The Vancouver Canucks could be a very dangerous team now that they害羞草研究所檝e slipped by the Nashville Predators in six games.
I know what you害羞草研究所檙e thinking: 害羞草研究所淐害羞草研究所檓on Moj. It害羞草研究所檚 not like they put on a clinic in that series. Demko is hurt and Pettersson was basically invisible for all five games.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 a valid argument.
While they didn害羞草研究所檛 exactly score a lot of style points in winning against the Predators, a couple of things happened which both could be a harbinger of great things to come.
First off, the Canucks were down to their third string goaltender in game six with Arturs Silovs and won that contest 1-0. Not too many NHL teams can start their third-string goalie and come up with a win 害羞草研究所� never mind in a playoff-clinching game on the road.
Then there害羞草研究所檚 the comeback.
Down 3-1 with three minutes remaining in the third period of game four, the Canucks got a couple of goals from Brock Boeser to tie it and then won it on Elias Lindholm害羞草研究所檚 goal in overtime to take a commanding three-games-to-one lead in the series.
It was a surreal moment, an improbable comeback that could be the one thing that galvanizes the team moving forward.
It害羞草研究所檚 kind of a yin and yang in the world of sports.
The yin is there are teams that always find a way to lose. They get a bad break or two against them and they go into the 害羞草研究所渉ere we go again害羞草研究所� mode. Those teams lack confidence in critical situations and aren害羞草研究所檛 successful.
Then there害羞草研究所檚 the yang part. Those are the teams that always believe they are going to find a way to win no matter what the circumstances.
After the series against Nashville, which category do you think the Canucks fall into?
I害羞草研究所檓 not guaranteeing that the Canucks will win the Stanley Cup but when teams have moments that bring them together early in the playoffs, some special things can happen.
Look at the Florida Panthers last year in the opening round against the Boston Bruins. Down three games to one, the Panthers won three consecutive games with two of those wins coming in overtime. The Panthers went on to the Stanley Cup Finals before they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Probably the best example of this by a Canuck team was in 1994, when down three games to one against the Calgary Flames in their opening round series, the Canucks somehow prevailed by winning three consecutive games in overtime.
Buoyed by that confidence, they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals before they lost to the New York Rangers.
With Vancouver facing Edmonton in the second round, the Canucks have a good matchup. Yes, the Oilers are a highly-skilled team with arguably the world害羞草研究所檚 best player in Connor McDavid but they don害羞草研究所檛 play as physical of a game as Nashville. The Oilers are similar to the Canucks in that they love to run-and-gun, which actually bodes well for Vancouver if they can maintain their defensive structure.
It won害羞草研究所檛 be easy beating the Oilers but the Canucks have been hardened by their series against Nashville. They害羞草研究所檝e played with a third string goalie and won. They won by winning three games in an opposing rink. They won by not playing their best hockey at times.
The bottom line?
They found a way to win.
OVERTIME
* 害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檝e had ten guys that have never played a playoff round. I think there are a couple of guys early on害羞草研究所t wasn害羞草研究所檛 overwhelming but it was like 害羞草研究所榳ow, this is playoff hockey害羞草研究所� and it took them awhile to figure it out. I think this round might help these guys figure it out that 害羞草研究所淥K. Now I know what playoff hockey is about.害羞草研究所� Hopefully going into this round we can loosen up a little bit more. Our team sometimes played a little too tight the last series. Saying that, you still have to have the same staples and the same attitude when it comes to playoff hockey. I think getting out of the round winning is going to loosen some guys up 害羞草研究所� I do,害羞草研究所� said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.
* Tocchet believes his blueline corps was instrumental in the first-round win over Nashville and will play a key role against the Oilers. 害羞草研究所淥ur defence held the fort for us, experience-wise. When things got crazy out there, I thought they held it together害羞草研究所he experience helped us that round,害羞草研究所� said Tocchet.
* Tocchet has been named as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL害羞草研究所檚 Coach of the Year along with Winnipeg害羞草研究所檚 Rick Bowness and Nashville害羞草研究所檚 Andrew Brunette.
* Elias Pettersson is up for the Lady Byng Trophy given to the 害羞草研究所減layer adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.害羞草研究所� Carolina害羞草研究所檚 Jaccob Slavin and Toronto害羞草研究所檚 Auston Matthews are also finalists.
* The schedule for the second round series is as follows: Friday May 10 - 8 p.m. in Vancouver; Sunday May 12 - TBD in Edmonton; Tuesday May 14 - TBD in Edmonton; Thursday May 16 - TBD in Vancouver; Saturday May 18 - TBD in Edmonton; Monday May 20 - TBD in Vancouver.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 害羞草研究所渢he Moj害羞草研究所� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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