I'll start, and finish, this column, by sports, obviously, how could I not? Tonight was a big game. A HUGE game. Game 7 for the Canucks against Minnesota meant do or die, against a pesky Minnesota team that just wouldn't go away. That didn't kill Canuck fever though, how could it? The Canucks felt confident. The fans felt confident. I saw two flags today outside of both a van and car. Yeah, two isn't a lot, but I saw them both within just an hour or so, and I'm in Port Alberni, a town of only 20,000.
Now, just a few hours later since seeing Canuck fever on T.V., and on the streets, their season is over after a dissapointing 4-2 defeat. I'm in utter disbelief of how quickly the tables turned. Only 6 nights ago Sopel scored in overtime to give the Canucks a commanding 3-1 lead. Under two hours ago Todd Bertuzzi scored to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead midway through the second in this one. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Canuck fever dies, or if it will still alive. Besides, the Canucks did achieve a lot this season, including their own 3-1 series comeback. But I can't help but be bitter about all of this. And the commentators are giving the Wild way too much credit. They're neglecting the fact that the Canucks made costly mistakes the past few games. I could go into that, but no, it'll just upset me more.
I'm still a strong Toronto fan, and they remain my favorite team, but what was going on in this province was incredible. It doesn't matter where you are, Canuck fever is existing all over the place, and citizens of this province strongly support B.C.'s team. And they're out.
The door was open for the Canucks, but they wouldn't walk through it, they got lost in the Wild. I saw an incredible stat on TSN the other day. Of the final four teams in the playoffs, 3 of them are in the bottom 1/3 in the league as far as their payroll is concerned. Those teams are Anaheim, Ottawa, and Minnesota, and Minnesota has the lowest payroll at something like 25 million. So how do they win?
1. Good coaching- If Jacques Lemaire doesn't get coach of the year, I'll be very surprised. He's given players who have been healthy scratches, seen time in the AHL, and carried suitcases the confidence to contribute. I don't know how he manages to get a team to buy into a system quite like this team, but he does. Mike Babcock and Marc Crawford are solid candidates, but they have more natural talent to work with.
2. Solid team defense- Their defense is strong, and it comes from hard work. They play their defensive system to perfection, and their forwards work hard to support the defense. They have some of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.
3. Special teams- Their power play and penalty kill have been strong, and it's paid off.
4. Effort and Discipline- Since a team like this can only win by a solid effort, that's exactly what they did against the Canucks. They outworked the Canucks, and remained composed when they gave up a 2-0 lead tonight.
5. Goaltending- When called upon, Roloson has been solid, and he's outplayed Cloutier the last 3 games.
It's not even the fact that the Canucks are out that upsets me. I mean, for a low budget Canadian team, staying in the playoffs long enough to see only four other teams remaining in the playoffs is quite the accomplishment. It's how they got out that bothers me. If the series were close the whole time, and the Canucks lost close games, and gave it all they had, fans of this team wouldn't be hanging their heads. Instead, they blew a convincing 3-1 lead, lost three in a row at home in the series, and gave up 16 goals their last three games, to what was a low scoring club during the season. They also allowed Minnesota to score a franchise record 7 goals in one game on Monday night.
While non-Canuck fans will notice the fact Minnesota became the first team to come back and win two series after being down 3-1 in one playoff year, without as much emphasis on who they did it against, it'll take a very long time before Canuck fans will forget that they were the second victim of a 3-1 series comback.
I'm sure there will be at least one more surprise before this years wacky playoffs end, given the amount so far. Never has a Canucks Cup seemed so attainable in years. Out of the playoffs were Dallas, Detroit, Colorado and St. Louis. When the game began the Canucks,Minnesota and Anaheim were the remaining teams in the Western Conference.
Looking ahead to the Conference Finals, three of the four teams haven't won the cup, unless you consider the Senators when they won in like 1915 or something like that, maybe later, but who cared back then. Three of the current franchises left in the playoffs didn't exist prior to the 1990. The team that has won in recent years is New Jersey, having done it in 1995 and 2000, and I did predict them to make it to the final, and I still do. It's hard not to see them winning the cup due to their past experience, but this could be the year of the Wild or the Ducks.
My playoff predictions for Round 3:
Western Conference: Anaheim 4 Minnesota 2 - The Ducks don't panic in close games like the Canucks have, and I think the rest they've gotten will give them an advantage particularly in game 1. However this won't be an easy series for them, because of Minnesota's system.
Eastern Conference: New Jersey 4 Ottawa 3 - Yes this series will go seven games. However I give New Jersey the edge because of Brodeur's experience, and they play acceptional defence, something Ottawa haven't seen yet in the playoffs. Also a big time goaltender. If you ask me, Snow and Cechmanek aren't big goalies and have never got it done in the playoffs. Goals will not come easy for Ottawa in this one. Ask Boston or Tampa Bay how easy scoring was. However, the Sens provide much more depth on offense, and will fire a lot of shots. Their defense is also bigger and stronger than in the past. Expect a hard-hitting, low scoring series.
I'll give my Cup Final Previews when it begins.
So the Canucks will have to wait another year for another shot. It's absurd to think back to a time when all the sports reporters and broadcasters discussed how favorable it would be for Vancouver to face either Minnesota or Anaheim in the first round. Now they're both in the Western Conference final.
A few quotes from tonights game:
Commentator: Cloutier never saw it.-the commentator referring to Minnesota's first goal, a flip pass from behind the net that Dupius knocked out of the air.
Brendan Morrison: A couple lucky bounces for them on the first two goals, and then they just hung around and wouldn't go away. Everybody is bought into their system, and their goaltending has been solid. -Brendan Morrison discussing their upsetting defeat tonight.
Kelly Hrudey: I don't think the Canucks were ready in game 5, and that was the key to the series for Minnesota.
Bob Mackenzie: If you're looking for one word to describe to difference between Minnesota and Vancouver, it's discipline. Minnesota never took one penalty in game 7.
Anyhow, that's all I've got to say about that. If you want more on hockey, Mike(deco.cooltrap.com), and Nick(theloops.blogspot.com) will have things to say. Also Meghan(megglesrus.blogspot.com) and Shaun(gracefulclutz.blogspot.com) may have a few comments on the Canucks season.
Now, just a few hours later since seeing Canuck fever on T.V., and on the streets, their season is over after a dissapointing 4-2 defeat. I'm in utter disbelief of how quickly the tables turned. Only 6 nights ago Sopel scored in overtime to give the Canucks a commanding 3-1 lead. Under two hours ago Todd Bertuzzi scored to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead midway through the second in this one. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Canuck fever dies, or if it will still alive. Besides, the Canucks did achieve a lot this season, including their own 3-1 series comeback. But I can't help but be bitter about all of this. And the commentators are giving the Wild way too much credit. They're neglecting the fact that the Canucks made costly mistakes the past few games. I could go into that, but no, it'll just upset me more.
I'm still a strong Toronto fan, and they remain my favorite team, but what was going on in this province was incredible. It doesn't matter where you are, Canuck fever is existing all over the place, and citizens of this province strongly support B.C.'s team. And they're out.
The door was open for the Canucks, but they wouldn't walk through it, they got lost in the Wild. I saw an incredible stat on TSN the other day. Of the final four teams in the playoffs, 3 of them are in the bottom 1/3 in the league as far as their payroll is concerned. Those teams are Anaheim, Ottawa, and Minnesota, and Minnesota has the lowest payroll at something like 25 million. So how do they win?
1. Good coaching- If Jacques Lemaire doesn't get coach of the year, I'll be very surprised. He's given players who have been healthy scratches, seen time in the AHL, and carried suitcases the confidence to contribute. I don't know how he manages to get a team to buy into a system quite like this team, but he does. Mike Babcock and Marc Crawford are solid candidates, but they have more natural talent to work with.
2. Solid team defense- Their defense is strong, and it comes from hard work. They play their defensive system to perfection, and their forwards work hard to support the defense. They have some of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.
3. Special teams- Their power play and penalty kill have been strong, and it's paid off.
4. Effort and Discipline- Since a team like this can only win by a solid effort, that's exactly what they did against the Canucks. They outworked the Canucks, and remained composed when they gave up a 2-0 lead tonight.
5. Goaltending- When called upon, Roloson has been solid, and he's outplayed Cloutier the last 3 games.
It's not even the fact that the Canucks are out that upsets me. I mean, for a low budget Canadian team, staying in the playoffs long enough to see only four other teams remaining in the playoffs is quite the accomplishment. It's how they got out that bothers me. If the series were close the whole time, and the Canucks lost close games, and gave it all they had, fans of this team wouldn't be hanging their heads. Instead, they blew a convincing 3-1 lead, lost three in a row at home in the series, and gave up 16 goals their last three games, to what was a low scoring club during the season. They also allowed Minnesota to score a franchise record 7 goals in one game on Monday night.
While non-Canuck fans will notice the fact Minnesota became the first team to come back and win two series after being down 3-1 in one playoff year, without as much emphasis on who they did it against, it'll take a very long time before Canuck fans will forget that they were the second victim of a 3-1 series comback.
I'm sure there will be at least one more surprise before this years wacky playoffs end, given the amount so far. Never has a Canucks Cup seemed so attainable in years. Out of the playoffs were Dallas, Detroit, Colorado and St. Louis. When the game began the Canucks,Minnesota and Anaheim were the remaining teams in the Western Conference.
Looking ahead to the Conference Finals, three of the four teams haven't won the cup, unless you consider the Senators when they won in like 1915 or something like that, maybe later, but who cared back then. Three of the current franchises left in the playoffs didn't exist prior to the 1990. The team that has won in recent years is New Jersey, having done it in 1995 and 2000, and I did predict them to make it to the final, and I still do. It's hard not to see them winning the cup due to their past experience, but this could be the year of the Wild or the Ducks.
My playoff predictions for Round 3:
Western Conference: Anaheim 4 Minnesota 2 - The Ducks don't panic in close games like the Canucks have, and I think the rest they've gotten will give them an advantage particularly in game 1. However this won't be an easy series for them, because of Minnesota's system.
Eastern Conference: New Jersey 4 Ottawa 3 - Yes this series will go seven games. However I give New Jersey the edge because of Brodeur's experience, and they play acceptional defence, something Ottawa haven't seen yet in the playoffs. Also a big time goaltender. If you ask me, Snow and Cechmanek aren't big goalies and have never got it done in the playoffs. Goals will not come easy for Ottawa in this one. Ask Boston or Tampa Bay how easy scoring was. However, the Sens provide much more depth on offense, and will fire a lot of shots. Their defense is also bigger and stronger than in the past. Expect a hard-hitting, low scoring series.
I'll give my Cup Final Previews when it begins.
So the Canucks will have to wait another year for another shot. It's absurd to think back to a time when all the sports reporters and broadcasters discussed how favorable it would be for Vancouver to face either Minnesota or Anaheim in the first round. Now they're both in the Western Conference final.
A few quotes from tonights game:
Commentator: Cloutier never saw it.-the commentator referring to Minnesota's first goal, a flip pass from behind the net that Dupius knocked out of the air.
Brendan Morrison: A couple lucky bounces for them on the first two goals, and then they just hung around and wouldn't go away. Everybody is bought into their system, and their goaltending has been solid. -Brendan Morrison discussing their upsetting defeat tonight.
Kelly Hrudey: I don't think the Canucks were ready in game 5, and that was the key to the series for Minnesota.
Bob Mackenzie: If you're looking for one word to describe to difference between Minnesota and Vancouver, it's discipline. Minnesota never took one penalty in game 7.
Anyhow, that's all I've got to say about that. If you want more on hockey, Mike(deco.cooltrap.com), and Nick(theloops.blogspot.com) will have things to say. Also Meghan(megglesrus.blogspot.com) and Shaun(gracefulclutz.blogspot.com) may have a few comments on the Canucks season.
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