What A Joke! Do I Even Watch Game Six?

So this is when you are going to pull Luongo? After four goals in the second game of this epic meltdown. Yeah good job Alain, definitely don't want to hurt his confidence at all. I will let the team that MAKES HIM CRY score 11 goals on him, then pull him. Why would that crush his confidence? Should instill confidence in him.

But I don't want to pile on Alain. I mean he did just coach a team that won the President's Trophy and I mean come on that makes him the greatest coach ever. Scotty Bowman was an alright coach, but once he won a President's Trophy thats when he became a legend. And playing Aaron Rome over Keith Ballard? Pure genius! Lets not forget this passionate fellow though:

Polish those trophies Henrik, because if you keep looking apathetic on the bench while your team is getting embarrassed in the playoffs, you will need to hold onto all those great memories of being a great regular season player. Real easy to be a leader when nothing is on the line. Then the pressure amps up and he just disappears. Great job buddy, glad you are getting $6 million per season, worth every penny.

He is not the only on ice talent that is at fault. They all look like they have forgotten how to play hockey. Can't get the puck out of the zone, are always offsides, and lets not forget on the PK when Jonathan Toews is standing in front of the net all by himself. Who needs Dustin Byfuglien when the defense is terrible?

Embarrassing

I am very happy I waited until today to write this. It has given me time to calm down and look at this more rationally. Now I still believe this EMBARRASSMENT was caused by the same thing, lack of leadership, but I am hoping my self-imposed hiatus will allow me to present my case more thoughtfully. Also, my boss is from Chicago. He didn't even say anything, just patted me on the shoulder and shook his head, captured my feelings perfectly.

This was a clear case of a lack of leadership, or a leadership group that was apathetic. I came to this when I considered the other options: The Canucks were just over-achieving? Not a chance. They had the Presidents Trophy won in February. They were the most balanced team in the NHL all year, and still are. Top to bottom they are stacked.

Another issue I considered was Luongo was injured, not severely, but enough to throw his game off. If that was the case it goes back to leadership. In the words of Harry Truman: "The buck stops here." Alain is the general, he runs that team, he says jump, the players say how high. If thats not the case, then he hasn't done his job. The bleeding started in the second, and continued through to the third. Luongo didn't play his best, but he shouldn't have been in there.

I know, people are going to say: "You can't pull Luongo, you don't want to destroy his confidence." So allowing him to give up SEVEN goals to a team that has set up camp in his head already is better?! Goalies are a lot like pitchers in baseball, some nights they just don't have their stuff, and there is no shame in that. I am sure Luongo did not want to be pulled out of the game, and I love him for that. That is the mark of a guy who wants to play every single night, but coaches can't always listen to the player, Exhibit A.

Blame must also be laid on Henrik. You are the captain, your team is faltering, do something about it. You want that C, you have to prove you deserve it. Niklas Lidstrom wouldn't put up with that. Sidney Crosby and  Jerome Iginla (yeah I said it) sure as hell wouldn't put up with their teams giving up like that. Even younger guys like Dustin Brown and Ryan Getzlaf wouldn't put up with it either. I am surprised Henrik didn't say it was their best playoff game in the last 3 or 4 years.

This was one game. They are still up in the series three games to one. I have the same amount of faith in the Canucks that I have had all season. I will get comments and messages claiming I am not a "true" fan, and that I really "hate the Canucks." What I am is a true fan, because I demand greatness from my team, and there is nothing better than when that team produces that greatness. People need to realize the difference between fan, and someone who is brainwashed to the point of irrationality. Those people I call Boston red Sox fans.

My whole point is, if you have a chance to bounce the defending champs from the playoffs, you do it. Especially this team, above all others. You get rid of the tormentor and its all downhill from there.

The Canucks Win Game Three...Wait What?!

Way to go Joel. Man you are one crafty coach. I mean you had a pretty good team last year, but the Blackhawks won the Cup clearly because of your coaching ability. I mean how can you argue with a guy who backed into the playoffs, I mean thats just good coaching. Just like that move you made last night. Dressing John Scott, just a genius move, Bowman-esque if you will.

I mean when you don't have Byfuglien interfering, errr I mean screening, Luongo you have to Byfuglien-Lite. So light that he runs into his teammates on one of the SEVEN powerplays the Blackhawks got. His lack of production was probably due to the 5:20 of ice time he got, none of which is in the third. Good move Joel, way to use your coaching genius to make up for you teams poor play (Duncan Keith) and lack of effort (Patrick Kane).

Despite the refs best effort the Canucks overcame. Hansen had another solid game, the Defense looked strong (more on them), and of course Bobby Luo did what he does. Now I know Chicago had 32 shots, but half of those came in the first period. They were bending but they didn't break. And if they slipped up, Bobby was there.

Speaking of slipping up, I am sick and tired of hearing about Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and the "great" Chicago defense (I intentionally used a lower case "d"). They give the puck away constantly, and can barely hold it in the offensive zone. Duncan Keith was a sieve on the Powerplay. He looked worse than Mikael Samuelson playing the point. We are supposed to believe this is someone who is going to win multiple Norris trophies? Please.

I will end with the news that came out today on Raffi Torres. There will be no further discipline against him for his hit on Brent Seabrook. One of the best things about Twitter is the instant reactions, and last night was full of great points made for both sides. My opinion is this, was it a bad hit? Yes. Was it a dirty hit? No. I don't think Raffi was trying to hurt Seabrook, but I think he was trying to drill him.

I don't condone hits to the head, or cheap shots at all. But in this case I don't believe Torres was trying to be dirty. He was going in to hit Seabrook and Seabrook turned and his shoulder hit his head. Its unfortunate, but Seabrook isn't exactly an innocent bystander. Last season in March, he t got Ko'd by James Wisnieski, after he went head-hunting on Corey Perry. Not saying that justifies it, but kind of the pot calling the kettle black in my opinion. The Blackhawks don't seem to have a problem when Seabrook is doing the same thing to other players.