The downfall of the Vancouver Canucks started a little while ago, does a certain trade deadline ring a bell? While other teams such as Dallas, Detroit St. Louis and even Anaheim all added players to improve themselves, Vancouver stood still and did nothing (Brad May is not a key addition). This is a big blow morally to a team who has had trouble beating Dallas and Detroit and did nothing to better themselves. Another moral blow was the loss today. This team had the division signed, sealed, gift wrapped, whatever you want to call it and they blew it. They came out today against LA and play with about a 95% - 100% effort and still lost the game. This is a game that shouldn't have even been close, yet the depleted Kings found a way to win. Vancouver fans you need to wake up and realize that your team is nothing more than one line. Although St. Louis' first line is not as good as Naslund, Bertuzzi and Morrison, St. Louis does have more depth. They can get scoring from their other lines, something that Vancouver consistently lacks when playing legitimate teams. St. Louis also will do their best to shut down the top line by matching Macinnins and Jackman on these guys. Pronger being back means that St. Louis' defense is better than Vancouver's. Vancouver does have Jovanovski, but defense is not his forte. Ohlund is coming back from an injury, and beyond that they are just as thin as St. Louis is beyond their top 3.
If you want to bash Osgood, I'll say that Cloutier isn't stellar himself. They are both streaky, but they both can win some games for their teams.
Don't be surprised to see the Blues pull this one out. These teams are fairly equal, but I'd give the advantage to St. Louis just because of offensive depth. Vancouver is going into the playofs this year opposite of last year. Last year they were on a big winning streak going into the playoffs and were mentally tough. Going into the playoffs this year they are on a down as Colorado somehow managed to win their 9th straight division title.
St. Louis in 6 or 7.
If you want to bash Osgood, I'll say that Cloutier isn't stellar himself. They are both streaky, but they both can win some games for their teams.
Don't be surprised to see the Blues pull this one out. These teams are fairly equal, but I'd give the advantage to St. Louis just because of offensive depth. Vancouver is going into the playofs this year opposite of last year. Last year they were on a big winning streak going into the playoffs and were mentally tough. Going into the playoffs this year they are on a down as Colorado somehow managed to win their 9th straight division title.
St. Louis in 6 or 7.
