Canucks one win away from Round Three
Posted May 6, 2011 06:40:51 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Vancouver Canucks are now just one win away from Round Three of the NHL playoffs, after doubling the Predators 4-2 in Nashville last night.
One of the stars of last night’s game — and arguably, of the playoffs for the Canucks — was Ryan Kesler.
“Coach Alain Vigneault summed it up best post-game, saying Kesler is simply playing with the will to win,” says News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz. “Right now he is the Canucks’ go-to guy, drawing penalties and then scoring the game winners on the powerplay. He’s done that two straight games.”
“Nashville Coach Barry Trotz admitted that Kesler is Vancouver’s best player, bar none,” she explains. “But Kesler himself isn’t buying much of it. He kept it even keel after the game, saying he’s just trying to put the same effort in night after night. It certainly is paying off, and his teammates should start feeding off of it.”
The Canucks struggled to put away Chicago in the last round, what do they need to do to bounce the Preds tomorrow? “It’s simple,” says Schmaltz. “They’ve got to get the job done.”
“None of them want to make another trip to Tennessee,” she explains. “The game plan has to be simple. Play physical, and fire a ton of pucks at Pekka Rinne because you can kind of see the cracks in his armour starting to show.”
“Vancouver has to use its speed,” she continues. “The Predators can’t keep up with the Canucks, so if Vancouver can get the lead, just let Nashville try and chase all night. Finish this series off, and get some much needed rest; that’s got to be the message from Coach Vigneault ahead of game five.”
Fans rave about the Canucks’ performance
Canucks fans are liking what they see as the series heads back to Vancouver.
“It was an amazing game,” raves one fan. “Kesler played huge, and it was great to see us win by more than one goal and not have a last-minute comeback.”
“I think they learned from their mistakes, and they’ll wrap it up at home this time, because they don’t want to make another trip all the way down to Nashville,” says another. “They want to get their rest in, and get ready for San Jose.”
They say Luongo is looking great, even with Pekka Rinne at the top of his game, but there’s another player fans are just loving:
“Kesler!” exclaims a fan. “He’s on fire!”
Fans tell us it was nice to see the Canucks be more commanding on the ice last night, and it’s a great time to be a Canucks fan.
Kid hates the Canucks
You may have missed this from last night’s broadcast, but a little Nashville Predators fan had something to say before Game Four.
“This is your time,” he rants. “Their time is done. It’s over! I’m sick and tired, hearing about ‘What a great hockey team the Canucks have.’ Screw ’em!”
(see more below)
Needless to say, fans at Bridgestone Arena ate it up.
Game Five is tomorrow at Rogers Arena, and as always, Ann Schmaltz will be there live to give you all the recaps and updates you need.
Jack FM’s Willy plans to get under O’Brien’s skin
Hockey fans are known to harass players on the opposing team — and Willy from Jack FM has set his sights on Shane O’Brien of the Nashville Predators.
O’Brien was traded from the Canucks last season after some “personal problems.” Willy admits he made fun of O’Brien’s “lifestyle” during Game Two, resulting in an obscenity-laced tirade from Number 55.
Willy will be front row tomorrow night at Rogers Arena, he says it’s war now:
“I’m going to be in the same seats — and I know he’ll be looking for me. I’m bringing along a jelly-filled doughnut with a lot of icing sugar, which is probably going to put a little white powder on my upper lip that I’m going to wipe off every time he skates by.”
“I’m going to put a little pile of flour on top of the boards,” he adds. “I’m going to get a straw and put it through the crack in the glass every time he skates by and give him an offer. You know, ‘Hey, what do you think?'”
Willy says he wouldn’t be surprised if he’s ushered out of Rogers Arena.
