CrashingTheGoalie

by desertdawg

Yogi Berra said that. And what I’m observing by watching is a team that is not in synch. Canuck broadcasters used terms like “almost” and “nearly” a half dozen times in the first period alone. As in, they almost made that pass or they nearly converted that scoring chance.

Synchronicity.

The Canucks had it in the first two games but have not seen it since. Even the win against the Wings was due more to a lackadaisical third period effort by the Red Machine than a flawless effort by the Canucks.

A team in synch plays positional hockey so well that each player knows where every one of his teammates is at any given time. The play then evolves from thinking what to do next, to intuitively knowing what to do next. Players then only do their own jobs and have an essential trust that each teammate is doing only their job.

The end result is winning hockey.

Back in the ‘90’s I had an opportunity for my second conversation with Wayne Gretzky. Gretz had suffered the first real injury of his career when Steve Smith nailed him from behind…and no, I’m not confusing this hit with the dirty one that Gary Suter delivered in the Canada Cup. Gretzky had always been enormously difficult to hit, not because he was fast but simply because he had a bat-like sonar that warned him of impending doom. I asked him if his bat sense had failed him. He chuckled and said that what happened on the play was that Steve Smith was out of position and Gretz wasn’t expecting the hit.
Now,to say that Gretz had an elemental relationship with the game of hockey is a massive understatement . An ordinary NHL player at best knows where his own players are at any given time. Part of Gretzky’s superior play was based on knowing where everyone from both teams was supposed to be at any given time. A player out of position surprised him. In my last blog, I said these Canucks were out of synch and really, the explanation of that is simple. The Canucks aren’t a team yet. There have been a number of fundamental changes in the lineup.

Team building, like trust is earned over time. Partially by repetition. Partly by fighting through adversity. Partly by sticking up for each other. We may have lost the first period. But two fights (clear wins for the Canucks by the Killer Bs, Bieksa and Brown) are the kinds of things that build the team concept over time.

The second period is eerily consistent with the first. We see the Sedins, who have long been the very model of synchronicity, are nearly connecting throughout the period. A two on one is usually a sure goal and Daniel plays it well, but just misses.

There we go again.

Just about. Another near miss. A almost made it. It’s very frustrating for fans to watch. And the tendency is then to pick out players we perceive to be “the problem.” Scapegoating goes hand in hand with losing.

I enjoy reading various chat boards. Some opinions are relatively well informed. There’s a guy named “The Pauser” on one of the boards whose opinions often enrage fellow fans. But actually, I find the Pauser demonstrates a relatively sophisticated knowledge of the game. His pet peeve, however, is the play of Matty Ohlund. The Pauser has been pushing for Ohlund to waive his No Trade Contract for some time now. Ohlund, makes his share of mistakes, sure. The problem is, when we scapegoat, we negate the team concept. These guys don’t need a trade, they need something a little more ethereal.

Two years ago, Roberto was playing about the way he is playing these days. The team had a mediocre continual flirtation with .500 hockey. Fans were frustrated. But on an eastern road trip, Big Lou took a shot in the throat and was hospitalized over night. Due to the swelling, he couldn’t eat or sleep. He emerged from the hospital to suit up against the hated Canadiens.

And shut them out.

The Canucks suddenly had a leader and an identity. They became a team and they managed to carve out the best record in the NHL for the rest of the season. We usually see these things in retrospect.

The third period is one close call after another. This is a game that the Canucks lose, but on the play, deserved to win. Was there a near miss closer than Kesler’s at the 13 minute mark? Or Daniel Sedin with five minutes left? Or Bernier’s chance on that final power play? But hey are coming on and they are starting to get it.

I watched an interview with Glen Anderson, after the Canucks near miss in 1994. The reporter asked him if he felt he was redeemed in the fans’ eyes by his post season performance. Anderson sneered and said he could have cared less about the fans. He played for the people in the room, his teammates. It was a remarkable moment of candor in a game (with reporters) that is often devoid of honesty.

But these guys are getting closer, of that I have no doubt. Bieksa is re-discovering his game. Big Lou is starting to make big saves. The Sedins are getting numerous scoring chances. Kesler and Burrows are remarkable finds.

So, what do you say about guys that are almost a team.

Well, I know it’s only baby steps…but they almost won.