Through four games of the third round, the Vancouver Canucks have resembled the team we all expected to see in these playoffs – more so than the first two rounds. As they head home for Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead on San Jose, now would be the perfect time for Alain Vigneault’s bunch to display a killer instinct.
This Canucks team looks destined to lift Lord Stanley next month. Before we get ahead of ourselves though, there is still business to be completed against a really good Sharks club (and then against Boston or Tampa Bay). The Canucks have struggled this spring when they’ve had the chance to finish off an opponent.
Round 1 vs. Chicago
After Game 3, the series was over. The Canucks held a 3-0 series lead over the eighth-seeded Blackhawks and looked to be on their way to the second round. But when they took their foot off the pedal, Chicago took advantage. The Blackhawks out-scored Vancouver 12-2 in Games 4 and 5, and then won Game 6 in overtime on home-ice.
The Rapture seemed to have arrived early in Vancouver (the world was coming to an end). The tension in Vancouver for Game 7 was said to be something never seen before in the city. There was so much pressure on the Canucks to win that game… and they did, in dramatic fashion, 2-1 in overtime.
The way the first three games unfolded, there was no way the top-seeded Canucks should have let the ‘Hawks back into the series. Vigneault's club waited until they, too, faced elimination to finally knock out Chicago.
Round 2 vs. Nashville
Thanks to the heroics of Ryan Kesler, the Canucks escaped Nashville with a 3-1 series edge following Game 4. For the second straight series, they had a chance to knock out an opponent at home in a Game 5. Nashville’s Joel Ward had other ideas. The Predators rained on Vancouver’s party, winning 4-3 to force a Game 6.
Though the Canucks prevailed that night in Music City, it didn’t come without a scare and having to fight off the pesky, defensively-sound Predators. They won 2-1 to advance to Round 3 for the first time since 1994.
Round 3 vs. San Jose
So here they are. The Canucks once again hold a 3-1 stranglehold lead with the chance to finish off a series at home in Game 5. This is the time to finally show a killer instinct and put their foot on the throats of San Jose.
Vigneault and company don’t want this series to go back to the Bay Area. A win for the Sharks would give them a lot of confidence going into Game 6, in front of a raucous Shark Tank. I would actually like their chances of forcing a Game 7 if the situation presents itself.
With that said, the Canucks have the Sharks right where they want them. Ever since the Sharks took a 4-1 lead in Game 3, it has been Vancouver that has carried a lot of the play (despite the shot disparity in Game 4). The power play is clicking on all cylinders, while the Sedins have finally arrived to the playoffs.
Not to mention, the Sharks have lost six of eight, dating back to Round 2, and just do not look full strength, especially with Joe Thornton going down on Sunday with an upper-body injury (he is expected to play in Game 5).
The Canucks can’t take their foot off the pedal this time, as the Sharks are more than capable of coming back in this series.
In games where they can eliminate an opponent, the Canucks are 2-4 this spring. The 2003 Devils (4-4) are the only team in the last 30 years to win the Cup with a .500 record (much less sub-.500) in such scenarios.
Outside of one or two individual games, Vancouver has yet to show any sort of killer instinct in these playoffs. Heading back to Rogers Arena with a chance to clinch their first Western Conference title in 17 years, now would be the perfect time to do so.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment