Jason: I’ll be very disappointed if the Canucks can’t gut out game four, at least.
Chris: If they lose, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Craig MacTavish coaching next year.
Jason: If he can get Kesler to play to his potential, bring him on. I’m far more disappointed in Kes than I am in AV. I mean, is he still hurt? If so, he was selfish not to sit longer at the start of the year. Is he pissed at V? Then he’s being an unprofessional baby.
Chris: I am too, but you have to admit there’s been little to no adaptation to Sutter and the Kings.
Jason: Disagree. Game one, V rolled four lines. Game two he got the boys to focus on play between the whistles. Game three he shortened the bench and challenged the stars to be the stars – left it up to the big boys to break the egg.
Chris: The whole season has been a bizarre shit show. I still have no idea how we won the Presidents’ Trophy this year.
Jason: Lu and Schneids stole a lot of points between November and February. Hank and Dank scored a lot in the first 50 games.
Chris: So did Hodgson.
Jason: Be real. He score what, 15 goals? Fewer than Kesler dropped. To me the Kings are playing the same style the Bruins did in the final (without the brutal shithead stuff, that is). Give the Canucks the boards, clog up the area between the face-off circles, take away cross-ice passes. Perfect D when the entire team buys into the strategy.
Chris: To me, the trade deadline changed the complexion of the team for the worse. It eliminated the scoring depth in favour of slightly more defensive responsibility. Where did less scoring get us last year?
Jason: Bah. Game one has nothing to do with scoring depth. It’s a team that doesn’t respect the opponent or the fans. Game two is mental breakdowns (WTF, Edler!?!?) Game three is too many outside shots, and not enough stretch passing to crack open the Kings defensive lock. Hodgson isn’t a former Selke winner – Kesler is. Hodgson isn’t a crease-crasher – Burrows is. Hodgson isn’t a passing D man or a breakaway specialist – Hamhuis and Booth are. And anyway, Hodgson isn’t in the playoffs this year – the Canucks are. He’s a non-story.
Chris: I’m not talking about a three-game playoff sample, man.
Jason: Okay, state your case, o president of the Cody Booster Club. The Kings have outscored the Canucks since Christmas.
– to be continued –