the Nucks

It's pretty evident that the Canucks faithful are getting a little restless about their team's performance as they head down the home stretch.

Admittedly, I don't examine the Western Conference goings-on as much as I do the Eastern, but I just didn't understand what all the fretting was about.

I just checked their schedule, so I've seen what's transpired since the Olympic break, and I see the schedule ahead of them. Indeed those factors make it seem like the road ahead is filled with obstacles. I would surely be alarmed if I was a Canucks fan. Of their 15 remaining games, nine are against playoff-bound teams, and two are against Anaheim, who is presently in the ninth spot.

However, it might not be all that bad for them. Ten of their remaining 15 games are at home. Included is a five game home stand which starts with two consecutive home games next week against seventh place Edmonton and ends with two consecutive home games against 11th place Minnesota. Actually, because of an anomaly in their schedule that resembles one in the Canes schedule, they'll be playing the Oilers three consecutive games -- once in Edmonton and twice in Vancouver. Those three games should be mammoth for both squads as they try to secure the seventh and eighth playoff spots while warding off the ninth place Ducks.

The Nucks have suffered some scoring woes lately, and have really started to irk some folks. Jeff & Alanah of Vancouver Canucks Op-Ed:

"Watching the Canucks - the last few games in particular - we're having a hard time remembering how exciting they are were to watch. They look so boring. No creativity, no transition game in sight, no cockiness whatsoever."

And Jes Gölbez:

"*SIGH*, I can't find one thing redeeming about the play of this team lately. The Canucks aren't just losing, but they are losing badly. The team seems to lack any confidence and can't get an offensive foray going to save their own lives."

Those are sort of grim outlooks, but I really don't think it's all that bad.

I don't get to see the Nucks that much. Okay... Almost never. But I did catch that game the other night against the Stars, and at the very least, the Sedin/Sedin/Carter line (you don't really call it the brothers line, do you?) looked good. I would encourage the Nuck Nation to look at that as a plus. Also, the Nucks have been much more offensively potent at home(3.645 goals for/game) than on the road (2.667 goals for/game). Defensively, it's the same story. They surrender 2.806 goals per home contest and 3.222 per road contest.

My highly uninformed opinion is that they can pull it together and qualify for the playoffs, thanks in part to a slew of home games down the stretch. The key will be those three straight games against Edmonton.

Good luck, Nucks.