Larenzo

Heh heh, I hope "Dazzle" has had a chance to read this article.... I think it's a very, very positive sign, especially from Gillis, that we got it done with Hamhuis, and long term. I told ya he was rugged, now we just get to set back and check it out. I'm elated; and not just with this, but adding Manny Malholtra is another small stroke of genius. Bravo, Mike, my hat is off. Larenzo

I'm sorry you feel that way, 'Dazzle'. The piece was really just a state-of-the-moment piece, and outlining events to date, the progress of the young stable of talent that they're home-growing themselves, and the direction of the organization. You're kidding yourself, really, if you can take an objective look at the article, at the TIME that it was written, and not say that Gillis was at a very, very important intersection at the start of FA during his tenue with the Club. To come out and call the article 'dumb', that's your right to voice your opinion. Also, if you'd like, you can ALSO go do your homework, cross-reference my article: "Canucks Should Pursue Hamhuis", check the date, and figure out that I KNOW what I'm talking about. I do have a considerable amount of knowledge surrounding the Canucks, have proven it, and will continue in this blog and my own (http://thecanuckway.com) to report on the current status of the club, the things that have gotten them there, and probable direction in the future. If you don't have anything positive to say, please find a different blog to follow.

During a recent interview, Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced that he is happy with the state of his defense corps, which he had better be: The Free Agent market has already lost one big player. The focus of the last Canuck Way (Dan Hamhuis) has been dealt for Ryan Parent to the Philadelphia Flyers... Who's next? During a recent interview with TSN, Gillis spoke to the Canucks 25th overall draft pick, and the potential for the team to move the pick, to address their lack of a 2nd and 3rd round pick. The picks were spent previously in acquiring Steve Bernier and Andrew Alberts. But the most interesting part of the interview was regarding the Canucks situation on defense, which I alluded to in the last installment of The Canuck Way. It's my firm belief that the Canucks cannot be complacent in this Free Agency market, with a few top drawer defenders available. The playoff exit at the hands to the (Cup-winning) Chicago Blackhawks exposed Vancouver's defense, particularly in Game Six. This is not a news flash. The same weakness was their downfall the previous year, and Gillis is kidding himself if he believes the fan base will take another early playoff exit with graciousness. This market will be judged next season by it's playoff success or lack thereof. To be frank, if the team fails now to re-sign Willie Mitchell, Canucks fans are in for a bumpy ride next April. Big, tough Russian Anton Volchenkov (#24) helps Chris Philips sandwich ex-Canuck, Matt Cooke; Volchenkov could really help clear traffic in front of Luongo (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images) During the interview, he said that many of the Canucks defensive prospects are "Closer to NHL duty than most people think". That mindset exposes some faulty thinking. Let's just play that thought out, for the sake of argument. Even if they should have a defenseman make the jump to the bigs next year, how much of an impact will he make? How many NHL teams have had a rookie defenseman step right into the lineup and play top four minutes? In my years of observing the game, I can count that number on one hand. Gillis is basically explaining away their indifference in the Free Agency market to a non-necessity. Are the Canucks really that confident that one of the Manitoba Moose are going to be able to step in and fill a whole on the backend? I'm not trying to be overly critical here of Gillis; again, I feel he has been patient in areas where he needs to be patient. He has put the proper resources into scouting, and possibly even more importantly, the development and coaching of these young prospects. But lets not lose sight of the fact that Scott Arniel (Manitoba Moose head coach) was just lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets, so the young prospect pool will have to adjust to a new coaching style, and possibly system. In the Canucks system, none of their current prospect defensemen rank higher than 8th on the depth chart. Yann Suave is ranked 8th, Taylor Ellington is ranked 9th, and Kevin Connauton ranked 10th. Hockeysfuture.com says that Suave projects as a 2nd pairing defender in the future, but may need 2 or 3 years further seasoning. They also project further time is needed for Ellington, so it's hard to believe Gillis will have either player step into a roll this season, with 2011/12 even a tad hopeful. Canucks 8th ranked player on depth chart, Yann Suave - The 6'2, 209 lbs Rigaud Quebec defender most likely has another year of development (photo courtesy of fanatique.com) With the recent acquisition of Dan Hamhuis by the Philadelphia Flyers, it would appear Anton Volchenkov from the Ottawa Senators becomes one of the premier defenseman available through Free Agency. The 6'1, 226 lbs Moscow, USSR native was the 21st overall player selected in the 2000 NHL entry draft. He commanded $3.2 m last season, and will most likely jump to the $4 M mark or thereabouts. Hockey writers in Ottawa are already talking about him like he's gone, so there's very little chance he'll remain with the Sens. Heavier rumours floating around are that the Washington Capitals will make a play for the heady defender, needing a physical player on the blue. 6'2, 208 lbs Taylor Ellington is a Victoria BC native who was drafted 33rd overall in 2007, he too is projected to be 2 years away (photo courtesy of whl.ca) After Gillis' TSN interview, I'd be very surprised to see the Canucks field an offer to Volchenkov. But mark my words: If injury ravages the Canuck blueline again this season, and it hampers them in the playoffs (ie - they do not advance past the 2nd round) there are going to be even MORE questions that the organization will "need time to assess" in the 2010/11 offseason. One of those will be regarding whether Gillis is fit to carry on in his current capacity. The city of Vancouver will not be looking for excuses; only results will suffice. with files from TSN, www.fanatique.com, www.whlca, and Yahoo! Sports, I'm Larenzo Jensen check out my Canucks fantasy 25th pick on June 25th at http://thecanuckway.com

Dear M31: I appologize if the blog seemed a little over-stated. Obviously, having seen him play the amount that I did in his junior days, though, I felt obliged to speak to his effectiveness. But, as of today, that little 'dream' of mine to see him play in Vancouver has been dashed. He has been dealt (his exclusive rights) by the Preds to the Philadelphia Flyers, who obviously felt they were very close to putting their names on the hallowed Stanley Cup. I have also just posted a new blog on this, and have addressed the matter of another large Free Agency name that is still available, though who knows how long that will last.... Deanofnucks, thanks for the positive vibes.... I think he would have been an excellent fit in Vancouver too. You're very right, they DO need to adapt their game if they hope to see a 3rd round this decade, please see my most recent posting to find out just how adamant I am that Gillis adapt as well! larenzo

Thanks for the great comments, guys I always enjoy getting fan feedback, and it's also nice to know that my rants and viewpoints are analyzed by other Canuck fans and pundits. In regards to the Blackhawks, I'm of the mind that they'll sweep away some of their financial trouble by sending Cristobal Huet (a $5 M plus cap hit) to the minors. Ben and Spiderjimmy are also right that a few "lesser knowns" will step into the Chicago system and play some 3rd and 4th line minutes, probably to the tune of about 6 or 7 minutes a night. I really feel there won't be too many changes made; winning a Cup definitely helps infuse some money back into the system, along with a long playoff run. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned, the summer is just starting to heat up with the Entry Draft just days away! I'll be making the 25th pick on the 25th of June on our Fansided.com affiliate site, http://thecanuckway.com Larenzo

With Willie Mitchell's uncertain status within the Canucks organization, it's imperative the Vancouver Canucks make a play to obtain Dan Hamhuis during Unrestricted Free Agency. It was an extremely cold January day, back in Quesnel, BC in 2000. A friend of mine from work asked if I wanted to make the trip to Prince George that night to watch the Cougars play the Kamloops Blazers. There was certainly some trepidation on my part; it's a 250 km round trip to the Prince George Multiplex (since renamed CN Centre), and it was to drop to -30 C overnight. But Kelly had a reliable Toyota, so I agreed, and it would be the first of multiple trips that season to watch the Cougars. Oh, and was it ever worth the trip! Patrick Kane and Dan Hamhuis battle for the puck in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, April 24, 2010 at the United Center To be frank, the largest draw for myself was watching the newly named captain, Dan Hamhuis play, and by extension, hit. I couldn't recall watching a more skilled, heavy hitting defenseman ever, even during the odd trip to watch the Canucks play. In the final minutes of that game against the Blazers, Dan Hamhuis hit one of their wingers so hard in the corner boards that they had to fix 2 glass panels. His thunderous, and extremely well calculated hits brought 5000 people to their feet. He would score a goal, add an assist and throw 5 huge hits that game, en route to being the games' 1st star. Hamhuis would be a large reason for many future trips up north. Dan Hamhuis hits pesky David Bolland as his shot is stopped by Pekka Rinne during Game 2 at the United Center (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) The following year, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft on June 23rd, Dan Hamhuis would be selected in the first round, 12th overall by the Nashville Predators. Cody Franson (Salmon Arm, BC) Shea Weber (Sicamous, BC) Dan Hamhuis (Smithers, BC) Since that time, the Predators have made selecting top tier defenders their trademark, such as Shea Weber, Cody Franson, and Jonathan Blum. Interestingly, a large number come from British Columbia. But nearly a decade has passed since they drafted Hamhuis, and the financial mechanics of the NHL have changed somewhat. Though they will probably give it a good solid go, resigning Hamhuis could be problematic for the Predators. Patric Hornqvist, the aforementioned Franson, and newly acquired (from Oilers) Denis Grebeshkov are all Restricted Free Agents. While Grebeshkov will probably look for a similar amount of money ($3.150 m), Hornqvist and Franson will need to at least double in salary, if not triple, depending on length of contract. The teams "big 5", Martin Erat, David Legwand, Jason Arnott, Jean-Pierre Dumont and Steve Sullivan command $22 m in total. Arnott and Sullivan are entering the final year of their contracts. That number represents their forward corps, give or take, and their blueline poses even more of a challenge with the addition of Grebeshkov. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter alone combine for an $8 m cap hit, even before the raises for Franson and Grebeshkov are factored in. Oh, and Dan Ellis is now an UFA, so they need to account for a backup goaltender to Pekka Rinne. Ok, so lots of talk about the Predators, and very little about the Canucks. But it's quite simple, really: Vancouver has needed a strong, hard-hitting defenseman since Mattias Ohlund (man, do I miss him) bolted for Tampa Bay. Don't get me wrong, I really like the direction Edler has been taking, and Shane O'Brien has helped make up for some of the lost grit. But the 6'1, 205 lbs Smithers, BC native would make such a huge difference in the lineup. He has played many valuable minutes in Nashville, and the workhorse rarely misses a game. He has averaged at least 25 points a season for nearly 10 years. Most importantly, he would represent an insurance policy for the oft-injured defensive core. With Mitchell and Salo both missing significant stretches due to injury, the writing is on the wall: The $2 m Hamhuis averaged over the last 3 years pales in comparison to what he brings to the table. Give him a raise, offer him a solid 4 or 5 years, and make GM Place an even better place to watch a hockey game in 2010/11 and beyond. Hamhuis continues to be used against other teams' top lines, including the Toews line, with very good results. Could he possibly wear the blue, teal and white? (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/ Getty Images) With files from TSN, Getty Images (Yahoo Sports) and nhlnumbers.com, I'm Larenzo Jensen reporting for the Canuck Way

Is it just me... or did the sweeping of the San Jose Sharks and the quick 2-0 series lead by the Chicago Blackhawks help ease the pain of the Canucks 2nd round playoff exit? Henrik Sedin celebrates with Alex Burrows, his twin and Sami Salo following a goal in Game 5 against the Chicago Blackhawks (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/ Getty Images) Now before I get any Phlyer fans jumping on my back about the Finals not being decided yet, I just want to reiterate that Chicago's momentum through the last six games is quite noteworthy. Though none of the Hawks would admit it, I'm sure they breathed a sigh of relief that they were able to topple the Canucks and their gold-medal winning goaltender. As difficult as it might be accept any consolation prizes, I still believe firmly that the Canucks game them the best fight thus far. After the Canucks' Game 1 thumping, they most surely were not taking them so lightly, I assure you. All I'm trying to point out is that, if you're going to bow out of the tournament, the sting is lessened when you have to concede to the eventual Champions. Two more wins in the next 5 games for the Blackhawks, and that's the boat Canucks fans are in, like it or like it not. Young players like Michael Grabner are the future cornerstones to Canuck success, but signing them to contract and keeping them there are always a challenge in the 'new' NHL (Photo by Rich Lam/ Getty Images) As promised, there are still personnel issues to investigate for the upcoming Free Agency. Probably the single largest question mark is whether or not Willie Mitchell will be wearing the blue and teal next season. If you browse some of the comment forums on TSN or Canucks.com, it appears a slight majority believe he's gone. Prior to the 2007/08 season, Willie signed a 4 year, $3.5 m (per) contract that has recently expired. Big Willie had already set a career high in goals after 48 games before his concussion It's my belief, though, that it's not quite time to turn the page yet. Ultimately, it will boil down to what both parties intend to do, and how his kind of money would fit into their cap structure. According to nhlnumbers.com, the Canucks have 8 defensemen under contract for the 2010/11 season, with a combined salary of $16.238 m. In addition, Shane O'Brien and Michael Funk are Restricted Free Agents (RFA), meaning other clubs can tender Offer Sheets to them, with the caveat that the Canucks have the right to match that offer. If they chose not to, then the offering team has to pay Vancouver compensation in the form of draft picks, according to a chart value. In most cases, the chart value for RFA's is quite high, prohibitive. With Mason Raymond's breakout 25 goal, 53 point campaign, will he be the target of other NHL teams' Offer Sheets? (Photo by Rich Lam/ Getty Images) Simply put, though, I would think Mitchell to have some 'unfinished business' as far as the Canucks are concerned. The mechanics of being an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) are intricate, and the Canucks will no doubt not be alone in their pursuit of Mitchell. But Willie grew up in Port McNeil on Vancouver Island, and seemed quite at home playing 4 years with the Canucks. Who knew January 16th that he would be out the rest of the regular season and the playoffs with post-concussion syndrome? He wasn't alone in voicing the opinion that Vancouver had a lot of pieces to the puzzle in pursuit of a championship. It's hard to imagine that he feels any differently now, and has set up a nice life in Vancouver. Even if he were looking for additional money on a new contract, or be slanted in favor of a longer-term deal, surely Vancouver is still a strong possibility. Many on the forums say that the Canucks should shake hands, move on, and spend the money elsewhere. But replacing what Mitchell brings to the table will be a difficult task, and though this summers crop of (defensive) Free Agents isn't slim pickings, it's far from bountiful. Mike Gillis will be inquisitive about O'Brien's future plans and goals as a Canuck when renegotiating his (RFA) contract As mentioned, Shane O'Brien and Mason Raymond are two noteworthy RFA's. The playoffs proved that players with speed, grit, and determination are best suited to succeed. O'Brien's Irish heart brims with grit, while Raymond's speed and flash have surely caught others' attention. Of the two, Raymond is most likely to receive an offer sheet from another club, a la Ryan Kesler and the Philadelphia Flyers (Bobby Clarke). The Canucks matched the $1.75 m contract offer that some scoffed at during the time, but with Kesler's production and growth, they soon realized $1.75 m was bargain basement. If Raymond receives an offer, it would probably be around that mark ($2 m or so). The other mitigating factor is how badly another club would want to bring on Raymond's goal-scoring capability. They know they'd pay dearly for it, with a possible first round pick, and potentially another 2nd round pick leaving for compensation, depending on the size of contract. The new NHL puts a premium on young talent; whatever the case, the $760,000 Raymond made last season will look like a down payment on the new contract he signs, whichever team that might be. Below I've included the 2009 table for compensation upon signing a Restricted Free Agent. 2009 Compensation $994,433 or below - None$994,433 to $1,506,716 - 3rd round pick$1,506,716 to $3,013,434 - 2nd round pick$3,013,434 to $4,520,150 - 1st and 3rd round pick$4,520,150 to $6,026,867 - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick$6,026,867 to $7,533,584 - 2 1st round picks, a 2nd and 3rd round pick$7,533,584 - 4 1st round picks So, based on the above scenario, the $1.75 m contract the Flyers offered Ryan Kesler, they would have had to give up a 2nd round pick to the Canucks. As you can see, $3.014 m is the magical number, whereby a team would have to compensate the club that held that players rights a 1st and 3rd round draft pick. Again, the team owning the players rights ALWAYS has the option to match. So less than a month from now hockey fans will start to feel the flicker of some hockey excitement again, with the NHL Entry Draft descending upon them June 25th. Shortly after that, July 1st will mark the start of Free Agency, and for a few weeks following, some NHL players will be finding themselves moving to new cities. With files from TSN, Getty Images and nhlnumbers.com, I'm Larenzo Jensen Join me June 25th at http://thecanuckway.com as I play GM for a day and help the Canucks make their 25th pick in the NHL Entry Draft

In a poll conducted Tuesday by Team 1040 Radio, 40 per cent of Vancouver Canucks fans polled said they would give up sex for a year if the team won the Stanley Cup. Canucks fans celebrate a goal during Game 3 of the Western conference semifinals May 5th, 2010 at GM Place The poll was a crossover from a recent English poll that suggested that 12 per cent of soccer fans would give up sex for a year if the Three Lions won the World Cup. Neither of the polls indicated the percentages as broken down by gender, but I assume it's safe to say that the majority would be male. Regardless, the number is quite impressive when you think about what's at stake. Personally, having followed the Canucks faithfully for 28 years, and hoped, laughed and cried along with them every step of the way, I still don't know that I would wager a year without sex. I don't think my fiance would appreciate me placing that kind of bet either. It kind of makes me wonder if they're engaging in the same activity... The beauty of polls like this is that no one will be held responsible to carry out the parameters of the wager. With that in mind, let's follow through on my promise to take a look at the personnel that will (or will not) help Vancouver reach the Holy Grail. Pavol Demitra gets one off from his knees during Game 6 at GM Place. Surely, that will be the last game he wears a Canucks jersey (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) Pavol Demitra: Age: 35 Cap Hit: $4,00,000 Status: Unrestricted Free Agent Stats (Games, Goals, Assists, Total points) 28 games 3-13-16 +3 rating Playoffs: 11 games, 2-4-6 +2 rating Pavol Demitra turned out to be another Canuck Free Agent experiment gone awry. Based on The Province (newspaper) reader response, it's easy to see that fans are quite unhappy with the return on investment for the streaky Slovak. Paul from Vancouver wrote: "Don't answer the $4 -million call from the dreadful Demitra Experiment". At least with Mats Sundin, there was a certain level of commitment and grit that was displayed for the monumental amount of cash he received. But Demitra never really hit his stride in Vancouver, save for the two week period of the Olympics in which he led the tournament for points. Elvis sightings will be more frequent than Demitra sightings in Vancouver after July 1st, I can assure you of that. Kyle Wellwood grimaces while Steve Bernier tries to beat Antti Niemi while in the butterfly position. Will Wellwood get looks from other teams as an Unrestricted Free Agent? Kyle Wellwood: Age: 27 Cap Hit: $1,200,000 Status: Unrestricted Free Agent Reg. Season: 75 games, 14-11-25 +6 rating Playoffs: 12 games, 2-5-7 -1 rating Wellwood showed he knows when to turn up the compete level. CBC Analyst Jim Hughson commented a couple of times about Wellwood's speed in the playoffs. For two years running, the diminutive center has saved his best hockey for the playoffs, and gave the Canucks an additional dimension on their checking line. With excellent stick-handling abilities, and good vision on the ice, the Canucks will probably make an offer in the same ballpark as the previous one. The only question is whether he'll accept or not; may get a longer look from other clubs, which could push his value up somewhat. Antti Niemi makes a pad save against Ryan Johnson in the first period of Game 6... Will Johnson wear the blue, white and green again? Ryan Johnson: Age: 33 Cap Hit: $1,150,000 Status: Unrestricted Free Agent Reg. Season: 58 games, 1-4-5 -4 rating Playoffs: 4 games, 0-0-0 -2 rating Having played playoff hockey myself while suffering from a serious injury, my heart really went out to Johnson this post-season. He was listed as a late May return from his broken foot, but managed 4 games with the Canucks in Round 2. Probably motivated by the Canucks lack of success on the penalty kill, it was obvious Johnson returned too early. The Thunder Bay, Ont. product had a tough time being reinserted smack in the middle of the playoffs. But nobody questions his heart, and though he's not a shoe-in, one would think the Canucks will try to get him back in the fold for similar money. With Mason Raymond's breakout season, one has to wonder if another club will make resigning the young speedster difficult, a la Ryan Kesler/ Philadelphia Flyers (photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images In the next Canuck Way installment, we'll continue our investigation into what the team may look like for the 2010/11 season. Of particular note, I'll take stock of the Willie Mitchell situation and potential complications in re-signing Mason Raymond, who is coming off his breakout season. With files from The Province, Getty Images and TSN, I'm Larenzo Jensen Follow the Canucks even while they're on the Greens... and a special Draft Day live blog June 25th at http://thecanuckway.com

Hawkitis: Inflammation or disease originating from overexposure to the Chicago Blackhawks NHL team. This melancholy couple just learned that they've been exposed to the plague-like Hawkitis (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) "One year to the day," started CBC analyst Jim Hughson, "The Vancouver Canucks have been eliminated in the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Chicago Blackhawks." Yes, May 11th could actually become the new "Black Monday" in Vancouver, British Columbia, in memorial of the Canucks unceremonious annual exodus from the tournament. After defeating the Los Angeles Kings in their previous series, there was talk of redemption, talk of a "new era", and most importantly a new hope that this club had learned the valuable lessons that come with 'maturity'. Unfortunately, the lessons learned this season are ones that come from the familiarity of defeat, and the anxiety that comes with inability to overcome obstacles from the past. So much ado was made of the handshake that occurred following the Gold medal final between Canada and the United States, where Roberto Luongo whispered to Patrick Kane "See you in the playoffs". Fans were excited in Vancouver, because as far as they could tell, the Canucks were on a mission, as if fate had something in store, redemption-esque. Surely, what more could the Canucks need than an inspired Roberto Luongo on their side? To be fair, Luongo was right about the Canucks and Blackhawks having a playoff reunion. He didn't promise anything more than that (no hockey player is dumb enough to give another team words that the opposing team can write in on their dressing room Expo board). Turns out, it's a good thing he only told Scott Oakes from CBC that the Canucks were looking forward to a rematch with the Hawks (following their series win over L.A.). In the same vein of fairness, he also did vow to be "better" in Game 5, where the Canucks stuck it to the Blackhawks in front of their home crowd in Chicago. He didn't gaurantee anything for Game 6; only putting the thought out there that it'd be nice to force a Game 7. Shane O'Brien and Roberto Luongo can do nothing more than watch Dustin Byfuglien celbrate in the third period of Game 6 Of course, there are many contributing factors to the Canucks disappointing second round exit in consecutive years. Many of the faithful will point to injuries as one of the main factors, and to an extent, they'd be right. I'm of the frame of mind that missing your main shutdown defender in the playoffs hardly bodes well for any team, no matter their pedigree. While some would argue (with some validity) that Sami Salo could possibly possess that title and not Willie Mitchell, I have other issues with that situation. A couple of them I'll touch on in this blog, and a the other points are for the next one, which will evaluate possible personnel changes for 2010/2011. Steve Bernier and Kyle Wellwood try to no avail to put the puck underneath Anttii Niemi in Game 6, May 11th at GM Place They say hindsight is 20/20, and in most cases, those words of wisdom ring true. But what if that hindsight could have been adjusted by foresight? -I'm not trying to confuse the reader, but I feel management could have better handled the Willie Mitchell concussion (sustained Jan. 16, 2010 during a hit-from-behind incident involving Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins). No one could foretell Mitchell would be concussed all the way through the last half of the regular season and right through the playoffs. But my beef is that there was a STRONG indication that Willie would not be back to help in time for the post-season. GM Mike Gillis did right by the Canucks in the offseason bringing in Christian Ehrhoff (most notably a puck-moving defenseman), as well as experienced playoff veteran Mikeal Samuelsson. But where was Gillis at trade deadline? I know he was burning through the long distance plan talking with Carolina about Andrew Alberts. Surely there were other deals to be had, or GM's other than Rutherford (Hurricanes) that he could have entered negotiations with. Injury in the playoffs is not some unicorn-like creature that exists purely mythologically. It is a fact, and NHL teams either prepare for it or they don't. The teams that don't are of the mindset that they are sufficiently stocked at that position to withstand one or two injuries. The looks on the faces along the Canucks bench in the final minute of Game 6 tell the whole story Don't get me wrong, thus far I've been a fan of Mike Gillis' regime, and I think we'll continue to see him around for a good little while. But his "We can't force the right deal if it isn't there" defense post trade deadline was too cliche; he made it sound as if the Canucks would have to move 2 or 3 bluechip prospects in order to secure a shutdown defender. That's easy enough to say, because all that's necessary post-deadline are vague statements about players they were interested in. Gillis didn't have to provide any examples of deals that were available (and yes, I understand the whole 'tampering' issue), nor specific player names or prospects that would be required to bring in said defender. I'm sorry, but if Brian Burke knew that Dion Phaneuf was available, then Gillis did too. If Brent Sutter knew that Ian White was available, then so did Gillis. Derek Morris had a very good showing for the Coyotes after being brought in from Boston at the trade deadline. Dan Hamhuis (Predators) was available as a pending Unrestricted Free Agent, but obviously not enough was being offered to Nashville for his services. Darren Dreger from TSN wrote about Vancouver's futility at the trade deadline, and pointed to defensemen such as Lubomir Visnovsky and Ryan Whitney as better theoretical acquisitions than Andrew Alberts. From experience, I can say that one of the biggest tests of a players character is shaking hands from Luongo's side of the line At the end of the day, 'disbelief' and 'sadness' are words that aptly describe the city's response to the most recent outbreak of Hawkitis. Listeners to Team 1040 radio have used those words the most with their calls, when referencing the Canucks' elimination from the playoffs. As with any event in life, all that's left is to pick up the pieces, and see if there's any hope of making things right. The next Canuck Way will examine Canuck core pieces, Free Agency, and the fiscal picture heading into the 2010/2011 season. Hawkitis will definitely claim more than one or two more victims in the fallout... Photo by Rich Lam/ Getty Images With files from TSN and Getty Images, for the Canuck Way I'm Larenzo Jensen

When my brother asked me how I felt following the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 5, I told him that no matter what happens from here on out, I have "a sense of closure". Kevin Bieksa, who logged 27:04 huge minutes, shields the puck from David Bolland in Game 5 at the United Center in Chicago, Ill. Much like the Detroit Red Wings' 7-1, Game 4 victory over the San Jose Sharks in front of Joe Louis Arena faithfuls, the Canucks have earned some redemption. Though the Red Wings lost a close one the following game in San Jose, it was nonetheless a classy display put on by Niklas Lidstrom and company. There is far too much pride and respect within the Wings' organization to allow a team to sweep them out of the playoffs. Now, I'm not comparing the Wings and Canucks' history or achievements; obviously closer to apples and oranges they couldn't be. But the Canucks reached down and mustered a statement, as beat up as they were coming into the game, and that show of heart is not lost on Canuck followers. No more evident was this mentality and committment than Sami Salo at the end of the first period, with the Blackhawks on the power play. With literally just over a second remaining, Salo did what many Canucks did in Game 5: Put his body on the line. Perhaps one of the most notable things the Canucks had yet to match the Blackhawks in during this series to this point was sacrificing the body. Though Salo was jostling with a Hawk forward and the puck was slightly redirected, he was still fighting to get into the lane when it happened. It cost him a lot of pain, and a trip to Northwestern hospital (injury is still undisclosed, but it is believed he may have suffered a ruptured testicle). Alex Burrows also was willing to sacrifice his body, which probably saved a goal against, as he sprawled, throwing his left hand up to deflect a power play chance about 18-20 feet in front of Luongo. The puck went harmlessly up over the glass to stop play, and helped Vancouver maintain it's 3-1 lead at that point. Marian Hossa, who took a critical penalty earlier, tries a wrap-around backhand attempt with Alex Edler in tow (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) Crease-crasher Dustin Byfuglien turned out to be a non-factor in the game, but mostly because the Canucks did a much better job in the defensive zone. Particularly different was their approach and foresight when handling the forecheckers along the half-wall. Quite often, the defense would support each other, having one defender ready to force the play to reverse up the other wall. If one was checking the player along the half-wall, the other was ready to take the Blackhawk behind the net, but also ready to kick off to one side of the net to counter a wrap around attempt or pass into the slot. Not just particularly because of scoring a couple of timely goals, but if Kevin Bieksa has had a better game in his career, I'm not aware of it. I feel he was the most cerebral player on the ice in Game 5, and showed a lot of vision and patience in his 27 minutes of work. On one Chicago power play, he battled with one of two forwards behind Luongo's net, and gained control of the puck. But as he was skating the puck out the left side, felt the winger collapsing along the boards- his exit. So he quickly stopped, reversed (rather dangerously) on his backhand, and while spinning blasted the puck straight down the ice. Alex Burrows is surrounded by teammates following an empty net goal that sealed Chicago's fate in Game 5 Roberto Luongo certainly lived up to his vow to play better in Game 5. Right from the outset, it was apparent that he was determined to have better control of any rebounds lying around the crease area. He calmly swiped a sitting rebound that was 4 feet in front of the blue paint with the bottom side of his stick blade to the corner out of harms way. With Salo lost to injury after the 1st period, it appeared the Canucks were going down to 4 defenders after Dustin Byfuglien sliced Shane O'Brien's forehead open on a shot follow-through. "I was all over Burnie (trainer Mike Burnstein)," said O'Brien, who didn't miss a shift, though bleeding profusely. "I was telling him to do it as quickly as he possibly could, and he was telling me to calm down. He put glue on it to stop the bleeding and I went back out there. That's playoff hockey." Roberto Luongo employs his trapper as he quickly and efficiently swallowed up all rebounds near the blue paint [crease]. He finished with 29 saves (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) Christian Ehrhoff also had his best game of the series, helping build a nice perimeter around Luongo's crease. He forced Andrew Ladd and Jonathan Toews out of the box area, and was quick to sweep any lingering pucks to the corners and up off the glass. His goal 59 seconds into the contest was pivotal because it gave the Canucks a seldom seen lead. With Bieksa's first of the night tacked onto that, they were able to set the tone for the rest of the game. "The five of us (defensemen) juggled it pretty well and I don't think we got into too much trouble with long shifts," said Bieksa. "We adjusted." The expressions on the faces of Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff illustrate their level of desperation and determination Though the Canucks delivered on many fronts in Game 5, Shane O'Brien spoke to the teams outlook heading back to Vancouver. "We were more calm and limited their time and space," said the feisty Irishman. "It was a good game for us, but we didn't accomplish anything. We're just excited to still be playing hockey, and hopefully we can force a Game 7." If the Canucks play Game 6 with the same intensity and discipline, they just might very well find themselves back in Chicago for a Game 7.

Following their 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3, the Canucks have essentially one option in Game 4: Win. There are 4 things the Canucks need to do in order to have reason to celebrate... Although the Minnesota Wild managed to come from behind twice in one playoff run while down three games to one (against the Colorado Avalanche and our beloved Canucks), it is the exception, not the rule in the NHL. Very few teams are able to win 3 straight games in a series, particularly when the opposition has dominated them in the early going. Already having lost the ability to claw home ice advantage away from the Blackhawks, much more is at stake tonight in Game 4. The Canucks, who owned one of the leagues best home records (30-8-3) during the regular season, are finding it much more difficult to win at home in the post-season. Unfortunately, with 3 games in books already, many fans can't help feelings of deja vu from their series with the Hawks from last season. Vancouver won Game 1, were up 2-0 early in Game 2, but lost the lead, lost momentum while Chicago gained it, and went on to play from behind the rest of the series. With these "sinking feelings" (as Team 1040 Radio polled listeners about yesterday), I want to examine 4 crucial aspects of Game 4. Out of all the Canucks, Alex Burrows perhaps plays best when his back is 'against the wall'... He's needed to muster that resiliency now Defensive match-ups: Alain Vigneault already has his hands full matching his forwards against the suddenly gritty, physical Hawks. Therefore, Rick Bowness' value to the team is immeasurable right now, as he will try to adjust to the Hawks crashing style of attack. The defenders down low have been losing a lot of the one-on-one battles in the corners, and that has to be corrected if Vancouver has any hope remaining in this series. Three of the Hawk goals were scored because Canuck defenders either couldn't keep pace with, or physically handle the forecheckers. It's glaringly apparent that Vancouver cannot keep Chicago forwards from going hard to the net, nor do much about it when they have done it, so it's key to limit the opportunities where the puck gets to the net, with more than one Hawk in front of Luongo. This all starts by keeping the puck from getting there, with the board-play being the catalyst for that. Bob "The Moj" Marjanovich of Team 1040 Radio has called out Kevin Bieksa to bring the "snarl and grit" back to his game (photo by Rich Lam/ Getty Images) Offensive zone net presence: Canucks fans can complain till they're blue in the face about Chicago not getting called for goaltender interference, but it won't change referee's minds. I'm also not certain about Vigneault's seeming change of heart on the matter; for whatever reason, the refereeing seems to favor the Hawks thus far in the series. Though I thoroughly believe they need more traffic in front of Niemi, I feel Vancouver's luck would dictate penalty calls against them should they try Chicago's pushing and shoving ways. But Niemi is getting far too good of looks at the puck when Canucks get them through (more on this in a moment), and that MUST change. You would be hard-pressed to find any proof from Game 3 that the Canucks have established the same presence around the net that they thrived on during the regular season. Alex Burrows, Ryan Kesler and Steve Bernier need to get closer to the blue paint for the Canucks to stand a chance tonight of evening the series. Daniel Sedin needs to worry less about average, gritty players like Dave Bolland and more about the special kind of offensive player he can be (photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) Getting shots through to the net: Particularly is this vital on their suffering powerplay. It's hard to recall a time when the Canucks had so few shots make it through on goal. Perhaps it comes down to the Blackhawks wanting it more, but there are Hawks laying down, crouching, going to one knee and even putting their hands out to block shots. I'm not aware of any exasperation on Sami Salo's part, but there should be. On multiple power-play opportunities, he's only been able to get the odd wrist-shot on net. His inability to get off that cannonade from the point exemplifies Vancouver's frustrated attempts on goal. I recognize that the forecheckers are getting to the point in a hurry, but that's where they need to utilize the fein shot or to fake a pass; anything to buy an extra second to step around and let it off. No shots through, no goals. Because Chicago is very proactive going after the point men, it's imperative they try to set up more along the half-wall, which eventually should open up room for the point shots, or the down low play. Jannik Hansen has probably been the best Canuck forward for getting to the crease and making Niemi's life more difficult Luongo's rebound control: Serveral of the Canucks' gaffes have occurred when Luongo hasn't been able to seize control of a loose puck in front of him. No, he isn't to blame for the puck getting there in the first place, but for some reason he's not exhibiting that same type of control that helped make him a star. Anttii Niemi should not be outplaying Luongo in this series, but some are stating that he already has. The Blackhawks are purposefully trying to get Luongo to go down, because they feel that is when he is most vulnerable. Of course, most goaltenders are more prone when they're off their feet, but with the damage the Hawks are doing when Roberto is off his, the signs are clear. Asking Luongo for more than two consecutive saves when he's committed to playing off his feet is asking for a lot. Roberto Luongo watches a John Madden backhand shot sail just wide of the 4x6 cage during the second period of Game 3 The Vancouver Canucks will need to play tonight like their playoff lives are on the line, because the numbers don't lie: Teams that go down three games to one in the Stanley Cup playoffs are usually golfing within the week. If the above 4 keys aren't implemented, you might spot one of the Canucks at your local golf course after the weekend. Catch all the Canucks playoff action and more at http://thecanuckway.com With files from Getty Images, I'm Larenzo Jensen

In an interview earlier today with Rick Ball from Team 1040 Radio, Kevin Bieksa says the Vancouver Canucks have already forgotten about last game and are focused on Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Roberto Luongo waits in the tunnel prior to player introductions during Game One versus the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center in Chicago (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) After a commanding 5-1 win over the Blackhawks in front of a stunned sell-out crowd at the United Center in Chicago, the Canucks truly seem focused on the task at hand. During the interview with Kevin Bieksa, Rick Ball asked Bieksa if he even knew what day of the week it is. ”Actually, I don’t really. I know it’s a weekday, but with the schedule that we’ve had, all we are focused on is the next game. What happened last game happened, we just know we’re ready to work hard.” In the same segment, shortly after the interview, Team 1040 also featured a short taped interview with Patrick Sharp. The 6′1 Winnipeg center/winger who had 25 goals and 41 assists during the season said the Hawks will be better in Game 2: ”We know we’re not in the best situation, but we were also down 1-0 last year, and came back to win the series. We know what we have to do tonight.” Niklas Hjalmarsson and Pavol Demitra vie for the puck along the end boards during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals Although the series is still in the infantile stages, I can’t help but sense a different energy surrounding the Canucks. The coaching staff, particularly Alain Vigneault, have been preaching “Poise” to the club. One can’t help but sense an air of maturity surrounding the team, the kind of maturity that comes with lessons learned in previous playoff experiences. The job that Assistant Coach Rick Bowness has done with his somewhat depleted defensive core illustrates that. After an abysmal start to the Los Angeles series, Andrew Alberts has received the message concerning poise. It would have been easy for Bowness just to preclude that Alberts wasn’t going to be a proper fit based on Games 1 and 2 of that series. One game into this series with the Blackhawks, it appears coaching and patience is being rewarded, as Alberts IS fitting into the scheme of things. Tom Larscheid was also interviewed on the Team 1040, and he stressed the importance of Game 2 at length. He said that both he and analyst John Shorthouse are really looking forward to tonights match-up, with what should be a very motivated and energetic Hawks team. ”Patrick Kane in particular tonight will be looking to play a more pivotal role. The Canucks coaching staff credited him with 14 scoring chances in Game One. The Hawks outshot the Canucks, they outhit the Canucks, and were better in the faceoff circle at 55 per cent. If anyone is going to help the Blackhawks have success in Game Two, it’s Patrick Kane. He’s a real beauty.” Tomas Kopecky and Kris Versteeg collaberate a check on Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) Though it was ultimately their team game that produced their loss in 6 games last year, hockey pundits still shifted a fair amount of blame on Roberto Luongo. As I have mentioned before, Luongo was able to move on from that tear-inducing experience, though perhaps not everyone has. But what we saw in Game One was a goaltender that has confidence, one that is mentally prepared for this series, if not for a long playoff experience. Particularly in the first period was Luongo able to set the tone for how the rest of the game would play out. With the United Center crowd still in a tizzy after the lead-up and anticipation of this fantastic series, Luongo kept very composed. He would make several great stops in the first period, not allowing the Hawks to gain that all-important momentum at home. He gave the Canucks the opportunity they needed to gain offensive chances, which they have been very adept at capitalizing upon in each playoff game thus far. Once they got fired up early in the 2nd period, it seemed that with sheer will alone they could find ways to score, and they did. While tonight could prove different, I am quite sold on Luongo’s ability to quell any notion that he can’t produce in the playoffs. He can, and quite simply has been one of the best (goaltenders) so far in these 2010 playoffs. The Canucks have given great support to their goaltender, Roberto Luongo, thus far in the series. It will be imperative to continue that for the series remainder Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville has decided to make some lineup changes headed into Game Two. It appears Brian Bickell will be moved down to the third line, while BC product Troy Brouwer will join Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane on the first line. Jordan Henry gets the bump off the main roster in favor of adding some toughness in Ben Eager, who will get 4th line time. It also appears Dustin Byfuglien will move to the 2nd line with Patrick Sharp, although he might also draw back onto defense, which Quenneville said will be a game-time decision. Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has made a couple of significant 'grit' changes for Game Two at the United Center On so many levels, Game Two will be significant for posturing in the the series for both teams. While the Blackhawks have had some adversity thus far, most agree that the difference between the Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks is a large one. Tom Larscheid pointed to speed as a key factor, especially in comparison to the Hawks opening series and the one they find themselves in now. Ryan Kesler, Mason Raymond and Alex Burrows were a large part of that equation in Game One. It remains to be seen if the Blackhawks can counter that speed, or negate some of it with a more physical presence, as it appears will be the focus tonight. Stay tuned, this exciting series has a lot more hockey to be played. Because I was unable to further preview Round 2, I am calling the Canucks to take this series in 6 games. Look for a preview for Game three right here on the Canuck Way.

After defeating the Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 (as predicted), the Vancouver Canucks get a shot at redemption with the Chicago Blackhawks, who ended their playoff run a year ago. The Chicago Blackhawks held on Monday night for a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators, setting up a Canucks - Blackhawks meeting for a second consecutive year. The Blackhawks, having earned the 2nd seed in the Western conference, will take their turn at home ice advantage in this series. While the official schedule has not been released yet, Alain Vigneault and the Canucks were informed that their 2nd round series would commence Friday, April 30th, regardless of their opponent. Initially, when considering the prospect of playing the Blackhawks in a rematch in Round 2, I admit I felt some trepidation. Though it transpired a year previous, some of the memories quickly came back, reminding me of the sting inflicted by the upstart Blackhawks. After opening with a sweep of the St. Louis Blues, the Canucks appeared full of promise, rife for a successful playoff run. Combine that with the distasteful events of their Game 6 exit, and even the most optimistic Canucks fan would need to concede that the glass appears half empty. But as depicted, things can change in the course of a year. This will NOT be a cookie-cutter series, in the same mold as last year. There are a number of different faces for both clubs. Even some of the familiar faces have evolved and transfigured in that space of time. For example, rookie goaltender Antti Niemi will occupy the spot that Nikolai Khabibulin held a year ago. Ossi Vaananen no longer plays for the Canucks, and Willie Mitchell will not patrol the blueline because of injury. Mikael Samuelsson will most likely play a starring role on the Canucks' first line, when last year he was busy helping the Red Wings get to the Cup finals. All this, and young players such as Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Alexander Edler, Mason Raymond and others have another year of seasoning behind them. I'm not saying it won't have a similar flavor, but this series' differences will be quite curious ones. Last year, especially following the Round 2 victory for the Blackhawks, many marveled at Chicago's high octane offence. While it will be a factor again in this series, there is a chance it will be overshadowed by Vancouver's newfound attack. The Canucks startled the league by accumulating the second highest goal totals in the regular season, outranked only by the Washington Capitals. Hockey pundits might point to the fact that some of that was at the expense of their penalty kill and goals against average. While those totals were down from 2009, they were certainly not as noticeable as the increase in goalscoring. I'm willing to wager that any of the 30 NHL head coaches would make the trade-off in those areas for that kind of 'net' gain. All things considered, motivation will factor highly into this upcoming series. When interviewed by Scott "Crypt Keeper" Oakes from CBC after wrapping up the Kings' series, Roberto Luongo spoke to the chance for redemption against Chicago. There is no doubt in my mind that he spoke the truth when he said the Canucks have been looking forward to this opportunity. In all frankness, it gave me a slight chill when he added: "We feel this is our time". Hockey experts are already billing Luongo's save against Ryan Smyth of the Kings as the 'save of the playoffs', and he appears, as he related to the team as a whole, "On a mission". With a motivated Luongo, this series should prove to be a barn-burner. Add to that fact that the Sedin twins are coming off their best post-season series performance, I feel trepidation being replaced by a sense of nervous excitement. The 2010 playoffs have featured some incredible storylines thus far, as well as some excellent match-ups. It's true that the playoffs are where rivalries are created, and there will be a lot of attention focused on this newly formed one. Because of the numerous subplots and dimensions this series will take on, I will take a look at the season series between the two clubs, as well as forecast my prediction in an upcoming blog. Will I accurately predict this series outcome, or was my prediction for the L.A. series a fluke? Stay tuned, what I will say right now is we're in for one hell of a ride. Larenzo Jensen

After losing Game 3, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault called out his top players, including twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and goaltender Roberto Luongo. They were the best players on the ice in a Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Matt Greene and Brad Richardson watch helplessly as Christian Ehrhoff scores his first playoff goal for the Canucks (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) With a 6-4 victory over the Kings, the Canucks escaped what would surely have been akin to playoff death - being down 3 games to 1 in a best of 7 series. With the series now tied at 2-2, the format is shortened to a best of 3, with 2 of those in Vancouver, if necessary. The 'Cardiac Canucks' saved their best performance for the third period again, erasing a deficit heading into the final stanza. CBC analyst Jim Hughson described the Canucks first period as tentative and nervous, possibly because of the implications of a Vancouver loss. The Kings thrice held the lead, opening with a goal from sophomore sensation Drew Doughty. Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar also added singles to put L.A. out in front, but each time they did, the Canucks had a response. Sophomore sensation Drew Doughty has been the Kings best player so far in the series, and, er, drew first blood in Game 4 Alain Vigneault left the challenge of Game 4 up to his star players. Even though he 'called them out', reaffirming that they'd need to be their best players, he also showed confidence by stating he knew they would be. Entering the third period down 3-2, twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin mustered their star power and recorded 5 points between the two of them. Henrik took a wonderful, patient pass from Daniel, cut into the slot, and wristed one over (goaltender) Jonathan Quick's blocker. Jim Hughson remarked that he'd never seen Henrik so elated to score a goal, and it was a huge one. Sami Salo give Vancouver it's first lead of the game with a howitzer one-timer on a power play feed from Daniel and Henrik For once, the L.A. Kings penchant for crashing Luongo came back to haunt them. With two minutes to go in regulation and down a goal, Michael Handzus collided with a Canuck defender and knocked the net off it's moorings as the play headed back towards the Kings zone. Kyle Wellwood did some fantastic work ragging the puck along the end boards, chipping valuable seconds off the clock. Forty seconds later, when the play came back to the Canucks zone, the refs blew the play dead, seeing the net dislodged. Kings coach Terry Murray was incensed, but the officials knew Luongo had not knocked it off. Henrik Sedin also had a gritty shift, keeping four Kings from getting puck possession to Quick's left just behind the net. Roberto Luongo knows Dustin Brown's beat-up mug; it's been in his face from the series get-go... Which one will have the last laugh? Sami Salo gave the Canucks their first lead of the game at the 12:16 mark of the third period on the powerplay. Daniel and Henrik moved the puck cross-ice, and Daniel found Salo sneaking in from the point. He blasted the one-time feed two feet off the ice over Quick's blocker for a vital power play marker. The win now shortens the series to a best of three contest, with 2 games in Vancouver, if necessary. Don Cherry and other hockey pundits will tell you that Game 4 is the hardest one to win. With that in mind, it should be interesting to see how momentum factors in going into Friday's game in Vancouver. During the regular season, the Canucks were the 2nd highest scoring team, only trailing Washington in that statistic. With 4 goals in the third period, they finally showed their offensive bite, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Although teams (including the Canucks) have come back trailing a series three games to one and won it, it doesn't happen very often. To be frank, in my own mind, I felt if they had lost this game, that the series would be all but over. Henrik Sedin is elated after scoring what turned out to be the game-winning goal with 2:52 remaining in regulation Roberto Luongo shone in Wednesday's game, and is a large reason why the Canucks find themselves tied going in to Game 5. While I feel that a lot of the criticism that he has shouldered this series has been unfair, he went a long way to deflecting that negativity. His rebound control was superb, and the timeliness of his saves instrumental in the win. Canucks fans collectively held their breath as Alexander Frolov broke away for a clean shot on Luongo, with the Kings leading by a goal. It's too early to call it a series saver, but we might well reflect back on it in a weeks time and recall it's importance. Of course, there's still a good chunk of hockey to be played, and it's anyone's guess who will be moving on to the conference semi-finals. What we do know is that Vancouver has home-ice advantage, including last change, to try to claim the series win. We also know that Alain Vigneault put the challenge out to his best players, as well as his vote of confidence. That call was answered in their 6-4, come-from-behind victory Wednesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Heh, these Canucks fans, though outnumbered in Los Angeles, must have read my blog and series prediction... (photo by Harry How/ Getty Images) Luongo's series saver? (courtesy of Pouya from CanucksHD) Larenzo Jensen, with files from Getty Images and CanucksHD

After a Game 2 overtime loss to the Kings, the series shifts to Los Angeles for games 3 and 4, and the Vancouver Canucks have adjustments to be made. Alex Edler and Ryan Kesler chase Anze Kopitar in the first period of Game 2 at GM Place, April 17, 2010 (Photo by Rich Lam/ Getty Images) Post game reaction following Game 1 of this series from Team 1040 (radio) call-ins was that this was going to be a long series. With Los Angeles stealing a split following a 3-2 overtime (powerplay) win over the Canucks, that possibility became more evident. The change of venue always brings a different look as well, so adjustments in either teams' game will be tempered by the fact that a different energy will encompass the match-up. Now that Los Angeles has shifted the momentum of the series, Vancouver will need to ensure several things in order to not let the Kings capitalize on that inertia. Alex Burrows is tied up Rob Scuderi after getting a backhand shot off against Jonathan Quick in the overtime period of Game 2 Key 1: Discipline. Now, I imagine the name "Andrew Alberts" is already dripping off the lips of readers right now, and with good reason. The late season addition from the Carolina Hurricanes has tallied 23 penalty minutes in the first two games. Rick Bowness will undoubtedly have spoken to Alberts leading up to this contest, as well as Alain Vigneault. He has to work harder, and keep his feet moving, no question. If the Canucks were not scraping the bottom of the barrel for defensive help, one has to think he would be sitting in the press box for the next couple of games. But they need him, so he will almost certainly see more minutes tonight. But discipline comes in many forms, and Alberts is not the only culprit. The power play that gave the Kings the opportunity to end the game was a result of a bad change by the Canucks, and that boils down to concentration. If they have many more lapses in concentration, and mix-ups at the bench as to who is going on the ice and when, they may find themselves fighting just to split the series in L.A. Ryan Kesler watches as Jonathan Quick deflects the puck to the corner during third period action at GM Place April 17, 2010 Key 2: Puck possession - Alain Vigneault has been stressing puck management, and tonight will be a pivotal test as to whether or not the team is getting the message. While the Kings did a good job of forechecking and putting pressure on the wingers trying to move the puck along the boards, they weren't overly suppressive. But the Canucks turned over the puck numerous times in the neutral ice, and were the victims of miscommunication. A.V. is not asking his team to mind-read when moving the puck around, only to support the pass better to avoid costly turnovers, which usually lead to odd-man situations. Christian Ehrhoff is one of the most efficient break-out defenders they have, and his decision making in that regard will set the tone here. Ryan Smyth reacts after being hit by speedy Mason Raymond during the second period of Game 2 (photo by Rich Lam/ Getty Images Key 3: Line match-ups - The Kings now get the chance to dictate the match-ups, having the last change as a result of the home ice advantage. Early in Game 1, Terry Murray seemed content just to roll all four lines, not being too particular with who needed to be out against the Sedin line. It worked well enough, but now that the Kings' coach has the last change, Murray will probably opt to have Wayne Simmonds and possibly Michal Handzus checking the twins. But the match-up a lot of viewers will be concerned with will be the defensive pairing Rick Bowness sends out against the Ryan Smyth line. With so much traffic being directed at Luongo, and the ref's refusal to call interference penalties on notorious crease-crashers Smyth, Handzus, and Brown, this will be of paramount importance. Edler's physicality in this series must not be overlooked, and it seems imperative to give him the assignment. Also, I've enjoyed watching Shane O'Brien chalk up hit after hit, punishing the Kings in the corner every chance he gets. Yes, he did draw a minor last game for his over-exuberance, but make no mistake - They need that kind of hitting right now. Normally, Willie Mitchell would be throwing his body in the corners, and using his long reach to break up the Kings' cycle, but again, we have his royal Cheapness, Evgeni Malkin (Penguins) to thank for Willie's absence. Roberto Luongo catches the puck underneath his left (trapper) arm while Christian Ehrhoff tries to divert Drew Doughty's drive to the net For the Canucks, getting the first goal tonight could be the difference between winning and losing. As noted, the Kings have momentum, and scoring first at the Staples Center would really get the crowd and the energy in their corner. Should Vancouver fail to play more disciplined hockey, and give up an early powerplay goal, this series could get out of hand quickly. I'm not saying that the Kings have as much firepower as the Blackhawks did last season, but it would be a huge mistake to allow the Kings much more optimism in this series. Execution moving the puck up ice, retaining possession, staying out of the box, and doing their best to match-up lines with the Kings is the Canucks' best shot at survival in Game 3. With files from TSN and Getty Images, I'm Larenzo Jensen for the Canuck Way

In the 2010 NHL playoffs, Vancouver draws the 6th seeded Los Angeles Kings, whom they bested 3 games to 1 in their 4 game season series. Mason Raymond has the puck knocked off his stick by Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings April 1st, 2010 at the Staples Center When covering playoff series in Fantasy leagues, I will often refer readers first to the season series. It doesn't always tell the full tale of the tape, and there are always anomalies, but usually offers a rough, workable outline. I'm not a full on mathematician, but percentages and probability rate factor into most sports. I haven't seen the "Las Vegas line" for this series, but I'm assuming Vancouver is a favorite to win this series. Being a Western conference team, the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks were scheduled 4 regular season games. Using this as my reference point, the numbers indicate the Canucks won the lions share, 75% of the games this season. Here's a quick breakdown of those contests: Henrik Sedin signals to the bench prior to a first period faceoff against the Kings in Los Angeles April 1st(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Oct. 29, 2009 - Whether a fan of the shootout or not, it's here, and it favored the Canucks. Scott Parse opened scoring in the 1st period, and Mikael Samuelsson answered in the 2nd period. Samuelsson would also roof a beautiful backhand shot past Jonathan Quick in the shootout. Andrew Raycroft was an anchor in net, making 30 stops earning a .967 sv %. Vancouver wins 2-1. Nov. 26, 2009 - Wayne Simmonds officially registers himself as a pain in the Canucks side. The 21 yr old scores the Kings lone goal and forechecks with aplomb. Burrows, Henrik, Glass and Wellwood reply for the Canucks, as Luongo begins to overcome a slow start, improves to 8-8-0. Jonathan Quick makes 30 stops and records a .909 sv %. Dec. 14, 2009 - The Kings get a good taste of the Canucks 2nd line, who outworked a tired L.A. team. Ryan Kesler broke open the scoring 64 seconds in on a nice setup from Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond. Sami Salo pounds one in from the point on a play made by the twins, though Alexander Frolov cut the lead with 7 seconds to go in the 1st period. Raymond finished off a nice play by Kesler and Shane O'Brien with 5 minutes to go in the third. Luongo makes 24 saves for a .960 sv % and improves to 14-10-0, as the Canucks win 3-1. Mikael Samuelsson hasn't been talked about much prior to this playoff series, but he should be a factor, especially considering Oct. 29th game (Images courtesy of Yardbarker) Apr. 1, 2010 - The Canucks wish that the 8-3 score listed in the newspapers was indeed an April Fool's joke leader, but it wasn't. Sports journalists have a hay day at Roberto Luongo's expense, quoting "His worst game ever" and "Career low" (.724 sv %) in their columns. A number of sub-plots also rose to the surface, including Vigneault's reluctance to pull Luongo despite the run-up score. Power forward Dustin Brown leads the way with a hat-trick, while Frolov, Kopitar, Stoll, Williams and Handzus contribute singles. Kyle Wellwood pots a pair, and Ryan Kesler scores in a losing cause. Jonathan Bernier earns the win with a .900 sv % and 27 saves. Without Willie Mitchell to help clear the crease, the writing is on the wall for the Canucks defense: Luongo must be protected (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Honestly, I can't think of a better lesson for the Canucks to learn from in their final regular season meeting with Los Angeles. "We can't sit back," said Ryan Kesler, one of the league's top defensive forwards, who had a breakout offensive year (75 pts). "If we change our game and become a defensive-minded team we're not playing to our strengths. We have who I think is the best goalie in the NHL and he allows us to take chances offensively." Based on the 2009/10 season, the law of averages argues that the Canucks should take this series. Roberto Luongo should be one of the deciding factors in this series, leveraging them above the Kings and their inexperienced goaltending tandem. The Sedins are rolling in hot and should prove too much for the Kings, who are going to have a very difficult time limiting Vancouver's cycle. Canucks in 6. Playoff series have a way of producing rivalries, and it seems inevitable there will be even less love lost between Vancouver and Los Angeles post-playoffs With files from Yardbarker, Getty Images and The Province, I'm Larenzo Jensen Need more 'Nucks? http://thecanuckway.com

Heh heh... As soon as I saw the picture, I wondered if there might be some reaction from readers. To be frank, the pictures in the article were inserted by me, but the page header (as I'm a featured writer in the Fanzone) was created by the excellent staff working for Canucks.com I'm here first and foremost to bring statistical information to life, and to try and accompany that with some words and pictures. Being Canucks fans, it's always going to be in the back of our minds: Not having hoisted the Stanley Cup. I'd be the last person to try and jinx the Canucks or any personal awards candidates such as Henrik Sedin. You'll never hear me use the "S" word in the third period when Luongo has the opposing team blanked on the scoresheet. But if a Canuck is leading a trophy race with half a dozen games to go, you can bet this journalist will be writing about it, come hell or high water. I'm not defending the picture the Province had, but I think looking back on it now it's one of those tongue-in-cheek moments, where someone is trying to either a) generate newspaper sales or create some controversy, which always stirs mixed reaction. They say there is no such thing as "bad press", so I guess I should be smiling to see so many responses to my last article. Enjoy the rest of the ride, Whalleykid!

Hey NazzY; Please refer to my comments to Schneider's Teeth... the Jack Adams (best coach) and the Calder (rookie of the year) are indeed major awards, but unfortunately the Calder trophy comes with a caveat, as a good number of players that have won that award have tailed off after (winning) that. There are a few examples I could give here, but I think of the Sergei Samsonov's of the league, that were unable to keep up that level of play. Bure did go on to play excellent hockey until his knee problems prohibited him from maintaining his torrid goal-scoring pace. Even our own Andrew Raycroft was unable to maintain the dizzying heights he had reached as a rookie. He's not alone, as last season Steve Mason almost single-handedly propelled the Blue Jackets into the playoffs, but hit the 'sophomore jinx' as it were. Barret Jackman also received the honor, but in my mind, couldn't maintain that elevated level of play. Thanks for reading, and I appreciate your feedback, so keep it coming, Canuck Fan!

Sorry, 'Schneider's Teeth', I guess I should have qualified that statement a little better. But realistically, there are a few pieces of hardware that would seem more coveted by the players in the NHL. I would say that the Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Vezina, Norris and the Conn Smythe (outside of Lord Stanley's holy grail) are of most interest to them, thereby giving them "major" status. A lot of hockey pundits can tell you who won the Hart Trophy three years ago, but are hard-pressed to tell you who won the Lester B. Pearson, or say, the Lady Byng trophy. Again, I appologize for not 'setting the table' a little better. Thanks for reading, and I love getting down and technical with avid hockey fans, so keep the comments coming!

After an abysmal 8-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings Thursday night, the Vancouver Canucks left California early Saturday morning with some pride still intact. Michael Grabner had a real breakout game versus Anaheim, recording the 'natural' hat trick [three straight goals] (Photo by Jeff Gross/ Getty Images) The California swing was just that - Two games in two nights, both with large polarities in style, composition and execution. Thursday night in Los Angeles the Canucks fell into the old rut of getting down in the contest early. But unlike other fortuitous comeback games, they never recovered from the sloppy, unmotivated start. Darcy Hordichuk, no matter how well-intentioned, added to their grief by taking a goaltender interference penalty and another subsequent minor, the 4-0 powerplay goal all but sealed their fate. On Team 1040 radio post-game Thursday night, many of the call-ins slagged Roberto Luongo in the loss, questioning his captaincy role. Luongo certainly didn't help his case with a brief 10 second interview before walking away, but that kind of game happens to all clubs. It's happened to the Red Wings, the Sharks, the Penguins; sometimes events snowball in the course of a game, and the best laid plans go for naught. To hang the loss solely on Luongo's shoulders is absurd. This sport is all about team play, and the L.A. Kings would be the first to agree with that statement. In 1992/93, they had arguably the best player in the game, but still came up short of a championship (to the Cup winning Montreal Canadiens). Ryan Kesler: "I told him after his first goal that now they were going to come in waves. And they did... It's something he'll remember the rest of his life." If you were to ask any of Michael Grabner's teammates, they would tell you "The system owed him". A lot of players will say that when they've had numerous chances to score, but somehow remain snake-bit for goals. Alain Vigneault hasn't had a lot of choice in the matter because of injuries, but he stuck with the Austrian speedster, and his pairing with Ryan Kesler. Pavol Demitra replaced Mason Raymond on the line, with positive results. Kesler was in on all 3 of Grabner's goals, and the line was the Canucks best in Anaheim. Christian Ehrhoff squeaks around a sprawled Bobby Ryan, and his point shot would be directed in by Jannik Hansen (Photo by Jeff Gross/ Getty Images) "I'm from a small town (Villach)," said the 22 year old Grabner. "Word spreads pretty quickly there. My mom and dad usually watch the games on TV about three or four in the morning. Then my dad goes to work and tells everyone." The Ducks made the Canucks pay for taking penalties, particularly the 'Finnish Flash', Teemu Selanne. He is, in my humble opinion, the best forward in the game on the powerplay. His surgically precise hands deftly tipped a hard slap-pass off Andrew Raycroft's right pad. Fellow Finn Saku Koivu was the first one over to congratulate him on the milestone. He surpassed childhood idol Jari Kurri, and is now the 11th all-time NHL goalscoring leader. To give you an idea of the company he keeps, Mario Lemieux is #10 with 690. Teemu Selanne may have reached 11th on the all-time goalscoring list, but Raycroft and Co. made the playoffs with the 5-4 win The Canucks entered the third period down 3-2, but completed the comeback in the shootout. Kyle Wellwood and Pavol Demitra both went top shelf on Curtis Mcelhinneys glove side, but it was Andrew Raycroft's stop Teemu Selanne that was the highlight. Selanne feined forehand to backhand, then cut hard to Raycroft's gloveside. He nearly shot it low inside the post, but Raycroft never gave up, barely getting his glove arm in front of the puck, body sliding along the ice. "We needed to come up with a better game and we did," said Vigneault. "It was fun to see Grabner come out and have the kind of game he had tonight... We've got a checkmark beside our name [playoff clinch]... And now we're going to try to close in on the division [title]." That effort continues Sunday against Minnesota, as the Canucks aim for their 300th consecutive sell-out at GM Place in Vancouver. Henrik Sedin played well, but was unable to put more point separation between him and Alex Ovechkin for the coveted Art Ross trophy More Canucks action: http://thecanuckway.com Larenzo Jensen -with files from Getty Images, TSN and the Vancouver Sun

With a convincing 4-1 win over the upstart Phoenix Coyotes, the Vancouver Canucks moved closer to accomplishing something they've never done before - having a major trophy winner. With 6 games remaining, Henrik Sedin has 104 points to lead the NHL in that category (Photo by Canadian Press/ Darryl Dyck) However coveted the Art Ross trophy (player to amass the most points in NHL in one season) may be, one of the contenders is downplaying it's importance. "I really think the franchise is looking for and screaming for the Stanley Cup. So I really don't think individual awards mean too much compared to the other", said Henrik Sedin to the media throng after practice Monday. Following Tuesdays action, Henrik (104 pts) has a 3 point lead on Washingtons Alex Ovechkin (101 pts), both with 6 games remaining. Ovechkin recorded an assist as the Capitals lost in overtime to the Ottawa Senators. Henrik scored his 29th of the season and added an assist for each of his linemates' goals, for 3 points in total. Daniel Sedin deflects a dazzling behind the back spin-around pass from twin, Henrik to beat Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov "Right now, I don't want to think about it and I'm not thinking about it," said the modest Ornskoldsvik center. "I mean, I know if I play good enough, I'm going to get points and then how far that goes, that's up to other guys, too. I think you still have to look back at the season and be proud of what you've done. Even if I'm still at 101 points after the next seven games, I think this town and this team are looking for another trophy." The Sedin twins and the Canucks are more interested in team success than personal achievements Most hockey pundits will quickly point out that with a half dozen regular season games remaining, anything is possible - especially as it relates to Alex Ovechkin. During the loss to the Senators, A.O. played nearly 29 minutes, and is being given every opportunity to succeed. In contrast, though the game didn't go to the extra 5 minute session, Henrik played only 21:33. His season average per game is only 19:30 per game, whereas Ovechkin racks up 21:48 on average. Could Alexander Ovechkin have another Art Ross trophy to add to his trophy case following the next six games? Of the remaining schedules, it's difficult to say who has the tougher schedule. Vancouver has back to back games on Thursday and Friday versus the L.A. Kings and the Anaheim Ducks respectively. The Capitals next two opponents are the Atlanta Thrashers and the Columbus Blue Jackets, but also have back to back games coming up against Boston and Pittsburgh. At the end of the day, personal accolades are on the line, but there is a much larger picture Henrik Sedin and the Canucks are focusing on. While it would be nice for the team to boast the league's leading point producer, it would be tough to find solace in that were they to bow out in the first round of the playoffs. Henrik Sedin - Dangerous With Daniel Sedin - Very Dangerous Daniel says Henrik playing with other players while he was injured (18 games) made Henrik a more complete athlete (All photos courtesy of Yardbarker) However the scenario plays out, Canucks fans have been treated to something special this season. The beauty of it all is that both Daniel and Henrik have been signed to long term contracts. They love playing here, and have made magic both on and off the ice... And some some rewards just can't be set inside of trophy cases. Mason Raymond tips a shot Tuesday night, but Ilya Bryzgalov makes the save. Raymond scored his 24th earlier in the (first) period (Photo: The Canadian Press/ Darryl Dyck) With files from The Canadian Press, Yardbarker, and the Vancouver Sun Larenzo Jensen

The Vancouver Canucks accomplished something rarely seen at GM Place Thursday night: A win over the San Jose Sharks. On a night made for anyone with 'Ryan' in their name, the Canuck power play came out swinging, and was the difference in a 3-2 win. Alexander Edler and Ryan Kesler each had a goal and an assist on the power play. Ryan Johnson scored the eventual game-winner, his first of the season, and first goal in 83 games. Ryane Clowe of the San Jose Sharks scored his 16th of the season, on a great inside-outside move to get around Christian Ehrhoff and beat a downed Luongo. Roberto Luongo makes a glove save off Patrick Marleau, to the traditional "Loooouuu" chant at GM Place (The Canadian Press/ Darryl Dyck) The Canucks by no means rested on their laurels after going up 2-0 thanks to the power play. But the Sharks have had mastery over the Canucks over the last 3 seasons, winning 8 of their last nine encounters. Evgeni Nabokov has been as much of the reason for that as any Shark, perhaps save for Joe Thornton. But Kesler was his old antagonistic self, shadowing big Joe's every move, receiving several punches and a headlock for his troubles. Ryan Kesler and Alexander Edler played a key role on the powerplay, both with a goal and an assist Joe Pavelski had a prominent night for the Sharks, also tallying a goal and an assist. He showed some incredible dexterity as he wheeled at the left faceoff circle during some extended Shark pressure. Kent Huskins wristed the puck in from the blueline, and Pavelski knocked it down from chest height, and in one motion snapped the puck under Roberto Luongo's trapper. The goal came with just over three minutes remaining in the third period. Nabokov was pulled late for the extra attacker, but Luongo calmly denied the rest of the shots directed his way. Daniel Sedin nearly backhanded the puck into the empty cage from outside the blueline, but the Canucks didn't need the extra marker anyway. Nabokov finished the night with 23 saves, while 200 feet away, Luongo stopped 32 of 34 shots for his 36th win of the season. "Oh, those Russians.." Evgeni Nabokov had won 8 of his previous 9 games against the Canucks (AP Photo/ Darryl Dyck) The Calgary Flames will be rooting for the Canucks on Saturday (for once) as Vancouver hosts Detroit in an important match for the Red Wings. The Red Wings currently hold the final playoff spot in the West, with a game in hand and one point advantage over the Flames. The Canucks play back to back nights Tuesday and Wednesday, travelling to Edmonton to play the last place Oilers, and are back home to face the Anaheim Ducks. Both teams will be looking to play spoiler for the Canucks. The Oilers have no shot at making the playoffs, and the Ducks are all but out of the playoff race. After sitting the previous 3 games, Shane O'Brien kept it simple, employing an active stick and playing the body effectively Finally, the Sharks have a chance for revenge when the Canucks travel to San Jose on the 27th. Depending on how the Sharks play between now and then, the game could have huge implications in the Western playoff picture. They are five points up on the 'Nucks, and have a game in hand, but are 4-5-1 over the last ten, and have lost 3 straight. Right now, the Canucks have the tiebreaker (wins) should they finish tied in points come season's end. Kyle Wellwood has seen his icetime increase in recent games - His stickhandling and skating was strong again tonight Sharks @ Canucks highlights (just click) Courtesy of Pouya from CanucksHD With files from AP Photo, YardBarker, and the Canadian Press, I'm Larenzo Jensen

With back-to-back home games against Canadian NHL clubs, the Vancouver Canucks asserted their continued mastery over visiting rivals to GM Place. Curtis Glencross helps clear the puck for Miika Kiprusoff in the first period at GM Place Sunday. Glencross' help wasn't enough as Vancouver built a 3-0 lead before the Kipper was chased (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) The Canucks didn't reinvent the wheel in the process, but both victories over Canadian neighbors were in convincing fashion. Perhaps one of the most noticeable connections in the back to back games was the way they moved the puck with panache. The Sedin twins continued to confound opponents with their down low cycle game, working the puck below the faceoff circle to an open man in the slot. You would be hard pressed to name any line in the NHL that is as effective at this type of control as they are at this point in time. Against the Senators, Mikael Samuelsson showed his penchant for finding open ice in the slot. On the power-play, he opened the scoring with a nice passing play from Pavol Demitra and Sami Salo. Though Jason Spezza tied the game with a fantastic individual end-to-end rush, the Canucks regained control with Burrows' league leading 5th shorthanded goal. Less than 2 1/2 minutes later, Samuelsson finished off some hard work by Daniel Sedin to increase the Canucks' edge by 2 goals. Deadline day acquisition (from Carolina) Andrew Alberts bowls over Daniel Alfredsson of the Senators (photo by Rich Lam/ Getty Images) The Sedins essentially put the game out of reach on a power-play with four minutes to go in the second. Henrik found his brother cruising into the slot, who made no mistake. The Senators tried to apply more pressure, but Vancouver's puck possession and back-checking gave Ottawa very little to work with. Vancouver more than doubled the Sens in shots, with 35 to Ottawas 14. Sami Salo capped the night off with another goal in the third, with Samuelsson picking up his third point of the night with an assist. GM Place fans help celebrate their newest 30 goal scorer, Mikael Samuelsson (Photo courtesy of Canadian Press / Darryl Dyck) Utilizing momentum from their victory over the Senators, the Canucks shed their comeback identities and really took the play to the recently hot Flames. The Flames are in a foot-race with the Detroit Red Wings for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. If not for Miikka Kiprusoff, this tilt would have essentially been over before it had a chance to begin. Only 73 seconds in, the Sedins controlled the play in the Flames' zone, and Henrik spotted Daniel in the slot, who opened the scoring. Jay Boumeester hurries Mason Raymond as he gets ready to pull the puck to the backhand for a shot (Rich Lam/ Getty Images) The Flames would eventually outshoot the Canucks 33 - 28, but Vancouver's defense collapsed well in front of Luongo. He saw the majority of the shots, and the ones he didn't see he was well positioned for. Though the Canucks sat back a little too much in the second period particularly, the Flames really only generated a small handful of chances. Luongo's best save came off a Rene Bourque chance in close, leaving the Calgary sniper very little to shoot at. Jannik Hansen (36) licks his chops in anticipation of this rebound squirting free of Vesa Toskala's trapper (Rich Lam / Getty Images) Robyn Regehr would get Calgary a little closer with just over eight minutes remaining in the third period. But it was a case of too little, too late, as Luongo shut the door after the deflected Regehr point shot. Of note, the Canucks did a wonderful job with their first pass out of the defensive zone. If they failed to get out initially, they would circle back, regroup, and try the break-out again. Ryan Kesler's 2-0 goal vs Calgary (Canuck one-timer of the year?) So the Canucks return home was a triumphant one, and they'll have several more opportunities to improve their home record. With a bakers dozen remaining (13 games), Vancouver plays nine of those at GM Place. Two of the road contests are April 1st and 2nd, with a quick westcoast swing to Anaheim and Los Angeles. Playoff implications: Of note, the Calgary Flames lost 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings Monday night (in regulation), falling 3 points back of Detroit for the final playoff spot, with the same amount of games played. Also, Vancouver finishes the season April 6th at home against the Colorado Avalanche, whom, if the playoffs were to start today, would be Vancouver's first round opponent. With files from Getty Images, The Canadian Press, and Canucks HD, thanks for viewing; Larenzo Jensen more Canucks stuff - http://thecanuckway.com

During an interview with Team 1040 radio station in Vancouver, CBC's Jim Hughson responded to a question about the Canucks comeback capability of late, saying: "They defy logic". Following a time out, Roberto Luongo composes himself after allowing the first 3 goals (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, David Zalubowski) During their 13th straight road game Tuesday, March 9th, the Vancouver Canucks found themselves in familiar territory: Losing a hockey game after 2 periods. Realistically, the game appeared all but over after the first period, as a shoddy performance left them trailing 3-0. But, the "Cardiac Canucks" seem to be playing 'rope-a-dope' with their opponents, saving their best hockey for the 3rd period. Paul Stastny of the Avalanche cuts in front of Alex Edler in an attempt to steal the puck in Denver Colorado March 9, 2010 Jim Hughson pointed to the NHL given percentages as the catalyst for his comment on defying logic. Approximately 75% of NHL teams that score first win the hockey game, and 85% of teams that lead after 2 periods go on to win also. Here's an astonishing fact, if you apply that logic to the Canucks: Vancouver has 25% of their total wins from games they trailed after 2 periods. As a matter of fact, Vancouver now leads the NHL in that category. Washington lead the category prior to Tuesdays game, but with their 6-4 victory over the Avalanche, Vancouver now has 10 wins in that fashion. Mikael Samuelsson gives the Canucks a small glimmer of hope, reducing the differential to 3-1 (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, David Zalubowski) John Shorthouse, the voice of Canucks hockey, feels that something pretty special is brewing, but he added a caveat. "This may be the best team we've ever seen in Vancouver," he announced this morning on Team 1040 radio. But he also cautioned that it can't continue happening this way: "I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. It has to. Only 1 team can win a championship (the Stanley Cup), and so for 29 other teams, the shoe has to drop." This season may indeed be the best product the Canucks have put on the ice to date. Eight players are currently (already) enjoying career highs in goals scored. GM Mike Gillis made two very important signings in the offseason, Mikael Samuelsson and Christian Ehrhoff, both of whom were very instrumental in their come from behind victory. Samuelsson records his first ever career hat-trick against Craig Anderson. Could being on the Sedin line mean there'll be more? Recent USA olympian Ryan Kesler chases a puck with Milan Hejduk. Kesler set up two goals and was excellent in the faceoff circle (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, David Zalubowski) It would appear that many of those that voiced concern about "secondary scoring" have been quelled. Jannik Hansen added his second game-winner in as many contests, and Kyle Wellwood was fantastic at both ends of the rink. Samuelsson notched his 25th through 27th goals, and has 9 goals during this road trip. Alex Burrows tallied his 30th, with an ever-so-slight deflection on an Alex Edler blast from the top of the circle. Any concern about production from the Twins (Daniel and Henrik Sedin) was also muted, with both enjoying 3 point nights, on their tweaked line with Samuelsson. With the puck drop only hours away in Phoenix, the Canucks have an opportunity to improve to 9-5 on this road trip. The Coyotes have been stingy all season at home, showcasing the league's 3rd best record, 24-10-2. Vancouver's 18-16-1 road record is good for 10th overall. The Canucks offense has been firing on all cylinders, ramping them to 2nd in the league, while their goals against is ranked 8th overall. Andrew Raycroft gets the nod in goal to finish the trip. Henrik Sedin: "You know the deal, Mikael - when you're on this line and you get a hat trick, you get a hug" The team will head back to Vancouver following tonights match-up with the Coyotes. They play 7 of their next 9 at home, and the majority of their remaining schedule will be in front of the home crowd. The only remaining question: How many of those contests will they need to come from behind? Either way, to this point, they really have "defied logic". With files from Yahoo! Sports, TSN, and the Associated Press, I'm Larenzo Jensen kick more 'Cardiac Canucks' knowledge - http://thecanuckway.com