. Sure he had a shoulder injury, but in twelve playoff games I only remember him scoring one goal besides the empty netter. If he was hurt that badly he should have sat out altogether.
The Canucks did not look great in their win against the oilers. they coughed up a three goal lead in the third, and only won because of a fluky goal that Khabibulun shouldnt have let in.
It was good that the canucks got three goals from their third line, and scoring depth is something that the canucks need to work on this year. But it seems like the canucks might have a problem finding someone to play with the sedins this year. they are two of the premier talented players in the league. And kesler can't play with them because hes a center. Samuelson, Hansen and Torres already had attempts to play with them but when they were unproductive so Vingeault put them on separate lines. If burrows doesnt mesh with the sedins the same way he did last year, the canucks could be in a lot of trouble.
Its disheartening to think that are team is relying on a guy that when he was in his early twenties was playing roller hockey instead of hockey at the nhl level. We'll see how it pans out.

-hark