What can you do, it's tough. Playing back to back games, unless you have a $7 million dollar goalie like Luongo, you're expected to play the other backup. Unfortunately Schneider got set up with the toughest opponent in the league. He got ripped apart and they made it easy. Definately gonna hurt his confidence. But then again, people shouldn't blame him so much. The Sharks have been tearing it up against starting goalies from all teams. So what do you expect from a third stringer? I was thinking maybe AV should of knew this was gonna happen and save Schneider from the embarrassment and play Sanford instead. But then again, this is professional sports. These kind of things don't exist. It's also a good lesson emotionally for the young goalie to overcome. I'm sure he will bounce back.

As for whether Canucks are sucking and/or Sharks are elite? Well, I say it's a combination of both. Canucks are tired, their third stringer is in net, and the Sharks are fast. Even faster then the RedWings. A lot of other teams have had trouble against them this season. They have never lost in regulation time at home. I'm really not too worried about this game. Lose this one, that's fine. Just make sure you come out not injured from this game. And Win the next one.

And if Canucks can finish in 3rd as NW champs, that should lower their chance of playing the Sharks in the playoffs. Although RedWings will finish either 1st or 2nd, and Sharks will finish either 1st or 2nd. So although I was hoping the RedWings and Sharks will knock each other out first, unless there's an upset or the conference finals, not likely they will play each other in the playoffs this season.

^ talking about playoffs already, lets not jinx it

both goals in the 2nd were mindless turnovers (by Mitchell and Kesler) that 99/100 times don't end up in the back of the net....

Yup, way too early to talk playoffs.

Ouch.

At least I got Nabokov in my pool. Still a bad game but I guess we'll take a few days off and get back at it after xmas.

wow that game was hurt.

ok. fine. I'll agree that mitchells' was mindless since he had a bit of time but with kesler, he was forced to turn back before getting intercepted. honestly,I kind of expected the loss tonight. not that I'm not confident in them, but the sharks are just too much to handle for the canucks for the past couple years

Owned

The canucks pretty much fed scheineder to the sharks. But the way they played tonight, even Luongo wouldn't be able to save them.

oh well, onto the next game... merry xmas all!

^

Well... 2006-07 Luongo would of stopped them all.
Remember? Back then he could catch laser beams.
The laser beams that went to his stick side.

can't wait for luongo and sundin to arrive

I'm still skeptical about the Sharks... they never scored again after we started playing better 10 minutes into the 2nd and Sanford stuffed them on a lot of chances.... I don't think Schneider could be faulted on any of the goals except maybe the Marleau shot which shouldn't go in from that bad of an angle...

The thing with San Jose which Hondaracer alluded to above... they disappear every year in the playoffs... who cares how good they are in the regular season or that Joe Thornton is the leading points getter since 2005 if they disappear (and Thornton does) as soon as playoffs start. There's a reason Boston got rid of him........

I always keep thinking did Boston give him away for a bag of pucks? Pretty much all the roster players they acquired are gone now. Anything interesting from the picks?

Well either way, Boston is owning it up as well in the East, without Thorton.

No matter how you put it, Sharks is a scary team to face. They were just creating good scoring chances out of nowhere. You can thanks Canucks' sloppy give aways too. But I think possibly them not scoring afterwards was a combination of Sanford playing better than Schneider, Canucks started playing better, and Sharks wasn't as hungry to score since it was already 5-0. It's subconscious.

After yesterday's game, I'm convinced if Canucks were to actually get the lead, they wouldn't hang on to it for a very long time.

Sharks have been known to be playoff chokers though, but that has nothing to do with the Canucks anyway. At least not now.

They traded him for Sturm, Primeau and Brad Stuart... no draft picks... Stuart and Primeau got sent to Calgary for Kobasew and Ference... so basically in their lineup today they have Sturm, Kobasew and Ference to show for Thornton...

That said, there were a lot of issues in Boston with Thornton not getting along with the GM or Coach at the time and leadership/personality questions or conflicts so it's just one of those things I guess :p

Thorton going pointless in a 7 game series that they lost in the 1st round of the playoffs his last year in Boston didn't help either.

Bostons going no where, they dont have the goaltending to compete with a Montreal or Pitsburg in a 7 game series

I think the beauty is they don't have to. The system they play is so defensive minded, Thomas/Fernandez only have to play good for them to win games.

I'm not saying they will be favorites but they are competitive as any other team that will be in the post season, imo anyways,

lol wtf are you talking about?

http://i42.tinypic.com/301fwqc.jpg


http://i44.tinypic.com/20s7og0.jpg

So you would be confident riding either of those goalies into the playoffs? :rolleyes:

More confident riding both of those guys into the playoffs compared to Marc Andre Loluery

oh and hai guise, i'm cool cause i can has roll eyes emoticon :mamoru:

I'd be confident doing an alternative swapping with them as they both seem to be doing exceptionally well right now. Thomas had a SO last night too.

But now is too early to judge their play in the playoffs, only time will tell.

I think Boston will drop off a bit. I also think the Sharks will drop off eventually but not enough to drop in the standings.

And did anyone catch Jonathan Cheechoo last night? My god is he out of shape.

Yea, he was skating at Wellwood like speed.

I wonder if he's 100%, he only recently returned to the lineup.