Let's debunk two common beliefs about the Vancouver Canucks that the media has become determined to make the story of the playoffs and the Stanley Cups Finals.
Belief number one: The Vancouver Canucks are clearly a more talented team the then Boston Bruins.
Not sure who started this one, but I've heard it a hundred times over the last week. Every talking head and hockey "expert" has stressed how much more talented and skillful the Canucks are as if this point would never be argued by anyone. Well, I'll step up to the plate and break down the teams line by line. I can't argue that the Canucks top line gets the edge over the Bruins even with Nathan Horton playing. They have two league MVPs, even if they have been persona non grata so far in the series. Line one advantage: Vancouver.
The Canucks second line is Chris Higgins, Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond, while the Bruins have Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi. If you look strictly at point totals over the regular season, the Bruins scored 6 more points and the only reason it's that close is because Kesler was a much better goal scorer then Bergeron. But, are there very many people that would argue Kesler is a much higher skilled player then Bergeron? I think both players are pretty equal in the skill department. This was very much a break out season for Kesler and if we looked more over each player's career Bergeron has 50 more points in 30 less games. Both are excellent in both zones and are lynch pins to their teams all around play. Mason Raymond and Marchand are a wash. Mark Recchi has played over 1600 games in the NHL, he had 20 more point this season, something tells me he is a far superior skilled player then Higgins. If anyone wants to argue that, give me a call when people are talking about Higgins as a Hall Of Famer. Line two advantage: Boston
The Canucks third line is Jannik Hansen, Maxim Lapierre and Raffi Torres, while the Bruins run out Michael Ryder, Chris Kelly and Tyler Seguin. Ryder scored 10 more points then anyone on Vancouver. His play is a little up and down, but it's hard to ignore his skill, especially his wrist shot, and the fact that he single handily saved at least three goals this playoffs. Chris Kelly is key to the Bruins penalty kill, something no one on Vancouver's third line can boast. Seguin is going to be a stud one day, but right now is the weak link. He has skill potential to be better then anyone on any line on either team, but right now he's the weakest player on the Bruins line, but probably only weaker then Hansen on Vancouver. Both Lapierre and Torres are better classified as goons then skilled players, even though neither would drop their gloves to defend their cheap play. Line Three Advantage: Boston (and it's not even close)
Neither line 4 play much to really matter. Both Malhotra for Vancouver and Campbell for Boston are important penalty killers, so we'll call this a wash.
On defense, the first pairs, Bieksa and Salo vs Chara and Seidenberg, are a wash. The second pairs, Ehrhoff and Edler vs Boychuck and Ferrance, are a wash as well. The third pairs are Rome and Alberts vs McQuaid and Kaberle. As horrible as Kaberle has been, McQuaid is way better then either Rome or Alberts. Defense Advantage: Boston
So, I can't help but conclude, after calling the goaltending a wash, that Vancouver is not as superior a skilled team as everyone claims. After Vancouver's first line, the Bruins have may more skill at almost every position. So let's stop with this Vancouver is the more skilled team crap and give a little respect to these Bruin players.
Belief Number Two: Vancouver is being lowered to Boston's cheap tactics and chippy play
This one blows my mind. I have no idea what first two games all these "experts" watched, but it wasn't the first two games between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins. Those first two games consisted of Vancouver pulling every cheap shot and illegal play in the book, biting, elbowing, slew footing, slashing, and doing it all behind the play, while the Bruins tried to play a relatively clean game. It was only after two losses and two games of getting slashed and elbowed, and two games of the league refusing to punish Vancouver for their actions, that the Bruins decided to up the ante. The Bruins play in the last two games is not so much an example of their style as it is a response to the bullshit Vancouver has been pulling. I always thought that Philly was the dirtiest team in hockey with Pittsburg a close second, but I guess that was just because I never really got a chance to watch west coast hockey, because after the first two games of this series there is no doubt in my mind Vancouver is as dirty as it gets. The problem with this myth that the Bruins are the thugs is the refs are starting to call stuff on the Bruins and kicking them out of games before they even do anything. Thorton shouldn't have been kicked out of game 3 and last game Adam McQuaid was booted late for grabbing a guy who was trying to be a third man in a fight. Meanwhile, no Canucks
No matter how things are being reported, Boston has evened the series and did so in a convincing manner. The fact that Boston's losses were much closer then Vancouver's gives me a lot of hope. Actually, probably to much hope, because all us Bruins fans know what happens when our confidence gets to high. I'm hoping the cross continent trip doesn't lead to a let down. I hope the Bruins can play in Vancouver like they played in Boston. The fact of the matter is this game is more important to Vancouver then Boston. If Boston loses they get to go home where they have looked light years better then Vancouver. If Vancouver loses they have to play for their lives in a super hostile environment. Here to hoping the pressure gets to them!
No comments:
Post a Comment