There may have been a few rolled ankles after some bandwagon jumping due to the Canucks 3-1 loss in Game 1 against the Sharks. But there isn’t a line up to jump off the Lions Gate Bridge just yet. Traffic along the bridge will be slow tonight though, if the Canucks get in a 2-0 hole regardless of their home ice advantage.
Vancouver has their eyes trained on a split before the series shifts to San Jose Sunday. Based on practice Thursday- the Canucks have loaded up their top two lines all in the name of offense- exactly what was missing Wednesday night. Derek Roy will be flanked by Ryan Kesler and Chris Higgins. Higgins and Roy have showed flashes of brillance together and it was a mystery only AV can solve why they were split up in the first place.
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Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi wasn’t tested much in Game 1 and got good looks at the majority of what was thrown his way. Cue the crease crashing- or at least talk that the Canucks will make Niemi’s life a little more difficult tonight.
Speaking of goaltending. Cory Schneider did not practice Thursday but no one would use the word set back. He was on the ice this morning with the black aces but he will not start. Roberto Luongo had a little more warning this time. He has known since at least yesterday that he would get the call. He was, for my money, the best Canuck in Game 1. Though that’s not saying a heck of a lot because everyone’s game left fans wanting just a little more.
Right now this series is a little too reminiscent of what happened against the L-A Kings last year and not enough like the start of the Chicago series two years ago (before they blew a 3-1 series lead and made things a little TOO interesting). Will the Canucks be able to slay their own demons rather than the dragon this time round? We’re about to get a game closer to finding out. Puck drop at 7pm.
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