Holiday Break || December, 28th, 2011

It's been a while, which means that there should be a lot to talk about, so let's get to it...

Well, they're winning.  Winning lots.  They should be winning though, especially against the lower teams in the standings, but when the Canucks lost to Carolina and Columbus - two of the worst teams in the league - it raised some eyebrows.  It was just a small blip in what has been a phenomenal run lately, but it should raise a couple alarms.

First, what was the reason for the loss?  They were basically gimme games, basically just had to show up and be awake and the Canucks should have beat Columbus, but the Blue Jackets took Vancouver to a shoot out which just happens to be their Achilles heel.  Then there was Carolina, and they just plain ol' out played the Canucks.  Was it because Vancouver underestimated them? Or something more?

Minnesota is suprising everybody this season

Secondly, and this won't matter in the playoffs, but the shoot out.  Unless Vancouver is going to finish every team in the first 60 minutes or in OT, they are going to have to improve on their shoot out tricks.  The Canucks have been notoriously mediocre at them, especially for a team that is among the elite in the league.  This may not seem like a big deal, but with Minnesota being a competitor this year (so far), winning their division is going to take all the extra points they can get.  Beating Minnesota could be the difference between first or second in the conference, to fifth or sixth.  It may come down to only a couple points.

It's a weird feeling, to be watching the Canucks with such confidence, even against other elite teams, but then as soon as OT ends, your heart sinks.  Do you think it's going to matter or will the Canucks pull far enough ahead of the Wild in their division?