It is common knowledge that winning the fourth game in a series is the most difficult part of playoff hockey. The Sabres did a fine job of proving that point today.
However, the fact that the Vancouver Canucks can’t get over the hump against the Chicago Blackhawks is astounding.
Drawing the Blackhawks was a worst case scenario for the President’s Trophy winners. Of course, winning the President’s Trophy is a bad omen itself. Chicago has tortured Roberto Luongo and the Canucks for the past two seasons. It certainly seemed as if the Canucks had exorcised some demons after opening up a 3-0 lead with ease.
Then the floodgates opened. Raffi Torres unloaded a questionable hit on Brent Seabrook and the Blackhakws started solving Luongo left and right. That brought a game six, at the Madhouse, with Corey Schneider taking Luongo’s spot between the pipes. It was the right move but an injury to Schneider put Luongo back in for an overtime defeat. Here comes game seven.
This has to have become an utter nightmare for the players in the Vancouver locker room and their fans. Two blowouts and a somewhat questionable overtime goal later and the ‘Nucks have to be gripping those sticks awfully tight. I’m sure they will come out with a similar drive as they did last night. The gave up three tying goals before Ben Smith won the game in OT, they allowed the final tying goal on a penalty shot and they have now whiffed on three chances to close the series out.
Game seven will not be a pleasant one to watch. Both teams will look drastically different. Vancouver will be tight and certainly a bit edgy while the Blackhawks will be loose, real loose. They have nothing to lose while Vancouver has put the farm into the pot for this one. I think it is safe to say Alain Vigneault’s job may be on the line. I’d say Luongo could suffer a similar fate if his contract wasn’t horribly inflated.
This will be a great game seven to watch due to the monster that has grown in this series. If he isn’t already, Luongo is probably a complete headcase, the rest of the roster can’t be far behind and the Hawks can smell blood. Vancouver needs some Wonder Twin power to help salvage this one while the Blackhawks might just need to get pucks to the net.
Two in the Box 