Great start to the Canucks’ second-round series
Posted Apr 29, 2011 07:16:54 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – That was the start Canucks were looking for! A 1-0 win gives the Canucks a 1-0 series lead against the Nashville Predators.
“What caught my eye was the play of the second and third lines for Vancouver,” says News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz.
“Coach Vigneault has gone back to having Alex Burrows skate with Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond on the second line,” she explains. “The three of them are so good in transition from defence to offense because of the speed that they generate; that creates scoring chances by knocking teams back on their heels.”
“The new look of the third line — Max LaPierre, Chris Higgins, and Jannik Hansen — is heavy on the forecheck and they go so well to the net,” adds Schmaltz. “It certainly paid off last night; Higgins had the only goal.
Battle of goalies
This series appears to be the battle of goalies, with Pekka Rinne and Roberto Luongo both finalists for the Vezina Trophy.
“Rinne played well,” says Schmaltz. “But I think the Canucks made it easy on him by shooting glove-side and straight on him all night long.”
“[With a] big lanky goalie like that, you gotta get him moving side to side,” she explains. “Make him uncomfortable, get traffic in front of him. That’s how Vancouver scored its lone goal; it was off a scramble in front of the net.”
“That’s what’s needed for this team to continue to have success against a top notch goalie like Rinne,” she believes.
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Fan reactions
News1130 caught up with fans on their way home from their first playoff game ever last night.
“I felt in the city, with Game Seven, people were nervous but optimistic,” says one girl. “But really, there was a nervous energy in the city. And then there was this sigh of relief, then it was a solid performance in Game One.”
It wasn’t flashy nor reckless. Other fans say after a gruelling first round, last night’s win is reassuring.
“Getting our butts whipped really hard for those two games shook us back into action,” one man argues. “We had to fight really hard for the next couple [of games]. I think now we’ve got our aim set right and should be able to do it.”
Less drama on the ice means more ease on the couch in front of the TV. With Game One down, fingers are cautiously crossed; it’s just three more to go.
Listen to sports at :15 and :45 and get up to the minute updates on Twitter @News1130Sports.
Ann Schmaltz is following the Canucks through their playoff run. You can follow her @Ann1130Sports.
