Keeping Canucks’ Sedins, Kesler off score sheet still key for Bruins
Chara has dominated Sedins/By S. Bradley
VANCOUVER — With just three points between them, you have to wonder if Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and Ryan Kesler are just out of gas or if the Canucks’ offensive stars are waiting for the biggest moments of the Stanley Cup Final to bust out against the Bruins.
Henrik Sedin has not recorded a point, while Kesler has an assist and Daniel Sedin has a goal and an assist (both in Game 2) heading into tonight’s Game 5 with the series tied at two games apiece.
At home or on the road, the Bruins have been able to get their shutdown pair of Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, as well as center Patrice Bergeron, on the ice against the Sedin twins and Alex Burrows almost at will.
“I think this is something guys face throughout the whole year, you play a lot of teams that have those kind of players in our conference, whether it’s the Crosbys and Malkins, of course Detroit, Zetterberg, Datsyuk, you have to be able to play against those guys in a way that you certainly have to have a whole group doing the job,” said Bruins head coach Claude Juline yesterday. “I don’t think you really rely on one guy.
“I know Zdeno, Seidenberg have been credited with a lot of that stuff, deservedly so. We have to rely on other guys to come back and do the job as well. It’s just about being focused on who is out there and when they’re out there be aware of it.”
Kesler entered this series with 18 points in 18 games. Henrik Sedin still leads the team with 21 playoff points, but he recorded all of those in the first 18 games. Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault think his team can still rely on its stars to awaken and carry the club to victory.
“They’re elite players, and if we’ve gotten to where we are today it’s because our top players have been, on most nights, the best players on the ice,” said the Vancouver bench boss. “We’re no different than anybody else. Obviously we need those guys to play up to their standards, and they will. We faced adversity throughout the season in many shapes and forms. We are playing against a real strong opponent right now, we’ve got a lot of respect for how the Bruins play and what they bring to the ice surface.
“But we’re also a very good team and we’ve proved it in the past and we’re going to set out to prove it [Friday] night.”
They’re all hurt – Bs have beaten the crap out of them.
As for the stick play – Did you see what one of the Sedins let Marchand get away with? Dare someone to do that to Looch – Looch would make him swallow his stick. How long are those two going to sit back and take it before one of them snaps and pulls a concealed weapon? They have absolutely NO moxie. None.
While I don’t like the Sedins, and they do play soft, I really think Henrik is hurt.
For those who believed the Canucks are better on paper & has more depth (including MK), following are stats of combined playoffs points & +/- per line based on Wednesday’s lineup (so even WITHOUT Nathan Horton):
1st lines:
Bruins=44pts +27; Canucks=46pts -7
2nd lines:
Bruins=43pts +21; Canucks=35pts +4
3rd lines:
Bruins=35pts +22; Canucks=17pts +9
4th lines:
Bruins=10pts -2; Canucks=0pts -6
The Sedins are on twitter now @TheSedinSisters
http://twitter.com/#!/TheSedinSisters
Seek and Destroy tonight. Bruins in 6!
The Sedins need time and space to play their game. Hopefully the B’s continue to play tough and make life hard for them. Tonights game will be telling, if the B’s don’t win tonight they will have to come back this building to win the Cup.
Hungus – I knew they were humanoids of some kind. Love the new nicknames! Their eyes are too close together (see beady little..) to be human.
Kesler would look very nice in Black & Gold. I would find it really easy to root for that guy (when he’s not knockin’ in own goals in the Finals!!!).
Said before the series the Bs were going to Harry Houdinhi the twins. Poof. They melted faster than butter on a hot skillet. It’s just embarassing to watch. While everyone else is playing hockey, those two divas are playing Wussy.
This is why Claude has worked so hard on Seguin… If your game is too heavily reliant on skill, you can too easily be removed in the playoffs. This is the third series in 4 the twins were almost entirely nullified. Sorry, but your top line has to be better than that or its not a top line.
I guess the ArtRoss trophy must shine up real nice in the right light – those dudes seem a little too partial to it for my taste. I’ll take a guy who likes his champagne out of a big silver goblet any day! Go Bs!
Look for a strong push back from the Canucks tonight. Bruins need to keep the intensity & forecheck strong, at the same time composed.
First 2 game could of gone either way, this time Bruins need to push hard for that win.
& watch for Vigneault & Gillis to complain about the refs, AGAIN, to try & simmer down the Bruins aggressive play.
Van defence should be pressured at all times, hit at all times, just to wear them down.
Thomas should be careful cuz i think Van will try & use the lateral pass instead of the direct shot, knowing that Thomas is out from his net.
Julien, get these boys fired up. Lets take this one home!!!!!!!!!
Kessler is hurt and has not played he can.it wasn’t from that hit though As for the sisters, yeah all the crap has taken them off their game. They play puck control and passing.kudos to chara and sides. Don’t be surprised when the stickwork is called on both teams early allowing more space tonight. Game on boston fans.
Just keep playing Bruins hockey boys!! Skate hard tonight, we need this one!!
kesler looks like he’s hurt and it’s no shock that chara and sides have shut down tomax and xamot.
For any Canucks fans reading, I lost all respect for those two this series. Not their skill, but for them as hockey players.
I’d be more worried about Kessler than the sisters if he wasn’t obviously not at 100% from Boychuck’s hit. The way the Sisters have played their last two games, Henrietta in particular, it would look as though he’s frustrated and channeling that into trying to beat up the Bruins.