Live Event #9
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| Rogers Arena |
Playoffs. Apart from sudden death overtime, there is no other word in sport that conjures up such a wide range of emotions within the mind of a sports fan. The actual gameplay doesn’t change but the stakes are infinitely raised. Mistakes are heavily scrutinized, leaving little room for error. It is a stage for the unknown to become heroes and for the stars to become messiahs. Besides the magical Stanley Cup run of 1994, the Canucks haven’t provided many happy playoff memories during their forty year history; unfortunate bounces, blown leads, and general disappointment have never ceased to plague the franchise. This season has always felt different. Injuries that would have previously crippled the Canucks were simply brushed aside like Donald Trump’s run for president; games that would generally have been chalked up as an acceptable loss became blowout victories. There was a certain intangible feeling around this team that had never been present before. The regular season accolades were properly celebrated but the impending burden was hanging over the deserved accomplishments like a thick Pacific Northwestern fog. All involved have a rather good understanding of the situation: playoff success is the only option.
The playoffs have been thrilling thus far for the Canucks fans, including a heart stopping Game 7 in round 1 against the Blackhawks, their chief tormenter from the past two seasons, but Vancouver is only halfway to Stanley Cup glory and their next challenge will undoubtedly be their toughest. The Sharks have experienced their share of playoff disappointment and have been labeled chokers and underachievers but they have assembled a deep and talented offensive corps and they hope to shed that characterization and proceed to their first Stanley Cup final. From the moment the players stepped onto the ice for warmup it was impossible not to be amazed by the star power present and the magnitude of the moment.
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| The starting lineup for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals |
The Sharks and Canucks matched each other’s intensity through the first period, but the Sharks scored with under a 1:30 left in the period, Joe Thornton slotting Roberto Luongo’s perfect pass into the empty net. It was an unfortunate break for the Canucks and for Luongo as they entered the intermission down 1-0. The Canucks didn’t take long to reply, also taking advantage of a goaltender misplay and tying the game 1-1 through Max Lapierre’s first of the postseason. The Canucks third line, which sees Lapierre play in between Raffi Torres and Jannik Hansen, played with an edge and provided an essential physical element to the game that was crucial to the Canucks success. Midway through the second the Sharks took the lead back, courtesy of an impressive Patrick Marleau power play tip in goal. Following the goal, the Canucks picked up their play and were denied multiple times by Antti Niemi during a crazy goal line scramble with minutes left in the second. Vancouver grabbed the momentum and while the Sharks tired, the Canucks got stronger. The Sedins had been ineffective through the first forty-five minutes but if there was ever a time to find a groove; it’s down 2-1 with fifteen minutes to go in a playoff game. Henrik Sedin led a quick break out of the defensive zone down the left side of the ice, left a through pass for the onrushing Alex Burrows who then expertly found Kevin Bieksa across from him on the right point and Bieksa wired a snap shot over Niemi’s left shoulder. Two minutes later, following a penalty to Danny Heatley, Ryan Kesler patiently held onto the puck, and then made another effective cross ice pass to Christian Ehrhoff. Henrik Sedin took a direct line to the front of the net, Ehrhoff passed it to him and the Canucks captain outwaited a lunging Niemi and backhanded in the eventual game winner. The Canucks strong third period and the first indication of a Sedin twins resurgence delivered a game one victory and hope for the rest of the series.
This series is far from over, like the old adage states: a playoff series really only begins when the home team loses. If the Canucks can deliver another home ice victory on Wednesday night and take a 2-0 lead to San Jose they will be in a great position, but the Sharks have now lost five straight Conference finals games and an element of desperation will undoubtedly seep into San Jose’s game. They will not make it easy for the Canucks, if San Jose can get even one of their big lines going they will be dangerous but for Vancouver, it’s just a matter of taking care of business and winning winnable hockey games.
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