As a Canucks fan I was very nervous going into game 2. I put a little extra Vodka in my Coke Zero to try to steady the nerves. My fingernails were already long gone. After the Canucks found a way to win game 1 in Chicago, I knew that the Hawks would approach this like a must-win game and I just hoped the Canucks could weather the early storm. That, of course, didn't happen. Quite the opposite actually. The Canucks pinned the Hawks deep in their own zone for the better part of 7 minutes waiting for Antti to cry Uncle. (See what I did there?) While the Canucks did score two big goals, (Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson) they could have easily been up by 4. Then they appeared to get a little complacent. Maybe a little cocky. Or do you give credit to Chicago who, after Quenneville changed things up and put Hossa out with Toews and Kane, scored a huge goal to put an immediate halt on that seemingly unrelenting momentum the Canucks were enjoying?

From then on Chicago basically took over the game. Luongo got more excercise during the over-the-top and annoying National Anthems than he did during the first 7 minutes. I was worried because I know he likes to feel the puck early to get into games. After the Hawks first goal he definitely got his excercise and played a very solid game. I would like to see the Canucks battle more. They didn't really have to battle early because they owned the puck. The hard part is fighting to get the puck back when you don't have it. I thought we played like we were a little afraid as well. It's important to keep your head up and try to avoid getting hit by Byfuglien and Seabrook, but you don't give up the puck to do so. If you need to take a hit to make a play, in the playoffs that's what you have to do. Of course that's easy for me to say while I lounge in my easy chair munching Baked Cheezies, but that's why they live in Mansions and I live in my car. (Okay, that's not true. Just trying to make the story more interesting.) The turning point in this game came on a Canucks power play. The puck bounced over Ehrhoff's stick and Patrick Sharp went end to end and put it in a basically empty net. The Canucks played that power play very poorly and instead of having the killer instinct to get that huge 3rd goal that would have given them a two goal lead, they get out of synch and end up giving up the tying goal. If the Canucks end up losing this series, that's one of the plays that you can probably look back on. It was tight from then on. It seemed to be pretty even. I was thinking we might see overtime in which case I would be pouring myself a triple Vodka Coke Zero. Chicago poured the pressure on and Luongo did everything he could but he just couldn't make the desperation save that he so often makes. Down 3-2 with a minute and a half to go I would've really liked to see a time-out. Get on the same page. Figure out when to get Luongo out. They didn't call one and they never really got on track to threaten to tie it up. Kane score in the empty net to finish things off.

I thought the Hawks exposed our defense as well. Ehrhoff, Bieksa, Alberts, and Edler all had pretty tough games. I think maybe it's time to get Rome into this series and give Alberts a rest. Rome is smaller, but they could use some more mobility back there. I would also put Ryan Johnson in for Rick Rypien if he is ready to go, although that may take too much toughness out of the lineup. Maybe scratch Grabner.

I was frustrated that the Canucks couldn't really test Niemi after the 7 minute mark of the first period. Even with the power plays they had, they had the mindset that it had to be the perfect play. They needed to get the puck on net. He's not that good of a goalie. Move the puck around and set up the one-timer from the point while Burrows or Bernier get in his face.

Once again I was happy with the play of Luongo. He did about all he could do. While I thought the reffing was decent overall, I thought there could have been a goalie interference penalty or two against the Hawks. That Andrew Ladd shot to Luongo's head was not unintentional.

Is it just me or are there more broken sticks than usual? This is now beyond annoying and I fear that it could cost one of these teams the series. Maybe ease up on those slappers. The most dangerous shots in hockey are the wrist shots and backhanders anyways. When Sammy Salo winds up for that big shot the odds are better that he breaks his stick than they are for him getting that shot on the net.

While the Canucks fans can (and often do) scream and yell and whine and cry about the outcome, nobody thought this was going to be easy. I'm sure if the Canucks had won the game there would've been fans bringing brooms to game 3. That wouldn't have been a good idea. I know it's frustrating because that was a very winnable game but they still ended up with a split. For those people saying that Chicago has outplayed us in 5 of the 6 periods, that's just ridiculous. We had a big lead in the first game and let up on them. Who cares which team played better in each period? The Hawks were basically embarrassed. You can't look at hockey in a period by period way. If the Canucks were down by a big margin to Chicago but then outplayed the Hawks in the 3rd to get a little closer, that's not something you can be satisfied with.

The Canucks need to come into GM Place and initiate the play. Own the puck. When you have the puck you are likely to either score or draw penalties. Use their speed, play a solid team game, move the puck and get shots on net. I would bump Niemi whenever possible. Old time hockey. You bump our goalie, we'll bump yours.

If Luongo continues to play well then I think we are in really good shape. They just need to put their foot on the gas pedal and don't let up. At least not until they've scored half a dozen goals. Chicago is too good of a team to let up off the mat. We're still in really good shape and if I'm Chicago I'm a little concerned at this point. Now is the time to put the fear of God in them.