All the Vancouver Canucks needed was one more win, albeit in enemy territory, to close out and sweep the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, the one team that has given them fits over past two springs.
Entering Game 4 in their first-round playoff series, any possible momentum certainly resided with the Canucks, even though the Blackhawks were expected to welcome the return of agitating centre David Bolland back into the lineup after the forward missed 21 games during various stretches of the season with multiple injuries.
Is it any coincidence that the return of Bolland sparked the Hawks squad to two consecutive victories against the President Trophy winning Canucks, who had the NHL's best record in the regular season? Flash back to last year, Bolland missed a large chunk of the regular season with a devastating back injury and yet returned late in the year and happened to be one of Chicago's top playoff performers en route to the city's first Stanley Cup since 1961.
Return of Bolland, Return to Form for Keith Make Immediate Impact for Chicago
The Blackhawks' backs were pressed up against the wall, down three games to none against the Canucks, but they showed the courage and determination needed to get back into the series and give themselves a chance to defend their title. Combined with the leadership efforts and sheer determination of last year's Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith, inserting Bolland back into the Hawks lineup transformed them back into the Blackhawks of last year that won the Cup.
Bolland notched one goal and three assists and a plus-4 rating in his Game 3 return, a 7-2 rout, and Keith scored in Game 3 and tallied two goals and two assists in Game 4, which Chicago won 5-0 on the road.
Keith targeted Canucks forward Raffi Torres on a play that earned him a two-minute for cross checking. Fortunately for him and his team, it could have resulted in one, maybe two more minor penalties for interference and unsportsmanlike conduct. Keith appeared bound-and-determined to make a statement and show that these Blackhawks weren't pushovers that were going to go out without a fight, even if it meant leaving his team shorthanded for two or less. Recall Torres was the culprit that levelled Keith's blue line partner and fellow 2010 Canadian Olympian Brent Seabrook with a questionable blindside check that has kept the Hawks blue-liner out of the past two games with a possible concussion.
Hawks Best Players Step Up With Season on the Line
Chicago's top players and supporting cast struggled in the first three games of the series. But when the season was on the line, everyone stepped up in a big way. On the contrary, Vancouver's best players have been non-engaging passengers in the past two games, which the Canucks were outscored 12-2.
Goaltending was one of the Hawks question marks coming into the playoffs. Not that there was any doubt rookie netminder Corey Crawford couldn't lead this team to victory, but Roberto Luongo, a Vezina Trophy possibility, was coming off perhaps one of his finest NHL seasons in net for Vancouver.
Meanwhile, Crawford has only allowed two goals in the past two games after giving up nine in the first three.
Canucks' Playoff Struggles in Recent Years Are Well-Documented
This Vancouver squad was the best the NHL had to offer throughout the regular season and through the first three years of the playoffs against a team that they rank considerably better than on paper, it appeared like the Canucks would exorcise any playoff demons and advance into the second round with relative ease. However, anyone watching those first three matches would recognize that even though Chicago lost all three, they were all decided by one or two goals. All that momentum has swung completely back into the Hawks' corner and the thought of another playoff collapse has got to be stirring in the Canucks' minds right now.
Henrik and Daniel Sedin have been neutralized with a lone goal and a minus-9 rating to boot in the last two games, which is remarkable considering the pair had amassed nine points and a plus-7 rating following Game 3.
And at hockey's most important position, Luongo's play is back on the forefront after being pulled in consecutive outings (Games 4 and 5), after allowing 10 goals on 40 shots in both games combined which reminds many of last year's sub-par post-season. Luongo had played exceptionally well for the better part of Vancouver's three wins.
As mediocre as Luongo has been lately, the team in front of him hasn't been any better. The Canucks are deep on defence with at least six-quality defencemen. However, they do not have one name that immediately jumps out at you, which the Blackhawks have in Keith, Seabrook and perhaps Brian Campbell.
A Vancouver collapse appears imminent but the Canucks still have two more chances to seal the deal, there's just a lot less room for error. Perhaps proving how critical post-season experience can be, the Blackhawks stepped up when it mattered most. Chicago still remains in do-or-die territory and must win both of the remaining games if they wish to defend their title, but they've taken control of the series despite being down 3-2.
Now it's time for Vancouver's top players to start producing again and right the ship in a hurry, otherwise they could be on the outside looking in once again after yet another questionable playoff showing. But if the Canucks can get their best players to play like their best players once again, the mere thought of any possible collapse will disappear and cease to exist.
Thomas Cranston - Thomas Cranston is a graduate of the Journalism (Print) program at Durham College (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada). He is passionate about a wide ...
