Canucks & Beyond
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Nothing About This Will Be Easy
by Alanah McGinley on 04/30/09 at 02:07 PM ET
Comments (12)
I was accused many times of being a “cocky” Canucks fan on Tuesday, for my whimsical breakdown of the Canucks/Hawks series. And I was a bit cocky… but that was before game day. Once that arrogance was drained from my system, I was able to revert back to my natural state of existence: a terrorized, vodka-infused, historically downtrodden, glass-half-empty, Vancouver Canucks fan.
The Chicago Blackhawks, unlike the St. Louis Blues, scare the sweet bejeezus out of me.
The St. Louis series was a unique experience for me as a Canucks fan. Not just that they won it in 4 straight games, but the fact that I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that they were going to win it. Before the first puck dropped on the first game, I was certain. Not 4-games-straight certain, but I had no doubts they’d win, and the series barely elevated my blood pressure. I enjoyed the ride, but it seemed weirdly inevitable to me from the start.
It wasn’t that I disrespected the Blues, either—St. Louis has a talented, determined team. But we’d also watched them work that enormous talent at 110% for four straight months leading up to that series. Being Canucks fans, we know first-hand how fighting tooth and nail just to make the playoffs can come back to haunt you… at some point, gas runs out and the players hit a wall. Between that—and Roberto Luongo’s impressive play leading into the series—Vancouver had a huge edge which they could have only lost by having a historical meltdown.
And while ‘historical meltdowns’ aren’t out the question in Vancouver, I was glad to see them validate my confidence and take the series.
But Chicago is different. I was grateful not to face them in round #1, and now that it’s finally happening, it’s got me on edge. Man, people are gonna get hurt…
I get the sense that many Vancouver fans feel that Chicago is playing at a level higher than they deserve, that they don’t have a chance in this series. Howard Berger of FAN 590 (h/t Kukla’s) even tried to curse Vancouver this morning with this assessment:
I saw enough of Roberto Luongo in the opening round sweep of St. Louis to determine that no conference opponent will defeat the Canucks four times in seven games. That task will be left to the Boston Bruins during the Stanley Cup final, and the Beantowners will prevail.
(And people call me cocky??)
Perhaps Chicago doesn’t have a chance, but as a commenter the other day pointed out, they seem to possess “a healthy amount of ignorance that helps them forget that they shouldn’t be doing well.” That’s an astute observation, and there’s no reason to believe that attitude will change in this series against Vancouver, either. If they maintain that ignorance, who knows where it will lead?
Vancouver has many advantages, of course. They played the ‘Hawks very well late in the season, and while Chicago sports some of the most talented players in the league, the Canucks’ overall preparedness for this series is much more likely. They’ve had enormous amounts of rest; they have a coaching system they’ve bought into; they don’t make a lot of mistakes; and even when they do make mistakes, their goalie sees every puck like it’s the size of a beach ball.
But I’m also mindful that most of these things are realities of round #1, and have nothing to do with round #2. They’re starting from scratch here and, for starters, it’s fair to wonder how much this time off will affect them, at least for game #1. Will they be in the same groove, or will they be lagging a bit?
My feeling is that game #1 won’t be a pretty experience for the Canucks. The ‘Hawks are high on success, and if the coaching is as good as it appears to be, they’ll be refoccused and ready to tackle the world now. The Canucks might very well take a sound beating.
On the other hand, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the Canucks are perfectly re-focussed for this new series and ready to bring their game in at 100%. Anything’s possible.
Anyway, while I personally believe there’s much to be nervous about, I’m also quite optimistic about the eventual outcome. I think the Canucks will probably play better as the series progresses, that they are better positioned and prepared for this playoffs, and if their defense plays anything like they did in round #1, they’ll be nearly impossible to eliminate in this matchup.
That being said, it could be an equally tough endeavor, beating Chicago four times. Aside from facing Nikolai Khabibulin’s prowess, the physical nature of this series is going to take its toll. I expect Vancouver has budgeted plenty of band-aids for the next two weeks. 
But at the end of the day, they won’t be feeling any pain. Prediction: Canucks in 6
Go Canucks!
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: chicago+blackhawks, vancouver+canucks,
Comments
I’m seldom (if ever) all that level-headed, and I fully enjoy cocky Canucks fans. But why stop at 5… make it Canucks in 4!
Either way, your optimism props up the rest of us (or at least me) with much-needed confidence.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 04/30/09 at 01:43 PM ET
Oh, and btw, Jeff Cowan is back. Surely, braless women throughout the arena will give the Canucks an edge.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 04/30/09 at 01:45 PM ET
I don’t understand this Cowan move at all. I heard AVs comments that he is a “good team player” but did he look at his numbers from last year? Here’s a reminder:
2007-2008 46GP 0G 1A 1P -5 110PIM
Let’s hope the core of this team stays healthy and Cowan stays in the press box.
Can this game just frickin start already!
Posted by Birrell on 04/30/09 at 02:05 PM ET
Excellent blog.
Nobody expects the Blackhawks to win...which is a great position for them to be in.
The Hawks have three Cup winners on the squad....so they know what needs to be done.
No doubt the fact that the Canucks have never won the Cup is running through the minds of some of the players...nothing like a little pressure.
The Nucks are a very good team...but can they get it done?
Should be a great series.
Posted by davetherave from Ottawa, Canada on 04/30/09 at 03:38 PM ET
Once that arrogance was drained from my system, I was able to revert back to my natural state of existence: a terrorized, vodka-infused, historically downtrodden, glass-half-empty,
Sounds like my kind of woman!
Vancouver Canucks fan.
... Nevermind.
*runs!*
Ahem. Anyway. In all honesty, I see this series as being one that goes to seven games. Both teams are very strong and very dangerous at this point. Best of all, they both want it like high school kids at their junior prom. This is going to be a very fun series to watch.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 04/30/09 at 04:25 PM ET
Why the hell would we recall Jeff Cowan anyways?
The guy is a liability, and hopefully doesnt see one second of ice time.
The series should be a good one, but as Ive said earlier, its been almost 10 years since Khabibulin has won a game in Vancouver, so I dont see that changing anytime soon.
A Canucks sweep is what I predict.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 04/30/09 at 04:28 PM ET
you know, I actually buy into Viggy’s coaching this year. When Gillis came in, i thought Viggy should be fired, but now I’m on his side.
I was watchin some vids the other day and Viggy was talking about preparedness. I think 10 days off is perfect. Just enough time to come down of the high of the first series and work out some kinks. Viggy says their running some ‘game intensity drills’. And strangely I believe it this time.
The Canucks might not dominate the first period of Game 1, but they won’t be no slouches.
and thats my 2c
Posted by LOUiE from Cowtown on 04/30/09 at 05:01 PM ET
Also confused by the Cowan recall...if everyone is healthy and with Pyatt returning, someone is going to have to sit...and they recall someone? Hmmm...there is something going on out there.
Posted by GZ Expat on 04/30/09 at 05:31 PM ET
Birrell -- I know. It can’t start soon enough. I’m much more amped for this series than the Blues one.
Davetherave -- Thanks! And I agree - it’s a setup for a great series. *knock on wood*
Alan -- I noticed you left the part out about your ideal woman being a Vancouver Canucks fan. Must have been a typo…
Puckhound—He probably won’t see any ice time, but who knows. His most successful time as a Canuck could be said to be in the playoffs a couple years ago. When it comes to depth, the Canucks might just want to have him handy, depending on injuries, etc.
A sweep is definitely a cocky prediction.
LOUiE -- I think AV seems to be doing a good job these days, too. It’s been especially nice since he quit juggling the lines, every bloody shift of every freakin’ game!
GZ Expat -- I imagine it’s merely a “just in case everything goes to hell” move. The Canucks are probably mindful of injuries this series, and since they can have as many guys on their roster as they want, maybe they figure, why not?
All I know is that if he does play, it’s liable to create quite a debate as thousands of women in attendance plan their bra choices ahead of time.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 04/30/09 at 07:34 PM ET
His most successful time as a Canuck could be said to be in the playoffs a couple years ago
1 goal in OT against the Ducks, and a lucky one at that.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 04/30/09 at 10:01 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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I think you’re correct that Chicago will come out flying, and look better than the Canucks to start the series. However, I also believe it will only be for the first period of game 1, which is typical of many of Vancouver’s games. Once they shake that initial rust off, they will assert themselves as the more experienced and talented team in this series.
Chicago is no St. Louis however, and will win a game or two. I don’t think the Nucks will win a game 6 in Chicago (if it goes that far), and think they’ll wrap it up in 5 or 7. Since you’re being level-headed, I’ll take the cocky side and ride Roberto and say Nucks in 5.
Posted by Birrell on 04/30/09 at 01:28 PM ET