Stanley Cup Playoff Pick'em 2010

[Ben Kenobi]

You keep good company, Ben.

I do. They also booed Team Canada when they were playing like **** against the Russians in the Super Series.

Best home ice rink this year in Hockey.

I've been a fan since '88, the year before they got Linden. I'll be a fan till I die.

[Asher]

Other tweets from around the internet from people who know hockey better than Ben:

Bob McKenzie:

That was the worst display of composure since the Boom Goes the Dynamite guy lost his virginity. An outright disaster.

James Mirtle (who is a native Vancouverite and is a Canucks fan):

Time for some serious questions to be asked in Vancouver. They needed to try and replace Mitchell when he went down and never did.

And it's hard to know what to think with Luongo. They're locked in there.

Next to Lou, Nucks PK has been biggest problem and I honestly believe it comes down to personnel. Kesler also hasn't been much of a factor

Must agree.

[Ben Kenobi]

Thanks JR.

The Hawks don't need the ref help. That's what bugs me.

These are the two most talented teams in hockey. Why are the refs butting in?

I want to watch hockey not a penalty parade.

[Asher]

Yep, refs' fault. The Sedin crosscheck and Burrows penalty re Byfuglien and called out as BS.

Not Luongo's fault; no soft goals. It was bad defense.

LOL. Is he really protesting Burrows' penalty specifically?

The Canucks got LUCKY on that play. Edler shot it OVER THE BOARDS while Burrows blatantly crosschecked Byfuglien in the face, and only one of the penalties was called.

****ing undisciplined play combined with a ****ing awful PK = 7-4 defeat.

The blaming of the refs in Vancouver is a ****ing national embarrassment. It's ALWAYS been so. I don't know what the cause is, but it needs to stop. Even the "reputable" papers run the most obscene garbage whining about the officiating like Vancouver is some ****ing bizarro world: http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Ga...029/story.html

[Asher]

I'm not sure if your post was serious or not. Yes, it was Luongo's fault. Your best penalty killer is your goalie. That's not to say the rest of the team was good -- they weren't.

Luongo's rebound control has been abysmal ever since game 1. He's way off his game. He does this when the pressure ratchets up. He's not a big game goalie.

Fact is, Luongo is the face of the franchise. Luongo is their CAPTAIN. Luongo is their franchise #1 goalie. He needs to play like Halak. He needs to play like Kiprusoff. He needs to play BETTER.

The Captain is supposed to lead the team, but when your captain is a goalie known for choking in big games or playing inconsistently...what does that say? It's no wonder the Canucks can't handle the pressure and are folding like a house of cards. If Vancouver knows what's good for them, next season they will revoke Luongo's captaincy. It was a dumb idea to start with.

[Ben Kenobi]

Time for some serious questions to be asked in Vancouver. They needed to try and replace Mitchell when he went down and never did.

This is probably the best quote. Not having Luc Bourdon hurts. I don't think they have the depth without Mitchell on defense, and that has killed them on the PK. Edler, Ehrhoff, and Bieksa are all, really, really green. Mitchell had the experience, and the Canucks only have Salo.

And it's hard to know what to think with Luongo. They're locked in there.

Fix the defense, and you fix Luongo, simple as that. If the Canucks were getting beat on even strength you could point a finger at Luongo. That's not happening. Luongo can deal with the shooter, but someone has to take their man on the rebound. He can't stop 2 people and that's what is killing them on the PK.

Again, not having Mitchell on the PK is brutal.

Next to Lou, Nucks PK has been biggest problem and I honestly believe it comes down to personnel. Kesler also hasn't been much of a factor

The only change from when they had a top PK unit is Mitchell. They were mediocre during the regular season, and they haven't done well since.

I think all these problems have the same source. No one is clearing the puck out front during the PP.

[Asher]

EDIT: JESUS ****ING CHRIST THIS POLY BUG IS PISSING ME OFF. I AM NOT GOING TO RETYPE THE WHOLE ****ING THING SO THIS IS A SUMMARY:

Your stupidity IS ASTOUNDING.

I viewed that post against my better judgement and only read the first paragraph before my brain exploded.

YOU CALLED PLAYERS WITH 4, 5, and 6 seasons of NHL experience VERY, VERY GREEN while lamenting the depth lost by not having a player WITH ****ING 36 NHL GAMES UNDER HIS BELT.

JESUS ****ING CHRIST.

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm not sure if your post was serious or not. Yes, it was Luongo's fault. Your best penalty killer is your goalie. That's not to say the rest of the team was good -- they weren't.

A goalie is not responsible to pick up the open man. He is responsible for the shooter. Luongo's 'rebounds' have been when the Canucks fail to clear them. This is directly at the feet of the PK D men who are not doing their job. They miss Mitchell who used to QB the PK.

Luongo's rebound control has been abysmal ever since game 1. He's way off his game. He does this when the pressure ratchets up. He's not a big game goalie.

Right, when Luongo actually had two really strong games, in game one and in game two. Lately they have been getting killed on the PK, but are still winning at even strength. That tells me that Luongo is not the problem here, but the defense.

Fact is, Luongo is the face of the franchise. Luongo is their CAPTAIN. Luongo is their franchise #1 goalie. He needs to play like Halak. He needs to play like Kiprusoff. He needs to play BETTER.

Why? The Canucks are the best offensive team remaining, the Hawks included. Luongo shouldn't need to play like Halak, because the Canucks are a much better team than Montreal.

Watch how Halak gets help from the whole team wrt to defense. How many times does his d men leave the puck sitting on the ice? Never. They are playing with one goal, to keep the puck out of the net. That has earned them 6 wins with Halak playing out of their mind.

Even with the defensive struggles and breakdowns that the Canucks have had, they have won 5 against more difficult opposition. As good as the Caps and Pens are, I think the Hawks and Kings are better teams.

The Captain is supposed to lead the team, but when your captain is a goalie known for choking in big games or playing inconsistently

He has a gold medal, and he will win a stanley cup, and he's not done yet. The amazing Martin Brodeur, failed to win a series, and failed to win the gold medal for team Canada in this last olympics. He's proven he is a huge big-game goaltender, in beating the Americans in the Gold Medal game, and the Russians, both times where a loss would have bounced them.

He has, in the past, stolen them a series against Dallas, when they had no business being in the second round.

If Vancouver knows what's good for them, next season they will revoke Luongo's captaincy. It was a dumb idea to start with.

Why is it a dumb idea? I think Kes would and should be Captain, but I think Luongo has done a good job. Is it dumb because it was an innovation?

[Asher]

Also, need I remind everyone how Ben ****ing fellated Burrows as one of the best penalty killers in the league.

How right was I then? Man, I am ****ing epicly genius or something.

[Asher]

Ben, I hope you're not talking to me. I read one paragraph of yours tonight and it's even dumber than anything else I've ever seen you write. I hope you don't kill anyone with your posts here, because they are truly that stupid.

[Ben Kenobi]

YOU CALLED PLAYERS WITH 4, 5, and 6 seasons of NHL experience VERY, VERY GREEN while lamenting the depth lost by not having a player WITH ****ING 36 NHL GAMES UNDER HIS BELT.

Yes, they are green, as compared to Mitchell and Salo.

Bourdon, they could use as depth. Think they wouldn't like to have Bourdon instead of Alberts with another 2 NHL seasons under his belt? We won't know, unfortunately.

Bieksa and Edler have the equivalent of 3 full seasons. This is their second time in the playoffs. Ehrhoff has 5 full seasons, and he's the second most experienced D man on the Canucks.

[Asher]

Ben Summary:

1. Refs you suck
2. Refs you suck
3. Luongo rules
4. Refs you suck
5. Luongo is great, it's never his fault
6. Its the refs fault. always.

Did I get it?

[Asher]

Last post tonight.

Alain Vigneault in the post-game presser: "I think right now (Roberto Luongo) is the second best goaltender on the ice."

Even Alain thinks Luongo isn't doing so well.

To recap, people who think Luongo isn't playing well:
1) Every member of the media
2) The Canucks coach

People who think Luongo is playing well:
3) Ben

Luongo is being outplayed by ****ing Antti Niemi. Antti Niemi!

Luongo is getting paid 10 million dollars next year, $6.75M average per year, for 12 more years. The Canucks have him under contract until 2022. And Luongo has a no-trade clause. He's 30 now, he'll be 42 when his contract expires.

Ruh-oh.

[Ben Kenobi]

Burrows as one of the best penalty killers in the league.

He is still one of the best penalty killers in the league, despite the fact that his responsibilities have expanded enormously.

He can't be everywhere on that unit.

[Ben Kenobi]

Alain Vigneault in the post-game presser: "I think right now (Roberto Luongo) is the second best goaltender on the ice."

Bold statement for AV to make.

I think Gillis might have to make a choice here.

If they lose out in 5 with the talent that's on the roster, I think AV will be gone.