Month: May 2009

The first three games of this evenly matched Canucks and Blackhawks series has been a close strategic battle, Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault likening the matchup with opposition coach Joel Quenneville to a chess match. Both coaches have been matching lines and trying to figure out the best plan to take the lead, and while there must be a winner at the end of each game, they find the series tied after Game 4 last night, proving how closely these teams have been playing.
The Canucks have been able to open the scoring in each game so far against the Blackhawks, but it has only paid off in two of them. Game 2 resulted in a terrible 6-3 defeat as the Canucks’ control of the game fell apart in the second period, but they rebounded in Game 3 with a 3-1 win on the road, looking as though they had solved the Chicago Blackhawks puzzle.
Having opened the scoring once again with Darcy Hordichuk’s goal in the second period, head coach Vigneault decided on this game’s new strategy: play the trap and focus on defense. With that in mind, the Canucks played a style reminiscent of the Minnesota Wild where they collapse to their blue line and control any offensive advances in their zone.
While the decison to play for the one-goal win seemed to be working against the offensively struggling Chicago team, a series of small slip-ups on Vancouver’s part led to a defensive breakdown, allowing Martin Havlat the opportunity to tie up the game with less than three minutes to go in the game. This would force an overtime period that the Canucks would have to adjust to offensively, having sat back and defended for most of the game.
Although Vancouver played a solid 57 minutes and generated early chances in overtime, they failed to stop Andrew Ladd three minutes into the extra frame, who put it through Luongo to take the game and tie the series at two.
Game 5 of this series takes place this Saturday, May 9th, at GM Place at 7:30 PM PST.

With a demoralizing defeat in their own arena in Game 2, the Canucks were able to return the favor to the Blackhawks, silencing the home crowd in Chicago in Game 3 with a 3-1 victory, reclaiming the lead in the best of four series, 2-1. As great as a playoff win on the road is, the Canucks must step up their level of play for Game 4 tonight, having shown signs of weakness against the Hawks since the series began.
Game 3 showcased the defensive capabilites of the Canucks, many of the defenseman claiming it has been their best defensive effort yet, keeping the young and offensive Chicago team away from the net and controlling rebounds. Although the game did not go off without a hitch — recording two delay of game penalties for putting the puck over the glass — the Canucks were able to block a series-high 21 shots in front of captain Roberto Luongo, as well as kill 4 of 5 penalties.
Perhaps the most surprising fact is that they were able to accomplish this without the aid of star defenseman Sami Salo and offensive forward Pavol Demitra, both of whom are out with injuries sustained in Game 2. With the loss of two important players came the return of Taylor Pyatt and Ossi Vaananen, the former making his first appearance since early April when he took a personal leave. With the return of Pyatt, team morale was high, and his contribution to the team was undeniable, recording a team-leading four shots in the game.
All the pieces are in place for an outstanding road performance by the Canucks if they can continue the success they’ve found buoyed by the presence of Pyatt, and their reinvigorated defensive strategies. If they can win on the road once again, they will be set to win the series in their home arena, GM Place, on Saturday, May 9th.
The puck drops for Game 4 at 5:00 PM PST tonight (May 7th).