Can the Canucks come out of the West? With the playoffs to start 1 week from tonight, there will be alot of experts both local and natioinal that have the Vancouver Canucks as the favorites. Few reasons being they have the #1 penalty kill, power play, most goals for etc etc. But there are a couple of weaknesses that need to be addressed and soon.
Their #1 concern going into the playoffs has to be the secondary scoring. Do they have one of the best lines in hockey? Of course, Henrik with Daniel and the grit factor that Alex Burrows brings. But they are going to face two teams that have just as good if not a better first line. Anaheim Ducks #1 line has scored 99 goals, averaging 1.33 gpp (goals per game). Chicago Blackhawks # 1 line has scored 92 goals averaging 1.27 gpp. The Canucks #1 line has combined for 85 goals averaging 1.09 gpp.
Chicago has the 3rd best PP while the Ducks have the 5th best PP.
No secondary scoring?
Mason Raymond 4 goals in last 33 games, Raffi Torres 3 goals in 44 games (2 in 1 game) Chris Higgins 2 goals (1 game) on 12 Canuck games, Yanik Hansen 5 goals 44 games, Jeff Tambellini 0 goals 39 games (2 assists ) Ryan Kesler more concerning has 4 goals in 22 games. Vancouver's 4th liners have combined for 15 goals, while Chicago's have scored twice as many.
Stats do not lie, if the other teams #1 line out scores the Sedins how successful can they be? Some of you Canuck fans will say well what about Mikael Samuelson or the scoring from the defense? The same could be said for the Hawks with Campbell & Keith on the point, then you have to deal with Hossa. The Ducks on the other hand have 27 goals between Fowler & Visnovsky, then you have Selanne (2nd line) #9 in league scoring.
Ducks and Hawks have been there and won it all
Both Anaheim & Chicago have won the cup in the last 6 years, they have proven winners come playoff time. What has always been the one question mark for Vancouver? Roberto Luongo, in the last 2 playoffs seasons they have gone 12-10 with a 2.87 GAA. Then it also comes back to the secondary scoring.
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