CrashingTheGoalie

by desertdawg

The confidence juices are flowing so freely one would think the Canucks were going to take this series in three games!

Now, I’m picking our guys as well, but there are some concerns. The biggest single one is that we have just had a ten day layoff. Now having ten days versus no days off is a no-brainer choice…we’ll take it. And the pundits admit that the Canucks will show some rust. I’m most worried about Luongo who like most thoroughbreads, has to be run hard before he gets into the zone. The first two games will show us at our most vulnerable and our home ice advantage could disappear very quickly. However, I am confident we can get that truculent attitude back…that in your face style of hockey that saw a scrum every time St Louis tried to take liberties. The attitude that showed up in the first minute of the first game when Andy MacDonald tried the old snow spray on Roberto. Big Willie grabbed MacD by the face and tossed him from the crease. It didn’t get much better for little Andy the rest of the series.

And the Hawks will be jumping up in Roberto’s grill just as quick. Forget the refs here. They’ll let a certain amount go. It’s up to Willie, Kevin and Shane to make the young Hawks pay every time they try that guff. If Chicago has to keep shooting from the perimeter, looking for the perfect shot, then we will win the second round.

And people are saying that this series is a showdown between Crabibulin and big Lou. And while that is certainly true, don’t lose sight of the fact that this is a team game. A goalie can steal a game but tough teams will fight past a hot goalie. We need to power through the Hawks defense. Seabrook is their big Hoss back there. I’d be dumping the puck to his side and just pounding him every time he retreats to grab the disc. And then keep pounding him. We have guys like Bernier, Kesler, Burrows and Pyatt that can really dish it out. They need to bring the large serving plates. And bumping the goalie is a time honored tactic. As much as we need to make them pay for getting near Roberto, we need to be right inside Crabbie’s mask right throughout the series.

We are a tough team but we are also skilled. The Sedins/Burrows’ line needs to continue to emerge and build on the foundation they laid in round one. But we are not a one line team. Most commentators talk about big Mats and he will certainly be relied upon to take control of the puck behind the Hawks’ net and give them a giant migraine trying to move him off it. And Kesler will be counted on to be…well, just be Kesler. But the guy that needs to pick it up if he ever hopes to hoist the Cup is Pavol Demitra. He showed flashes in the first round. Of skill…of motivation. He needs to bring that…consistently, in this second round.

We got a bit of a bonus with our third line against St Louis. Bernier dominated with his size, Raymond with his speed. But it was the appearance of a committed Kyle Wellwood that raised my eyebrows. The kid always had the skill, but suddenly he showed the passion as well. I believe the layoff could have had a deleterious affect on him as well. Passion is a head game. When Wellwood plays with it he edges closer to the upper class of hockey players.

And finally if our forwards play responsible team defense…Canuck Hockey…then we will be in good shape.

Like I said, we are most vulnerable in these first two games. The boys will need to power their way through the lethargy that sets in during a rest. And there won’t be much time to work their way back in slowly.

The Hawks still have blood drooling from their playoff chins. We need to open the vein a bit more.