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Luongo cares about winning Cup, not stats

Regular season done, he's up for playoffs

By Ben Kuzma, The Province

Roberto Luongo doesn't dwell on what could have been in the regular season.

If the stellar Vancouver Canucks stopper didn't miss 24 games with a groin injury and didn't need another five

games to get rediscover his game, he could have been a Vezina Trophy favourite.

Luongo finished second in shutouts (9) behind Columbus rookie Steve Mason (10), fifth in goals-against average

(2.34) behind Tim Thomas of Boston (2.10) and fifth in save percentage (.920) behind Thomas (.933). He was also

ninth in wins (33) behind Miikka Kiprusoff of Calgary (45).

"There's only one thing that matters to me and that's winning the Cup -- that's all I care about," Luongo said on eve

of the series opener against the St. Louis Blues. "All the other stuff is secondary."

Luongo went 2-1-0 against the Blues in the season series with a 2.67 GAA and .911 save percentage. But missing

the postseason last spring weighed on him. So did his injury and the prospect in January that the slumping Canucks

may not get back to the postseason dance.

"It was eating me up all year, but now that we're in, you kind of move on," said Luongo.

Two years ago, the Canucks fell to Anaheim in five games of the second round. Luongo went 5-7 in his first

postseason with a 1.77 GAA and .941 save percentage. This year, he's playing behind a healthy and deeper team.

And he's anxious to outduel Chris Mason, a former training-camp partner in Florida before the Blues starter was

claimed off waivers by Nashville.

"It's not hard to get up for games in the playoffs," said Luongo. "It's a different ball game and important to enjoy

because that's what hockey is all about."

Bernier hopes to lift game

About cashing in those missed opportunities


It was only a practice drill, but Steve Bernier still tried to drill it into his head to shoot without thinking Tuesday

instead of thinking about shooting.

With Henrik and Daniel Sedin stationed in the corner and taking wraparound scoring chances on Roberto Luongo, it

was up to Bernier to bury the rebounds. All of them. Even in practice.

"I scored a few," chuckled Bernier. "I'm trying to get the confidence back and for the start of the playoffs that would

be huge. I want to make sure I don't miss those opportunities that I missed during the year.

"All year, I've been nervous trying to score a goal. I know deep in me that I've done it before and it's not that I'm not

able to do it -- I was thinking goal before it happened. It's not a lack of trying or a lack of energy."

In the NHL equivalent of the putting yips on the PGA Tour, the Vancouver Canucks winger has often looked like he

couldn't shove home a rebound with a shovel. He often looked like lifting the puck over the pad of a prone

goaltender was like using a pitchfork to pry up a boulder. And he often shot the puck well wide of gaping nets.

Bernier had 15 goals this season, but hasn't scored in 13 games. It's not for a lack of being in the right place at the

right time. He led the Canucks with 146 hits and will play in traffic. He will stand in the slot and screen the goalie,

but something strange occurs when stick meets puck.

Of the top nine forwards, only Kyle Wellwood had fewer shots this season than the 137 Bernier fired. And although

others missed the net more than the 40 times Bernier misfired, his big misses stayed on the winger's brain like gum

on his shoe.

"I know deep in me that I can do it because I've scored before," added Bernier. "It's mentally being ready to work

with video and work in practice and hopefully everything is going to get back to normal and I'm going to bury those

chances. You can't miss those -- especially in the playoffs."

The playoffs are also where new scoring heroes are crowned.

With so much attention devoted to shutting down the stars in any series -- that focus allowed John Druce to score 14

goals in 15 playoff games in the spring of 1990 and R.J. Umberger to pot 10 in 15 games last spring -- Bernier

knows opportunity is knocking.

Yes, he's expected to check first on a line with Mason Raymond and Wellwood, but he's also expected to forecheck

physically and create turnovers. What happens after that will be worth watching when the club's Stanley Cup

playoffs series opens tonight against the St. Louis Blues.

"That's the main thing -- it's very important to finish every hit," said Bernier. "It may not make a big difference in

the first game, but after four or five or six or seven games it might make a difference in the end."

Bernier, 24, has 22 games of playoff experience with the San Jose Sharks and in the spring of 2006 his linemates

were Patrick Marleau and Milan Michalek. He had six points (1-5) in that postseason, but just one assist the

following spring. More importantly, Bernier knows what to expect tonight.

"It's an awesome feeling," he said. "The game is different. It's going to war and a different style of play, but it's still

hockey and you need to do those little things -- the little details to win."

Winning will also help justify the faith that Canucks general manager Mike Gillis has put in Bernier. When the

Blues signed the winger to an offer sheet for $2.5 million US on July 8, Gillis quickly matched. That's because when

free agency opened, Gillis tried to trade for David Backes and then signed the restricted free agent to a three-year,

$7.5-million offer sheet. The Blues matched that and Bernier couldn't match the 31 goals and 54 points that Backes

racked up this season.

"We're expecting big things from Steve in the playoffs," said Gillis. "He's still a young guy. There were a lot of

expectations put on him and he defined his own level of play by hitting and being physical. He's been a little

unlucky and not shooting the puck in areas where he needs to shoot it."

Bernier was named the Canucks' unsung hero this season. He'd rather be the playoff hero.

"Hopefully, I can do something that can be appreciated," he said.

Murray, Vigneault aim for pressure points

Mutual admiration is about to give way to cold calculation

By Tony Gallagher, The Province

Andy Murray claims he's been looking for days and can't find a weakness in the Vancouver Canucks.

Alain Vigneault says the Blues have great forwards and great goaltending, and even manages to choke out some nice

things about their patchwork defence.

Yes, it's the pre-series first-round Stanley Cup playoff smoke-blowing championships of the world, and the only

way to get through it is with a good pair of hip-waders.

Because from the moment these two guys leave the podium, they are zeroing in on points of attack, and it doesn't

take a genius to figure out which area both teams plan to attack.

Think back to the last series between these teams in 2003. Remember how the series swung in Vancouver's favour

early in the first period of Game 2 when Todd Bertuzzi ran over Al MacInnis, who is now prominent in the Blues

braintrust. Think they don't remember?

And who happens to be the most vulnerable man on the Canucks' back end, whose absence might have precisely that

same affect on the Canucks if he somehow pulls up lame? If you guessed Sami Salo, you're ready for this league.

Look for the Blues to dump all sorts of pucks into his corner, force him to play the puck and try to bump him as

often as possible. They know he's had 35 career injuries, and while it's not as if they will be trying to injure him, but

they'll most certainly want it on his mind. If you can't find a weakness on a team, perhaps you can create one.

"Anytime you're out there against one of the top two lines in the playoffs, you know you're going to be a target,"

says Salo. "It's the same at any level ... when the puck goes behind you, you want to sprint back to it to give yourself

that extra

.1 second ... to make your play. I've never been injured in the playoffs; every time I've been hurt it's been on some

freak play.

"Even when I hurt my shoulder the first time it was when a guy reached for the puck and I stepped on his stick. The

playoffs are always the same and it's why you play all year, to prepare yourself for it."

In fact, the way to attack the Canucks is pretty well known around the league. When they try to go D-to-D they tend

to get a little lax moving the puck, and if you can pressure that receiver with incoming speed, he's either going to

make a bad pass up ice himself or return it to his partner in an uncomfortable position, allowing him to be attacked

and the check finished.

Anaheim spent a whole practice at UBC a couple of weeks back working on just that, Randy Carlyle constantly

stressing quickness to the forechecker, and they scored five goals in their 6-5 shootout win the following night.

The Canucks feel the same way about St. Louis, despite the platitudes, which to everyone's credit were thankfully

toned down Tuesday after Monday's lovefest. They know the only reason Mike Weaver is in any lineup is that

there's been a horde of injuries, Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson the players of choice this year.

To be unkind, Weaver's presence is the sure sign a team has been decimated, and if you think the Canucks don't feel

they can attack that group with Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler, you're dreaming.

Vigneault knows each one of Weaver's strengths and weaknesses because of Vancouver's plague of injuries on the

back end last season -- and if you notice, the Canucks decided to go in a different direction rather than re-sign him,

so that should give you some idea of how they thought they could upgrade. There's a reason he makes $700,000 US,

because, rightly or wrongly, this league has very little respect for a defenceman who stands 5-foot-9 unless he's

overburdened with offensive talent.

Weaver isn't the only one the Canucks feel they get turn pucks over on, with Jay McKee plodding around back there.

"I don't think I'll be a target any more than anyone else," said Weaver, after taking some good-natured heat from his

teammates for making a couple of self-complimentary comments the previous day in your morning Province.

"They're going to come out hard, [and] get on us, but we've been pretty good this year. Obviously everything is

magnified 10 times during playoffs. We'll see what happens."

Hopefully, Game 1 will provide enough emotion to prevent another round of mutual admiration.

Blues slip away to rink at UBC

By Jim Jamieson, The Province

The St. Louis Blues orchestrated the first bit of apparent playoff subterfuge on Tuesday, when with little notice they

moved their practice from GM Place to University of B.C.

Visiting teams typically practise at the home club's NHL rink, unless there is some logistical reason not to.

Informed speculation had it that the Blues coaching staff wanted to try some new wrinkles in their special teams

away from prying eyes before tonight's Western Conference quarterfinal Game 1 against the Vancouver Canucks.

"We just wanted a change of scenery," said Blues head coach Andy Murray. "We're going to be here five days. We

thought it would be nice. It's a great drive out there."

Asked if his team had worked on some secret plays, Murray responded: "Maybe a couple."

Stanley Cup a dream for Canucks, but not a

fantasy

By Iain MacIntyre , Vancouver Sun columnist

VANCOUVER — You don’t know how close they’ve come.

Sure, everyone remembers Nathan LaFayette’s goalpost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final in 1994 and the

unlikely, towel-powered run to the 1982 final.

But do you remember 1992 and 1993 when the Vancouver Canucks, loaded with talent and scoring, set franchise

point records while winning their division in consecutive seasons, only to lose in the playoffs against inferior teams

from Edmonton and Los Angeles?

Or how about 2003, when circumstances clear-cut a path to the final for the Canucks, only to have them stumble

over deadwood and blow a 3-1 second-round series lead against Minnesota?

These were years the Canucks had everything they needed to play for the Stanley Cup, yet there seemed an

inevitability to their failure because that’s the way it has always been in Vancouver in springtime.

That is why the franchise’s two trips to the final are remembered as supernatural events, spectacular and fleeting as a

comet’s visit.

Ninety-four years since the Vancouver Millionaires won the Stanley Cup, 39 years since the Canucks began trying,

Vancouver opens the National Hockey League playoffs Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues with

everything they need.

“Stories of the Stanley Cup have been with me my whole life,” Canuck assistant coach Rick Bowness says. “As a

kid, all I heard were stories about the Stanley Cup from dad. It’s everything to me. I’m 54 years old. My kids are

grown-up. I have one goal in life left: to win the Stanley Cup.

“We have good balance up front. We have a solid defensive corps and we have the best goalie. So I like our chances.

But you have to put it all together on the ice. Now it’s the players’ time.”

The Canucks were far from the best team in the NHL this season. They nipped the Calgary Flames for first place in

the Northwest Division only last weekend. But Vancouver had the best record in the league after January, 23-7-2.

They may not have all the players they want, but have all the ones they need. The strengths of the team — Roberto

Luongo’s goaltending, a defence without a weak link, Alain Vigneault’s coaching and scoring from Daniel and

Henrik Sedin — are unchanged from last season.

The difference is the Canucks are healthy, have better depth and grit, the evolution of Ryan Kesler and Alex

Burrows and the possibility of second-line scoring from Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin, players added by new

general manager Mike Gillis to bolster the core group assembled by previous boss Dave Nonis.

These Canucks should be able to handle the Blues, albeit in six or seven games. They should be able to do much

more than that.

“The ultimate dream for me is winning a Stanley Cup in Vancouver,” says defenceman Willie Mitchell, who grew

up on Vancouver Island. “I would love to be one of the guys who brings the Stanley Cup to Vancouver and gives

everyone in the city and the province what they want. To me, that would be the ultimate. It means everything to

people.

“It has been a long time. People will say we have a good team, but maybe they just don’t believe sometimes that it

will happen. I think that’s our job as players, to instill the belief in people that it can happen.”

And maybe sooner than you think.

Burr a thorn in opponent's side

In contrast to the Sedins, Burrows is very good when he's

very bad

By Ed Willes, The Province

When Marc Crawford was head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, he would use an interesting motivational

technique to inspire a certain style of play out of Alex Burrows.

Burrows still does a spot-on impersonation of these tender moments between player and coach. Mimicking

Crawford's high-pitched counter-tenor, he screws up his face and screeches: "Burr, are you going to be a (very bad

word) tonight. We need you to be a (very bad word) tonight."

Maybe you had to be there but, guaranteed, it would kill on open-mike night.

Still, Burrows has also taken Crow's entreaties to heart and over the last four years developed into a bona fide

NHLer, largely by playing like a (very bad word). His growth was so dramatic, in fact, that this season, he was

promoted to the Canucks' first line where he found himself playing with the Sedin twins.

Let's just say in a city that has produced its share of hockey odd couples -- Pavel Bure and Gino Odjick; Markus

Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi; Tony Gallagher and Brian Burke --the Burrows-Sedins partnership is as interesting as

any of them.

"They're two of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet," says Ryan Kesler, as the Canucks prepared for their

playoff opener tonight against the St. Louis Blues. "Then there's Burr."

"I don't know what's going on there," says Roberto Luongo. "[The twins] seem to be in a lot more scrums now. The

next thing you know, they'll be dropping their gloves."

Probably not, but the point here is, in personality and playing style, the twins are about as far away from Burrows as

you can get without leaving the Earth's gravitational pull. To put it succinctly, they're not (very bad words). They

don't play like (very bad words). They've probably never used the (very bad word).

But, through a strange process of alchemy, they've also played their best hockey as Canucks since Burrows, the

(very bad word), was put on their line.

How do you explain this?

"The bottom line is [Burrows] is a good player," says Henrik. "I can't put it more simply than that."

And maybe it is that simple. But we've got 18 inches to fill here, so we'll press on.

"Danny and Hank never shy away from the rough stuff," says Canucks centre Ryan Johnson. "I think they enjoy

having Burr there to stir the pot. He's going to get to the net and get in the goaltender's face. I think that excites

them.

"I know from playing against them they have a little FU in their games."

Not that they'd ever use terminology like that.

This season, the Sedin twins took another step in their continuing evolution towards NHL stardom but, for Canucks

fans, the most encouraging part of their campaign concerns the last two months when they were united with the

irrepressible Burrows.

The Canucks were just coming out of a terrible stretch in January when head coach Alain Vigneault, who'd already

split up the successful Burrows-Kesler shutdown partnership, gave Burrows a whirl with the twins in the third

period of a 6-4 comeback win over, ta-da, the Blues, on Feb. 10.

Burrows, whose career high before this season was 12 goals, would score that night. He would also score 16 more

over the next 29 games, while completely changing the course of his career.

It's his impact on the Sedins, however, which is the more important development to Canucks fans. Since their union,

the twins have produced slightly higher than their customary point-a-game pace (Henrik 13-21-34 in their 30 games

together, Daniel 8-23-31). But it's the way they've done it that has excited the faithful. Henrik is now scoring goals.

Both twins are playing grittier and edgier. Daniel also provided the defining moment of his Canucks career when he

took a stick in the mush against Dallas on March 24, spat out a couple of Chiclets, then went to the front of the net a

couple of shifts later and scored on the power play.

Maybe you can't trace all that back to Burrows. But this was the first time they've carried the Canucks down the

stretch in their eight seasons here; the first time they stepped up in a leadership role.

Now if they can just do it again, so much the better.

"The last month and a half [of the regular season] was as tough as the playoffs," says Daniel. "I think we did a pretty

good job."

And it was a good job. It just wasn't pretty which is probably why it was good.

Gillis in the hunt to sign U.S. college star

Gilroy

Former BCHL player converted to defence as Boston U.

walk-on

By Jason Botchford, The Province

Think Fabian Brunnstrom, but bigger.

This year the name of the young, relatively unknown free agent who has NHL general managers buzzing is Matt

Gilroy, the winner of the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top college player in the U.S.

The 200-pound defenceman is considered the best college free agent available, maybe in years. Gilroy is thought to

be good enough that he could step into an NHL roster right now. He will next year.

There are as many as 10 teams that have expressed interest, but the Canucks are considered frontrunners.

The Canucks have loved Gilroy for a long time and had meetings with the agent of the Boston University standout.

Vancouver believes he could step into their blueline next year.

"We identified him as a young defenceman who fills a void we have," said Canucks general manager Mike Gillis.

"With what happened last summer with a young defenceman (Luc Bourdon) who we had projected to be on this

team, we have a clear need for a guy in that age category who is an offensive guy."

But at what cost? That's the multi-million-dollar question. Gilroy's age -- he'll turn 25 in July -- means teams aren't

limited by entry-level salary limitations as per the collective bargaining agreement. He will sign for whatever the

market will bear. And that could be a lot.

Just as it was a few weeks ago with another top college free agent, Tyler Bozak, the Canucks' chief rival in the

Gilroy sweepstakes is the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brian Burke is making a strong push for Gilroy. When asked about

him earlier in the week in Toronto, Burke said: "Gilroy was fielding offers. We have no idea how many teams are in

[the running], or how silly the money may get."

The Leafs and Canucks previously went down to the wire together trying to get Bozak, who ultimately signed in

Toronto. The Canucks are hoping this time will be different.

Those aren't the only two teams in play. Both Philadelphia and Tampa Bay have made it known they have strong

interest, and there are probably at least six other teams that will make significant offers.

Gillis has seen Gilroy play live this season "often" and the Canucks had people in Washington, D.C., to see Gilroy's

Boston University win the Frozen Four last weekend.

Gilroy, a North Bellmore, N.Y., native who played junior hockey in B.C., became just the fifth Hobey Baker winner

to win the national title in the same year. When it was over, Gilroy became an unrestricted free agent.

When he does sign, it will end a chapter in his remarkable story.

Gilroy never garnered much interest from NHL teams when he was playing junior hockey and eligible for the draft.

Colleges were barely interested. When he was 18 years old, Gilroy was 5-foot-6 and weighed 120 pounds. When he

finished his playing career in the heavily scouted B.C. Hockey League four years ago, he was 5-foot-8, 155 pounds.

He didn't exactly look like a five-tool player. He does now, at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds.

Gilroy only made the BU team as a walk-on. He was a forward, but accepted the only role available -- the eighth

defenceman. He will leave the school as team captain.

This season, he had eight goals and 28 assists in 43 games. He led all Hockey East defencemen in scoring and

ranked third in the U.S.

Teams tried to sign Gilroy last summer but were unsuccessful.

Gillis has made it clear he thinks that talent can be mined in the college free agent market.

He lost out on Bozak, but he did land two others, forward Eric Walsky and defenceman Evan Oberg, who signed a

three-year deal.

What's surprising with Oberg is that he decided to leave the NCAA as a sophomore.

There are many scouts, and Canucks executives, who believe if Oberg had stayed he would have progressed to the

elite Bozak-Gilroy level in college.

Feels good to be back in the dance

After being playoff wallflowers last season, the Canucks are

excited to battle for the Stanley Cup

By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun

NEXT GAME

Tonight vs. St. Louis Blues

7 p.m.

Game 1 of best-of-seven first-round series at General Motors Place

CBC-HD/TEAM 1040

- - -

For 12 months, it gnawed away at Vancouver Canuck captain Roberto Luongo, the manner in which he and his

teammates collapsed down the stretch last season and missed the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It was an empty, horrible feeling then but they're over it now. The Canucks are third seed in the Western

Conference, they begin tonight on home ice against the St. Louis Blues and they can't wait for the puck to drop.

"It was eating me up all year," Luongo admitted Tuesday, discussing the gut-wrenching miss. "Now that we're in,

you kind of move on. I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I've reminisced a bit about how fun and

exciting the whole thing was two years ago. I'm just really anxious to get started."

The Canucks made it to the second round in 2007 before getting punted by the eventual champion Anaheim Ducks

in five games.

It was Luongo's first and only appearance in the playoffs. He's 30 now, in his ninth NHL season, and has never been

hungrier.

"There is only one thing that matters to me and that's winning the Cup," he declared. "That's all I care about. We

have a good team and we have a chance to do something. We're focused on a big game [tonight], winning four and

moving on. It's going to be exciting once the puck drops.

"I've been anxious for a while. It's right around the corner and you can feel the buzz in the city. It's nice to be in

playoff mode."

Canuck leading goal scorer Daniel Sedin understands today what he maybe didn't understand his first few years in

the NHL. It's damn hard to make the playoffs and, if you make it, you had better not squander the opportunity.

Daniel and twin Hank were in the playoffs their first four seasons and then missed two of the next three.

"Obviously the thing you realize when you've been here a long time is it's not easy to make the playoffs," Daniel

said. "Half the teams don't make it so once you have a chance, you want to take it. The first few years, you're maybe

thinking you could be in the playoffs every year, and have a chance to win every year, but it doesn't work that way.

"It's been eight years for us and we haven't been close. So drop the puck and let's go."

This will be the second playoff appearance for Alex Burrows, who was a role player in 2007 and is a front-line

player now. Like Luongo, he had a tough time dealing with the failure of not making it a year ago.

"Obviously we've been talking and thinking about it for a long time," Burrows said. "We were really disappointed at

this time last year when we were out. It was something we wanted. We made sure we were in this time around.

"This is the time of year you want to succeed and play well and feel good about the team. As a player, you want to

be remembered as someone who was clutch in the playoffs, made some big plays and was a difference maker. That's

the dream every player had when he was a boy."

The Blues, of course, are feeling pretty good themselves. They've made a remarkable two-month run from 15th in

the West to sixth and don't want it to end with a quick first-round exit.

"Are we excited? I mean, it's unbelievable," said goalie Chris Mason. "We've got such a good feeling in here with

what we've kind of overcome. We feel we've earned the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup. It's a great

feeling and it's going to be a lot of fun.

"We had some guys talk Monday night about their experiences and the fact you never know if your first time in the

playoffs is going to be your last time, or whatever. You have to make the best of everything, go out there and see

what happens."

ICE CHIPS: Injured St. Louis forward Paul Kariya (hip) did not make a surprise appearance at the Blues' practice

Tuesday so won't play in tonight's opener.

Canucks gameday

Blues (41-31-10) at Canucks (45-27-10)

The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

TV:

CBC

Radio:

TEAM 1040 AM

The setup

A surprise matchup between two of the hottest teams in the league. And even when things went south, both clubs

remained among the hardest-working clubs in the NHL.

Canucks' last game

Needing a lone point to clinch home-ice advantage in the first round, the Canucks played Colorado to a 0-0 draw.

Henrik Sedin, in OT, got his 22nd goal.

Blues' last game

After surprising losses by Anaheim and Columbus on Saturday, the Blues jumped to sixth with a 1-0 win at

Colorado. Chris Mason stopped 28 shots.

Three things to watch

1 Scottrade Centre can be a tough place to play in

The Canucks might want to think about sweeping the first two games because the 19,150-seat Scottrade Centre, only

recently as quiet and empty as a morgue some games, has become an intimidating place to visit. "It's like the old

days at the old arena," Blues president and one-time Blues goalie John Davidson said. "And it's genuine, not piped

in. People are really into it, they're raucous." Davidson took over the Blues three years ago after broadcasting 166

games in 2005-06, including the Olympics. "I was kind of burned out," he said.

2 Sedins look to make playoff mark

Daniel and Henrik Sedin are licking their chops at the chance to shed their label as playoff disappearing acts. Daniel

had two goals in 12 games two seasons ago, when Anaheim figured out how to jam the cycle; Henrik had four

points. "We know we didn't produce the way we wanted to," Henrik said. "It's because of that playoffs two years ago

that people think we can't produce. But right now we're playing our best hockey."

3 Time for Demitra to step up, contribute consistently

Pavol Demitra has 20 goals and 50 points in 77 playoff games, a little off the pace he set this season (20 goals in 69

games). But it's time for the talented forward to step up and contribute more consistently with the Canucks. That

means heading into traffic and also putting the puck on net more often. If Demitra and Mats Sundin start clicking on

a consistent basis, and don't rely on Ryan Kesler to shoulder the whole load, it'll be a tremendous boost for the Sedin

line. Demitra and Sundin just happen to be the two highest-paid forwards on the team.

Canucks gameday

The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

Hurry hard

When a coach and scribes from the Prairies chew the fat at this time of year, the topic's obvious -- Sunday's world

curling final. "Would you have called that shot?" Andy Murray asked in wonder.

Stars and Stripes

The Blues skated at UBC, where Murray had non-Canadians dress in the Team Canada's room. Team USA's Keith

Tkachuk had none of that: "I stayed clear of it, I used the UBC room."

Blues injuries

LW Paul Kariya (hip), day-to-day; D Eric Brewer (back), indefinite; D Erik Johnson (knee), out for season; LW D.J.

King (shoulder), out for season.

The word:

"I don't think they have a weakness in their game," Blues goalie Chris Mason said of the Canucks. But they will if

they take dumb penalties against St. Louis's effective power play.

First-round series short on experience

Blues forwards Andy McDonald and Dan Hinote will be the

only players on the ice with Stanley Cup rings

By Iain MacIntyre, Vancouver SunApril 15, 2009

Got experience?

The Vancouver Canucks have everything they could want except players who have succeeded in the playoffs.

As they open the Stanley Cup tournament tonight against the St. Louis Blues, the Canucks' most glaring flaw is a

lack of players who have soldiered through prolonged runs in the National Hockey League playoffs.

Not only has no Canuck a Stanley Cup ring, none has played for one. Only three -- Pavol Demitra, Mats Sundin and

Willie Mitchell -- have been to a conference final, and none in the last five years.

"Experience does go a long way, but it's not everything," third-year defenceman Shane O'Brien said Tuesday. "We

maybe do lack a little playoff experience in here, but I think we have enough character and leadership that if some

guys need a little push or a little guidance in this deep run we're going to have, we should be able to work through

it."

"Obviously, we don't have guys who have won the Stanley Cup," winger Alex Burrows said. "But we have a level of

willingness there. We have guys who have been in the playoffs."

Indeed, Rick Rypien, Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond are the only Vancouver Canucks expected to make their

playoff debuts tonight against the Blues. Ryan Kesler has played one playoff game and Alex Edler three.

Three others, including 10-year veteran Ryan Johnson, have never won a playoff round.

All but three of the rest haven't advanced beyond the second round.

Sundin, 38, leads the Canucks with 83 playoff games, a product of 17 seasons.

Demitra has played 77 times in the playoffs.

Against a Blues team out of the playoffs since 2004 and rebuilt around a handful of young forwards, the Canucks

aren't exactly disadvantaged in the first round by their lack of playoff experience.

Still, it would be nice to have at least a couple of players who have been there, done that.

"It's not so much about experience; it's about working hard here as a team and being prepared for battle," Canuck

winger Darcy Hordichuk said. "Every game could be your last game, and you have to play like that. You're going to

get guys blocking shots who don't normally block shots, guys who don't hit hitting."

Demitra said: "I think it's just about a team and how tight guys are in the dressing room. We're talking about this

yesterday a little bit; you're definitely not going to have a chance to play with a team like this many years. You've

got to grab your chance and make sure you play hard for every game."

Blues Andy McDonald (Anaheim, 2007) and Dan Hinote (Colorado, 2001) are the only players in the series with

Stanley Cup rings, something Canuck goalie Roberto Luongo concedes sets all players apart.

"That's what everyone always talks about: How many rings do you have?" Luongo said. "It would be nice to go

through a career with a least one Stanley Cup, no? I assume half of my career is done with and I haven't even come

close. Time's ticking."

Canucks will sell game-day tickets

By Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver SunApril 15, 2009

Playoff-starved Canuck fans can scramble for a few hundred tickets expected to be released today for the crucial

opening-round playoff game against the St. Louis Blues.

Canucks president Chris Zimmerman said game-day ticket availability will become a common practice during the

post-season, as the team releases tickets not needed by the NHL or the visiting team.

Playoff tickets -- ranging from about $105 to $400 -- went on sale Saturday and a few were still available at face

value Tuesday on the Ticketmaster website. The cheapest tickets were sold out, but a few priced from $172.50 to

$382.50 (plus $7.75 in fees) could still be purchased.

Ticket-buying options increase substantially if you're willing to pay more than face value.

Season ticket holders selling their playoff tickets on the Canucks website offered them for sale Tuesday at prices

ranging from $135 to $1,005, while craigslist had a wide variety of tickets for anywhere from $130 to $600.

First-round playoff ticket prices are at least 40-per-cent higher than regular-season prices and prices will increase

each round -- likely rising to 200-per-cent more for the Stanley Cup finals (and according to half the Sun sports

department, the Canucks will be there).

Each first-round home playoff game will generate an estimated $1.6 million US in ticket revenues for the Canucks,

although a significant portion of that is shared with the league. Revenue-sharing becomes less of a factor in

subsequent rounds, when a spot in the Stanley Cup finals could generate at least $3.4 million US in ticket revenues

for each home game.

Zimmerman -- who's experiencing his second playoff run with the team -- said he's not surprised at the huge demand

for tickets.

"You can always feel the energy in this city as the playoffs start," he said. "It's a new season of hope for everyone."

Zimmerman said Canucks merchandise sales are already noticeably higher.

"The store is definitely busier now with lots of traffic as people look for flags and new stuff to wear," he said.

Meanwhile, in Calgary, more than 55,000 Flames fans put their names in the hopper in a series of lotteries for 1,300

available tickets ranging from $45 to $365. On the resale market tickets range from $129 to $2,000.

In Montreal, sellers are listing tickets for between $130 and $1,160.

University of Alberta physical education and recreation professor Daniel Mason says he's not surprised fans are still

willing to shell out hundreds of dollars to get to the games.

"The recession hasn't been going on long enough," he said. "In a lot of the Canadian cities there are wait lists for

season tickets. I think there's still that demand, or perception of demand, that's going to buffer the Canadian-based

franchises longer than the U.S.-based ones."

There's also the fact that this is hockey and this is Canada.

"In Canada, hockey is so popular it tends to be No. 1 on the list of entertainment options for a lot of people," he said

"So they're willing to save money elsewhere in order to be able to continue to enjoy going to games."

Canucks family represented at funeral of

Carly Bragnolo

By Ben Kuzma, The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

Their heads are into the playoffs, but their hearts were elsewhere Tuesday.

As the Canucks practised in preparation for their Stanley Cup series opener tonight against the St. Louis Blues, they

were represented at the funeral for Taylor Pyatt's fiancée in Thunder Bay, Ont. Carly Bragnolo was killed April 2 in

a car crash in Jamaica. She was to wed the Canucks winger this summer.

At the Monday viewing and Tuesday funeral were five wives and girlfriends of Canucks players, along with

assistant general manager Laurence Gilman and chief amateur scout Ron Delorme. Alex Burrows was represented

by his girlfriend, Nancy Roy.

"It was really emotional, from what I heard about it," said Burrows. "Nancy thought it was really hard, just the way

that Taylor and his family looked. Not demolished or destroyed -- just sad.

"It's something that we're going to think about. But we have to prepare ourselves mentally for the game and we

should be able to battle. We've been there in the past and we should be able to do the same thing."

Hockey's cyber fans are all 'a Twitter' about

start of Stanley Cup playoffs

By Gillian Shaw, Vancouver SunApril 15, 2009

Hockey fans around the world are gathering today in a series of cyber-connected tweetups to mark the launch of the

Stanley Cup playoffs.

What started as a gathering of Twitter users in New York City has spread to 23 cities in North America and as far

afield as New Zealand and Belfast, Ireland.

In Vancouver, Canucks tweeps will gather at the downtown Shark Club starting at 6:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the

puck drops on Game 1 of the series.

The global gatherings will be connected via Twitter and the celebrations will be shared through photos and tweets

(140-character Twitter missives). In some cities, where teams are scheduled to play later this week, tweetups will be

postponed so ticket holders can attend the game and the tweetup in their city.

"We are celebrating the launch of the Stanley Cup website ... we are making it a cool experience for fans," said NHL

spokesman Michael DiLorenzo. "We just started it as a New York event that we publicized only via Twitter and

people who follow us on Twitter got excited about it, raised their hands, and said 'us too'."

While New York will be the flagship tweetup, DiLorenzo said fans are keen, even in some cities that don't have

NHL teams. "We've had a total of 23 cities come online, ranging from NHL cities like Vancouver to Regina,

Saskatchewan, which is expecting the largest turnout -- more than 250 people."

To join the Vancouver tweetup, RSVP online at http://nhltweetup.com/category/all-cities/vancouver

Fans devise wacky way to spur Canucks to

Cup

Talismans join charge in hockey-mad Metro Vancouver

By John Colebourn, The Province

Psychics are working overtime, grown men are wearing their special team-logo boxers and radio DJs are talking

non-stop. Even goats are getting in on the act.

And all because the Vancouver Canucks are in the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

How the Canucks play against the St. Louis Blues in round one is all the talk in hockey-mad Metro Vancouver.

In Langley, Canucks super-fan Joel Nagtegaal and his roller-hockey buddies have come up with a novel idea as the

Canucks battle it out on the ice. They plan on buying a goat for people living in poverty for every Canucks win.

"That's four goats per round, times four, which equals 16 goats," an optimistic Nagtegaal said of the Canucks

bringing home the Stanley Cup.

They're setting up a "Goat Canucks Goat" Facebook group so others can join in to purchase the goats through a

charity for a needy overseas village.

In another part of Langley, Barry Hanet, with a Canucks beer stein in hand, will be in full Canucks regalia.

As he has all season, he'll sport his Canucks hat, Canucks jersey with a vintage Canucks T-shirt underneath,

Canucks socks and, to round out his sartorial splendour, a pair of Canucks-logo boxer shorts.

Flashlights shine the Canucks logo on his ceiling with every goal.

"Every game, I dress the same and it usually brings them good luck," he said of his fashion ritual.

He picks the Canucks to win the first round against St. Louis in five games.

"I think St. Louis will hit the wall because they have been playing so hard to get in the playoffs," he said. "I think we

have enough experience to beat them."

His wife, Cheryl Hanet, admits her husband may be a bit extreme. "It's a bit over the top, but you gotta love him.

He's a dedicated fan."

Virgin Radio FM 95.3's afternoon DJ, Buzz Bishop, held a "cleansing" in February when the Canucks seemed

destined for a post-season golf game. After that on-air "positive energy thing," the Canucks turned the season

around.

Now Bishop, who is also picking the Canucks to beat St. Louis, is planning an on-air session with psychic Paisley

Town this afternoon.

Town is polishing up the crystals and jumping on the Canucks bandwagon. She's going back to GM Place later

today with her crystals, stones, sweetgrass, sage and good-luck charms to help the Canucks win.

"If enough people focus on attracting abundance in their lives, they will play well," she maintains.

Meanwhile, a new Ipsos Reid poll among Vancouver Canucks fans shows only 21 per cent think the team will

actually win the Stanley Cup.

The best Canucks coverage around

The team is primed and ready and so are we

By Jonathan McDonald, The Province

A year ago, we couldn't call this section Canucks Nation. Though we'd been doing those specials monthly, it would

have looked ridiculous to put the words "playoff preview" anywhere near the word "Canucks."

Instead, we called the section Playoff Preview 2008 -- and the cover story was the brutally honest, "10 reasons why

the Canucks didn't make it to the big dance."

No such worries this year. Sure, there was that little blip in the middle of the winter. But it was around that time that

wacko Canucks fan Nigel Stewart -- whose story is told by Ed Willes on page B18 -- predicted that the Canucks

would overcome a, oh, dozen-point deficit to the Calgary Flames and win the division.

So here we are. Playoff time. And The Province's hockey team is primed to deliver the most comprehensive

coverage of the Canucks that you'll find anywhere.

Such as:

ALL OVER THE GAME: Four hockey writers -- Jason Botchford, Jim Jamieson, Ben Kuzma and Gordon McIntyre

-- have covered the Canucks all year. They, along with columnists Tony Gallagher and Ed Willes, will be at GM

Place and on the road in St. Louis to give you the goods in the paper and online at theprovince.com/whitetowel.

WATCH WITH US: We've live-blogged a few games this year and we'll do so again during the playoffs. Tonight,

Jim Jamieson has the duties. Find out how to take part at theprovince.com/whitetowel.

PLAY ALONG: Everyone loves bingo. Well, how about a little Canucks Playoff Bingo? Yes, check out the first

game card today on Page A39 -- that one's for those going to GM Place -- and get more game cards for you and

friends to play at home online at tinyurl.com/canucksbingo. It'll help turn those in-game lulls into something fun and

exciting.

Enjoy the playoffs. And thanks for reading The Province.

'I think of Luc before every game'

Memory of a fallen friend unites player with loved ones left

behind


With her voice on the verge of cracking, Charlene Ward pauses on the long-distance phone line. You don't need a

visual to picture the range of emotion she wrestles with every day.

She was the girlfriend of fallen Vancouver Canucks defenceman Luc Bourdon, who died in a tragic motorcycle

accident last May. She is also close friends with Alex Burrows and his girlfriend Nancy Roy.

The four are cornerstones in a remarkable story of sorrow, support and strength that has played out much longer than

this storybook season for Burrows.

Ask Burrows about his career-best 51 points and he swears that his best friend Bourdon has a hand in it all from

above and will also guide the winger to playoff greatness.

Ask Ward about the love and support she receives from Burrows and Roy to soldier on, in the face of so much

despair and uncertainty, and she again has to gather herself. Immersed in the first demanding year of studying

medicine at the University of Sherbrooke district campus in Moncton, N.B., she has struggled with staying busy and

not constantly thinking of Bourdon.

"Well, to be honest, some days I tell myself it's the best thing I could have ever done because it keeps me focused on

something," says Ward.

"But other days, I'm like: 'Why the hell did I start it?' I have hard days and good days, but Alex and Nancy are

behind me and I speak to Nancy every day since all of this happened. They both tell me not to give up and they

always tell me they know what Luc would want — to be doing what I'm doing now.

"And when I'm having a bad day, I think of Luc and that and just try to hold on to it."

That determination has not only driven Ward, it has driven Burrows.

In his ascension from third-line agitator to first-line scorer, Burrows has travelled a rocky road from training camp

bubble boy in 2007 to Masterton Trophy nominee and most exciting team player award winner in the spring of

2009.

Factor in a two-goal game following a touching Bourdon video tribute on opening night and another two-goal outing

when he signed a four-year, $8-million-US contract extension last month — complete with a bow-and-arrow

celebratory salute to his fallen friend — and Burrows wonders what is really at play here.

After all, Burrows finished with 28 goals, to match the number Bourdon wore, and the Canucks clinched the

Northwest Division title on the winger's 28th birthday Saturday.

"I think of Luc before every game," says Burrows. "It is a weird thing in life that you don't always understand and

you wish that you could understand. Deep down, I really believe that there is something outside of this world that

nobody knows about. I really do think there is something special around here."

And the bond that Burrows and Roy have formed with Ward isn't token. It's everlasting.

"We try to help her out through the challenging times and try to move on and try to make her feel better," says

Burrows. "The biggest thing is to keep her going."

Even though Burrows is a great feel-good story, he won't take credit for his rise. Even when he got the Masterton

nod in a unanimous vote by the Vancouver chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, he preferred to

talk of those who had guided his journey.

He talked of Trevor Linden's professionalism, Roberto Luongo's leadership, Willie Mitchell's defensive tips and

Ryan Kesler's determination. He didn't talk about himself.

None of this surprises Ward. She knew Burrows long before he became a go-to guy on the ice and in the room for

his frankness and honesty. She was the first to hear of his contract extension, the first to learn that in the face of

personal sorrow he would always be by her side.

"Everybody sees him as a hockey player, but I know him more personally," says Ward. "I can tell you he's a

wonderful person and has good values. He's a special guy. I was so proud when he was voted most exciting player

and I thought how Luc would be happy, too. I was just going on and on and Alex said: 'Well, it's not for nothing.

There is somebody behind me and I'm not alone.'"

Whether that divine nudge came from above, few knew what to make of it when coach Alain Vigneault had

Burrows take an unlikely shift with Henrik and Daniel Sedin in the third period of a Feb. 10 game at St. Louis.

Burrows got the 4-4 equalizer en route to a 6-4 win and wound up playing the final 30 games of the regular season

with the twin Swedes. He racked up 27 points (16-11) in that stretch to start whispers that an Olympic camp

invitation might be in the offing.

"That surprises me a lot," says Burrows. "Obviously, it would be an honour to be there, but right now it's the last of

my concerns. I just want to make sure the team is winning games and we're doing the right things heading into the

playoffs."

That's Burrows.

Even when he was slapped with a $2,500 US fine for punching Oilers enforcer Zack Stortini from the bench in the

dying seconds of an April 4 loss at Edmonton, the winger showed some remorse. But he vowed to remain an

aggressive and agitating force — a player with the gift of gab and occasional jab — in his rise from ECHL

afterthought to NHL mainstay.

"He never gave up and that says something about his personality and his character," says Kesler. "We like to jab

each other once in a while, but he has a good heart and is a great person."

As you would expect, Burrows tosses the credit right back to his former linemate, current penalty-killing partner and

constant confidant.

"Kes is probably the biggest reason," says Burrows. "He's always there to support me."

Life after Manitoba only gets better

Rypien says he had Burrows pegged for success back in the

'Peg


Alex Burrows and Rick Rypien were linked long before becoming NHL teammates.

When the undrafted and unheralded Burrows was tossed a career life-preserver by the Manitoba Moose five years

ago -- and Rypien was summoned from junior the following year to see if the free agent had any moxy for the pro

game -- they were more than two fringe players trying to turn the right heads at the AHL level.

They were trying to turn a career corner.

Fast forward to today and we all know that Burrows has rocketed from shutdown winger to surprise scorer with a

career-high 28 goals and 51 points.

And we know that the feisty Rypien has rejuvenated his injury-plagued career to earn a playoff roster position with

the Vancouver Canucks.

Yet, as much as Rypien should accept credit for getting his head on straight -- after two leaves of absences to deal

with the physical and psychological demons of missing 64 games this season with a sports hernia surgery and

subsequent setbacks -- he tosses the bouquets back at Burrows.

"I always knew there was something special about him," says Rypien. "Whether it's his personality or even what I

saw of him in Manitoba, I knew that wasn't the end for him. I knew there were only greater things coming and right

now it's paying off. It's a great story.

"He's definitely a guy you look up to and it shows because he puts in the work and has a good attitude. He just never

stops working and because we play similar styles, you know if he can do it, the opportunity is going to be there for

other players."

Burrows got his opportunity on Jan. 2, 2006.

Recalled to replace the injured Rypien, he didn't tip-toe through his NHL debut. Instead, Burrows plastered and

punched his way into the Canucks' consciousness.

He drove St. Louis defenceman Barret Jackman into the end boards, got a glimpse of his future linemate on shifts

with Ryan Kesler and even fought Dennis Wideman.

And he almost scored, too.

"I never thought I would get 20 goals in this league," recalls Burrows. "Now, I'm playing with the [Sedin] twins and

it's a lot of fun because I'm a contributor on this team. I obviously didn't think about that back then -- that it would

even be possible -- because I still remember my first training camp. Nobody knew me and it's funny how things

work out. I'm happy."

Try ecstatic.

Burrows has a refreshing outlook in this age of sullen sports stars. Grateful for every day that he gets to play a game

he loves, the 28-year-old Pincourt, Que. native isn't far removed from that wide-eyed guy just trying to crack the

Moose lineup.

And as good as he has become on the ice, Burrows is even better off it.

"He's easy to talk to and we always have fun on the bus and plane or whatever," says Rypien. "There's definitely a

joker side to him -- a sarcastic joker side. But he also loosens up the tension with everybody and he won't be one of

those guys who changes. He is what you see and he isn't afraid to show it. That's why everybody loves him."

If good things happen to good people, then Burrows should be the poster boy for perseverance. The four-year, $8-

million-US contract extension he signed last month was payment for past production and future promise.

But you can't put a price tag on what else he has brought.

In a season of much heartache and happiness, Burrows has become more than a reliable teammate. He has become a

man. In dedicating the year to best friend Luc Bourdon, who was killed in a motorcycle accident last May 29 -- then

learning April 3 that roommate Taylor Pyatt had lost fiancee Carly Bragnalo in a car crash -- Burrows has tried to

turn sorrow into something that can bring the Canucks even closer. Not that it's easy.

"I think it's been tough," says Rypien. "Being a hockey player, you don't want to show the soft side. It's been an

emotional year, but I think he's handled it pretty well to do what he's doing now and who he's dedicating it all to."

Compassion, confidence, and constancy

Enduring yet evolving, teammates love to play with Burrows


Alex Burrows didn't know what to think. Or how to react.

A day after being named a Masterton Trophy nominee for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication -- and

bringing his bond with late best friend Luc Bourdon back into focus -- Burrows learned April 3 that roommate

Taylor Pyatt lost fiancee Carly Bragnolo in a car accident.

"It was devastating news," recalls the Canucks winger. "You never expect to wake up to that and that's the last thing

you want -- especially when you're a teammate and he's been a close friend for the last three years. You can't really

believe it. You have that empty feeling inside and you don't really don't know how to act.

"I can't imagine what he's going through and until you really live it, I don't think there's a right or wrong way. We're

just going to support him any way we can."

Burrows has sent Pyatt text messages and knows that the winger will one day return to the club and be welcomed

with open arms. He knows the two will eventually converse.

But for now, Pyatt needs time to grieve before he can even entertain the thought of playing the game again. While

all this has made Burrows grow up quickly -- to be as much a supporter as a surprise scorer -- he does wonder why

all this heartache has occurred.

"You don't know what's going on with life on the outside world and you always wonder why," says Burrows. "It's

tough, but everything happens for a reason, and life goes on."

Burrows also wonders why bad things happen to good people. Pyatt's demeanour is one of a gentle giant who quietly

goes about his business and never raises a fuss. You won't hear him say a bad thing about a teammate. You won't

hear him say a bad thing about a coach. And you won't hear him say much about anything.

"He is quiet," says Burrows. "He doesn't say much, even on a good day. You come back from a pre-game meal and

have a nap and he wouldn't say a word until we would exit the room. That's just the way he likes it and I didn't mind

at all. Obviously, we liked watching movies and TV shows together, but he's not much of a talker, that's for sure."

Burrows could probably talk himself into anything, but he was never expected to amount to much on the ice. When

Manitoba Moose general manager Craig Heisinger gave the ECHL no-name a tryout, the best bet was that the feisty

winger might one day supplant grinder Jimmy Roy. Maybe Burrows would also play nine AHL seasons and finish

his career in Europe. Not a bad way to make a living.

After all, Burrows didn't play junior until age 19. He wasn't drafted and had to claw his way on to the rosters of the

Greenville Grrrowl, Baton Rouge Kingfish and Columbia Inferno in the ECHL.

However, a scouting trip during the 2002-03 season convinced Heisinger to give Burrows a look.

"We gave Alex a chance in Manitoba, but that's all we did," says Heisinger. "We gave hundreds of guys chances,

and Alex took advantage of it. It wasn't always easy for him. He got sent down, and the first year he got called up

four times and might not have played four shifts. The second time, in the lockout year, he got sent down, too.

"But when he came back when Wade Brookbank got hurt, that was the last he saw of the East Coast League."

Still, it was quite the climb for Burrows to become an NHL mainstay. Called out by coach Alain Vigneault at the

2007 training camp, his future as a Canuck was in jeopardy.

"That's what I like about Alain, he's fair with everyone, and he doesn't hide," says Burrows. "He'll tell you what he

thinks. I remember the meeting the year before (the 2007 camp) he told me that I had better pick it up because he

thought I might be in the minors. I really beared down and worked hard all summer because I didn't want that to

happen."

None of this surprises Canucks general manager Mike Gillis.

"He's a very intelligent player who puts the team ahead of himself," says Gillis. "So, no matter what the situation

he's in -- whether he's expected to check or provide offence -- he has the intellect to adapt. That's remarkable. I don't

think that was learned at the East Coast level or at junior or this level. I think it was always there.

"It's just a matter of him having the confidence to utilize it daily."

The top 10 Canucks goals of the season

Players provide plenty of highlight reel material for the

archives


It was the goal that turned the season around, the one which many people believe was the most important of the

season.

It's hard to argue. When Alex Burrows scored a shorthanded breakaway winner on Cam Ward on Feb. 3 with less

than 90 seconds left, he accomplished so many things.

He won a game. He ended an eight-game losing streak. He let the Canucks and their fans breathe again. And most

importantly, his game-winner cleared the fog of negativity which had engulfed the team for nearly a month.

"I remember that game and I remember how much we wanted to win it, no matter what," says Burrows. "We really

wanted to get it done. I remember Mats Sundin scored a huge goal from behind the net.

"Even when we got that [Mattias Ohlund hooking] penalty late in the game, we thought we were going to kill it and

win the game in OT. We were able to get it done before that. And since then, we've been on a roll."

Burrows says the most important thing coming from that game was the Canucks were able to build on it. They didn't

just win one, and return to losing.

"We kept getting better, and better, and then we won 11 in a row at home," Burrows says.

Let's count down the other important goals which have framed the season:

#2. Feb. 17: Kevin Bieksa scores in Calgary with 51 seconds left to tie the game.

With goalie Roberto Luongo pulled for an extra attacker, the Canucks finally drew even on Bieksa's point shot

which deflected off a Flames defenceman and knuckled into the net. The Canucks went on to win the game 4-3 in a

shootout. Without Bieksa's goal, it would have been a four-point swing in Calgary's favour, and who knows if the

Canucks win the division.

#3. March 31: Henrik Sedin scores OT winner against the Minnesota Wild.

It was a game the Canucks probably didn't deserve to win. They were outshot by a hungrier Wild team 11-0 in the

third period. But when Sedin scored four minutes into overtime, Vancouver vaulted over idle Calgary into first place

in the Northwest Division.

#4. See box.

#5. April 9: Kesler scores lone goal in 1-0 win against the L.A. Kings.

On the same night Kesler was named the Canucks' MVP, he scored a key game winner which set the Canucks up to

win the division.

#6. Oct. 11: Daniel Sedin ties game in Calgary in the third period.

The Canucks rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Calgary Flames 5-4 in overtime. It meant the Canucks

swept an opening home-and-home series with the Flames. Sedin's second goal of the game made it 4-4 at 6:10 of the

third period. Pavol Demitra scored the winner in OT.

#7. See box

#8. Oct. 16. Alex Burrows scores OT winner in Detroit.

The Canucks proved they could play with the Western Conference big boys when Burrows scored 27 seconds into

overtime to give the Canucks a 4-3 victory over the Red Wings in Detroit.

#9. See box

#10.See opposite

- - -

#9 Oct. 31: Mattias Ohlund's unexpected shootout winner against the Anaheim Ducks. It was Halloween on the ice

when Ohlund scored the deciding goal in the 13th round of the shootout as the Canucks beat the Ducks 7-6 despite

blowing a three-goal lead.

#7 Feb. 21: Mats Sundin scores shootout winner in storybook return to Toronto. The standing ovation took people's

breath away. You'd be hard pressed to find a more dramatic moment this year, as Sundin, who played in Toronto for

13 years, stole the spotlight.

#4 Jan. 31: Kesler scores at home against Minny with 16 seconds left to salvage a point. It wasn't a win, but the

Canucks needed a moral victory and they got it with Kesler's goal. From his knees, he tied the game 3-3 on the

power play, sending the game into overtime. The Canucks did lose their eighth game in a row, but the goal set up

Burrows' bump-the-slump heroics in the next game against Carolina.

On Air: Jim Hughson and CBC keep

Canucks fans covered while John Shorthouse

is on TEAM 1040

By Gordon McIntyre, The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

Your TV isn't suddenly out of whack. That really is TSN broadcasting a Canadian series in the first round of the

playoffs.

Chris Cuthbert and, in a swapping of partners with Gord Miller, Pierre McGuire will broadcast the Calgary-Chicago

series on TSN, in the first year since the sports channel got a contract to broadcast a Canadian team.

Miller and Ray Ferraro will handle the New York Rangers-Washington Capitals series.

On CBC, Jim Hughson, the only broadcaster in the country better than Cuthbert, will be doing play-by-play for his

hometown Canucks, making the bi-daily commute from White Rock to work with Craig Simpson on CBC.

Bob Cole will do the Eastern play-by-play, calling the Boston-Montreal series.

"I'm just happy to be doing the playoffs," says Hughson. "I've got two months of every second night so it's nice to

have some games at home.

"And this is a good team, I think Canada's best hope."

John Shorthouse, voice of the Canucks on TEAM 1040 and Sportsnet, will be relegated to just radio as Sportsnet

gives up the rights to TSN and CBC, but nothing much will change, he says.

"The mechanics don't change. The paycheques are just a little smaller."

This is the face of a happy man

Luongo looking forward to best chance he's had to win a

Stanley Cup


It's a game day late in the season and the occasionally temperamental Roberto Luongo is in a good mood. He's

engaging and talkative. He's happy and it's obvious.

It makes sense. He's coming off one of the best games of his career, a 46-save effort against the Calgary Flames. But

Luongo's happiness isn't from looking back at Calgary. He's looking forward, to the playoffs. And he can't help but

smile.

"I feel this is the best chance that I've ever had in the NHL," Luongo says. "That's really exciting and I'm really

looking forward to this.

"We pretty much have the same defence we had two years ago, but we have a lot more offence now. This is an

exciting opportunity for us. We have a real chance here to do some damage. We're playing for one goal and that's

the Cup."

Luongo understands his career will, in the end, be defined by what he does in the playoffs:

"That's what everyone always talks about, how many rings they have. It's always nice to go through a career with at

least one Stanley Cup."

Things are different than they were two years ago, the last time Luongo and the Canucks were in the playoffs.

He's more comfortable with his team and his surroundings. He's more vocal in the room and it has less to do with his

captaincy and more to do with the fact that, more than ever, he sees this as his team.

"I have a much bigger voice in the room," Luongo says. "My first year, I didn't want to step on anyone's toes. There

were a lot of guys who had been here for a while. I didn't have this comfort level."

Along with his comfort level with his teammates, Luongo sees a couple of advantages this year. He's been to the

playoffs before and understands what to expect:

"Going into the first time you anticipate it but you never really know. Now I know. The intensity is like nothing

you've ever felt before. There's nothing better. Every shot and every play matters. Anything can change the game.

Just the fact you live on that fine line is kind of like going on a roller coaster ride, that adrenaline rush. I really

embrace it."

Also going for Luongo is the fact he's a father, which has helped him stay balanced by giving him perspective this

season.

"What changed for me this year is that after the games it's nice to go back home and see someone's little face smile

up at me," he says. "It lights me up. If I have a bad night it's a lot easier to get over."

Luongo hasn't had many bad nights lately despite being ripped in an odd, late-season column out of Calgary.

As he's often done, Luongo has saved his best for last, going 13-5-2 with four shutouts, a .926 save percentage and a

2.07 GAA in his final 20 games.

It helped him finish the season with numbers that are comparable to what he put together two years ago, which is

widely considered his career season. You wouldn't know it from his critics, though, and there have been plenty of

those this year.

"It hasn't bothered me. No one can put more pressure on me than I put on myself," Luongo says.

"Not a lot of people understand the goalie position. It's a tough position to analyze. There's not a lot of people who

understand the intricacies of it."

This is a vastly-different team and Luongo has a somewhat modified role than in the 2007 playoffs. The point is

driven home when the discussion turns to Ryan Kesler, who will be named the Canucks' team MVP later the same

day.

Luongo takes note of the fact there was no clear-cut favourite among five or six solid contenders.

"It shows there's a lot depth on the team and a lot of guys who are contributing. That takes the pressure off other

guys who aren't forced to be the go-to guy every night. It's kind of nice to have that."

For what is really the first time in his career, Luongo isn't being asked to carry a team. Yes, Luongo is the captain,

the leader, the highest-paid player, and, to use a colloquial term, still The Man.

But the Canucks can now win a game, and maybe a series, without Luongo at his best. They no longer need him to

steal every series for them to make a long playoff run.

"It's nice to know we can now win games in different ways. It doesn't have to be 2-1, or 3-2 any more. That's a great

thing about this team. When I'm needed I want to be there like I was [against Calgary]."

A key thing Luongo looks forward to in the playoffs is the chance to lock down on one team, one group of forwards,

with hope he can get inside their heads.

"I enjoy playing against the same guys and it becomes a mind game after a while. You know what they like to do

and they analyze your game.

"I'm challenging myself to take my game to the next level."

Survival of the fittest

yes, it's Wellwood; Centre has emerged from roller-coaster

year as a legit player

By Jim Jamieson, The Province

Can the leopard change his spots?

Apparently, if his name is Kyle Wellwood.

The Vancouver Canucks forward has battled both reality and perception this season to prove he belongs in the NHL.

It translated into an 82-game roller-coaster ride, where he hung on by his fingernails at times.

Picked up on waivers last June for his pure skill with the puck and on-ice vision, he was a training-camp fiasco with

his scandalous fitness level. He was a few hours from heading to Russia to play in October after clearing waivers.

He was a healthy scratch as recently as February, in the midst of a 21-game goal-less stretch.

But a funny thing happened along the way. On the eve of his first NHL playoffs, Wellwood has established himself

as the centre of a solid third line who -- get this -- is actually very responsible defensively and even finishes the odd

check.

Quite a transition for a one-time Ontario Hockey League scoring machine, a small player (5-foot-10, 190 pounds)

not known for his work ethic and a guy who, until Feb. 17, had gone 159 consecutive games without taking a minor

penalty.

Associate coach Rick Bowness admits he's been surprised at how Wellwood has cranked up his defensive game.

"I keep telling Kyle he's our best forward at coming down low and helping our defence break out," says Bowness.

"He has the ability to come in, sniff out the loose puck and he's so calm with it that he never throws it away, never

turns it over. We didn't see it early on, but as the games go on, you see him where he's supposed to be. He's got great

hockey sense and now with the improved conditioning he gets there a little quicker."

Wellwood maintains he's always been competent defensively, but admits he's had to crank it up this season.

Survival is a great motivator.

"It's not something I always focused on," says Wellwood, who'd be playing in Europe if not for injuries to Rick

Rypien and Pavol Demitra at the time he cleared waivers.

"But this year, going to a new team and not really finding a role, I've had to focus on other things like faceoffs and

checking and making sure I'm working harder defensively than I normally would. It's been a bit of a change and I've

got less points but I've been able to stick around and that's the goal.

"It was tough, but I made it through. I was on the chopping block a few times."

But let's not kid ourselves. Wellwood's offensive skills are what can make a difference in the playoffs, where seven-

game series often grind each team's offensive stars into the ice and it's up to the supporting cast to step up.

"This is definitely the most excited I've been about hockey," Wellwood says of the playoffs. "To be on a playoff

team where everybody is a good player and it feels like any contribution you make is considered valuable. I like to

be in that position and I'm hoping that I can produce."

This season Wellwood produced a career-high 18 goals, although frustrating head coach Alain Vigneault at times

with his apparent nonchalance. His nine assists represent a career-low -- another enigmatic feature for a player

known as a set-up man.

But the third line has had some dominating games down the stretch, with big Steve Bernier handing out punishing

bodychecks, Mason Raymond backing off the defence with his speed and Wellwood orchestrating it all.

"We try to bring some energy," says Wellwood, who's also been an excellent 57.5 per cent on faceoffs.

"We've got a lot of talent up front in the first two lines. If we can bring energy and contribute it will make us

stronger."

Wellwood's improved fitness has been obvious in the last half of the season. He's been noticeably quicker and more

physically involved. To be fair, he'd suffered through two sports hernia surgeries in the previous season and a half in

Toronto and broke a bone in his foot playing pick-up soccer last spring before the Maple Leafs waived him. As a

result he couldn't begin training seriously until the end of July.

"I am at the best I could be, but it's hard when you don't have the summer to train," says Wellwood. "I've had the

whole season healthy and to have my legs feeling good I think I'll be able to contribute."

The playoffs are what every NHL player yearns for, but they are also the place where careers are made or broken.

"Every player has to be viewed in terms of, 'Can they help us win the Stanley Cup', so every player has to be

assessed on that basis," says Bowness. "You have to identify the guys who are going to play for you in Game 7

when it's all on the line. You build around those guys."

This is not lost on Wellwood.

"When you get put in a situation where it's the same matchups every night it's easy to see where the weaknesses are

and in the playoffs that really shows," he says. "Your intention is to be a strong point for the team and that goes a

long way as far as your reputation in the league."

- - -

JUST THE FACTS

Things you may not know about Kyle Wellwood

- He has a strong aversion to network TV: "I don't like TV in general. I like TV shows when they're on DVDs, and

movies. I'll pop one of those in."

- He prefers to read instead of watching TV: "I read everything. I change my mind all the time. Sometimes I don't

get through the books, but I like buying them. I'll read fantasy novels. I tried to read Twilight and I couldn't read

that. My favourite author right now? I like Michael Ignatieff."

- He speaks French: "I was in French immersion through elementary school to Grade 10 and my sister teaches Grade

6 French. I've roomed with Steve Bernier the last couple of months, so we watch French TV sometimes. My

understanding is excellent, but my speech is not as good. It's nice to have it, but if I was going to do something

bilingual [after hockey] I'd have to practice speaking it."

- He prefers Vancouver hockey fans to those in Toronto: "It's such a contrast from Toronto where people come up to

you all the time. In Vancouver it's extremely rare that somebody would approach you, even at dinner or if you were

at a bar having a drink. That's been really nice. Getting to watch sports at 4 p.m. instead of 7 is nice, too."

Everyfan Nigel Stewart believes. You can too!

Money-man's pick based on blend of logic and blind faith

By Ed Willes, The Province

Nigel Stewart is a money man, which means he's charged with investing other people's hard-earned cash.

That, he says, is an awesome responsibility. It demands the ability to think clearly, to analyze soberly and precisely,

to study the market and read and react to changes at a moment's notice.

You can't be in his game if you're given to flights of fantasy or whimsy. Well, you can. You just won't last very

long.

Stewart, as luck would have it, is also a Canucks fan and, no, he doesn't see the contradiction inherent in his

vocation and his avocation. This, of course, only makes him more of a Canucks fan, as does his firmly held belief

that this is their year.

No really. It is. Just ask him.

"I look at the facts," protests Stewart. "I look at the makeup of the team, their depth and balance, then I look at the

rest of the league. This is the best shot they've had since I've been a Canucks fan.

"Alex Burrows is my Rudy. At the end of the season, he's going to be holding the Cup and they're going to carry him

off the ice. I can picture it."

And if you really believe, maybe you can see it too.

It is, of course, impossible to distill the hopes and dreams of thousands upon thousands of Canucks fans into one

person. But we have a problem here. We can't interview every Canucks fan.

We can, however, guess at what the most loyal of the faithful believe about this team and, to that end, Stewart

emerges as the everyfan; a sort of living, breathing embodiment of those many souls from so many walks of life who

are united by the conviction that, one day, they will be delivered.

"The drug might be in my system a little stronger than others," Stewart advises.

But in this case, that's not a bad thing.

Stewart has only been a card-carrying member of the Canucks' lodge for 13 years or so but he more than makes up

for his relative inexperience with the intensity of his devotion.

He also points out that, before he swore himself to the Orca, he put in 27 years as a Maple Leafs fan so he's not

exactly unfamiliar with the concept of suffering.

"I got the transfer [from the Toronto area] and I lost connection with the Leafs," he says. "But I picked up the

Canucks when they were getting interesting and I've never looked back."

Although sometimes he's wanted to. He was there when Mark Messier arrived amid so much hope, then watched in

horror at the ensuing disaster. He was there when Pavel Bure spurned the city's affections. He was there in the heady

early days of the Brian Burke-Marc Crawford renaissance. And he was certainly there for everything that followed -

- Dan Cloutier and Nick Lidstrom; the Minnesota Wild; Calgary and Game 7 in overtime; regime changes; Roberto

Luongo; and, now, another regime change.

So he's aware being a Canucks fan isn't always the most comfortable place to be. But even by their remarkable

standards, this year may have broken new ground for unpredictability.

It started with the November to remember, which had the Canucks 14-6-2 at the quarter-pole. That was followed by

the Mats Sundin intrigue and the ecstatic revelation that the big Swede had joined the Canucks. That, of course, was

followed by the hellish January which saw them drop out of the playoffs but, then, came another hot streak and hope

was restored.

"I've been schizophrenic all year long," says Stewart, who shares season tickets with a friend.

But now, as the Canucks ready for the playoffs, he sees the pieces falling into place. Luongo is back and healthy and

coming off a season-defining performance against the Calgary Flames in Game 80. The team is not wholly reliant on

the twins to score. Sundin is not a lumbering 38-year-old but rather a "presence" who supplies "intangibles." They're

faster, deeper and tougher than any Canucks team he can remember.

Then there's the rest of the Western Conference to consider. Detroit doesn't have a goalie. San Jose doesn't have the

pedigree. Calgary is too old and Chicago is too young. That just leaves the Canucks and that image of Burrows

holding the Cup as GM Place goes crazy.

Stewart can see it all.

Might the Canucks be a team of destiny?

What the stars reveal about the Canucks

By Georgia Nichols, The Province

I'm no hockey pundit. I'm an astrologer.

For two days now, I've been looking at 24 astrological charts spread out on my dining table.

My first take is something anyone can see: one third of the Canucks are Nordic. That's substantial! (Jannik Hansen,

Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Mats Sundin, Alex Edler, Mattias Ohlund, Sami Salo and Ossi Vaananen.) "Hej there?"

This leaves six from Ontario; three from Quebec; two from Alberta, two from B.C.; one from Saskatchewan; and

last, but certainly not least, our lone American -- Ryan Kesler, from Michigan.

This Nordic/Canadian team is what the Canucks are today. But the Canucks are actually 39 years old. The team was

born May 22, 1970, which makes it a Gemini team. As any Gemini will tell you, Gemini is the sign of the twins,

which means the Canucks love pairs!

To be sure, the Canucks' love affair with pairs is demonstrated by their longest playing members: Henrik and Daniel

Sedin, Sami Salo and Mattias Ohlund, and Kevin Bieksa. (These guys obviously fit with Vancouver.)

The clue to the first two players is obvious: Gemini is the sign of the twins; and the Canucks have the only twins in

the NHL, Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

A less obvious pair is Mattias Ohlund and Sami Salo because both these guys are Virgos; they both have Moon in

Pisces; and they both play defence. Two peas in a pod.

The last veteran is Kevin Bieksa. What gives him staying power? Simple. He is perfectly paired up with the team

itself, because both Bieksa and the chart of the Canucks are Gemini with Moon in Sagittarius. A happy fit!

(A more recent pair is Roberto Luongo and Alex Burrows, who are Aries with Moon in Cancer.)

"Elementary, my dear Watson." Ah, yes -- the elements. All signs are Air, Water, Fire or Earth; and each of these

four elements has different qualities.

Air is intellectual; Water is receptive and feeling; Fire is active and mobile; and Earth is solid, supportive and

secure.

The two signs with the most Canucks players are Taurus and Leo. Earth and Fire. Earth is protective and defensive;

Fire is aggressive and competitive.

However, when we add all the Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn), we see that 10 of the 24 players are Earth

signs. That's 42 per cent of the team! This means the Canucks are solid, supportive, and have an unusually strong

defence. Indeed, 63 per cent of their defencemen are Earth signs.

Not surprisingly, head coach Alain Vigneault is a double Taurus with both Sun and Moon in Taurus. This is like

saying he is double Earth. "These are my people!"

But hold that thought. This is not to say the Canucks have no Fire. Au contraire! Thirty per cent of this team is

aggressive, competitive Fire, including captain Roberto Luongo.

The Canucks are now the champions of the Northwest Division. Hurrah! Whatever they're doing is working. And

what they are is a strong Earth team. They don't give up. They play supportively, and they're enormously tenacious.

Coupled with fiery aggression, their strength is their defence, and their unyielding endurance.

This means the best style for the Canucks is to get that goal, then shut out the opposing team entirely. "Talk to the

hand!"

With Luongo's record of shutouts -- this is not a far-fetched dream, it's doable!

Read Georgia Nichols, The Province's famed astrologer, daily in the pages of E-Today.

---

It helps to have good connections

Each person -- you, me and every member of the Canucks -- has lucky Jupiter somewhere in their chart. We help or

benefit someone if they are the same sign as our Jupiter. It's a sender/receiver kind of thang. (It's often how we

choose friends; or how we can benefit from a total stranger.)

Below is a list of these beneficial combos. (Please note: This list could be longer! But I don't know the time of day

of the Canucks' birth charts; so I have less info.) Nevertheless, this list is valid.

n Steve Bernier and Mason Raymond are good for Mats Sundin.

n Taylor Pyatt, Alex Burrows and Kevin Bieksa are good for the Sedin twins.

n Kyle Wellwood, Mats Sundin and Shane O'Brien are good for Pavol Demitra.

n Alex Edler, Pavol Demitra and Sami Salo are good for Jannik Hansen.

n Rob Davison, Darcy Hordichuk, Ossi Vaananen and the Sedin twins are good for: Mattias Ohlund, Sami Salo,

Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler.

n Ryan Kesler and Rick Rypien are good for Jason LaBarbera.

n Ryan Johnson is good for Kyle Wellwood, Alex Edler, Willie Mitchell, Rob Davison and Rick Rypien.

n Willie Mitchell and Mattias Ohlund are good for the chart of the Canucks.

It was gratifying to discover how much of this team benefits each other!

Luongo's name is missing because he has Jupiter in Cancer, and there are no Cancers on the team. However, Jupiter

in Cancer is the best possible position for Jupiter. This position is said to be "exalted."

This means Luongo benefits everyone! (Ya think?)

Q & A with #33, Henrik Sedin

By Gordon McIntyre, The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

The Province's Gordon McIntyre sat down with Henrik Sedin to talk about the playoffs and sibling rivalry.

Q: The knock on you, unfair in my mind, is that you and Daniel are not big-game players.

A: We don't think too much of that. Our first few years here we played 12 minutes a game [in playoffs]. People look

at our stats and think we've been first-liners every playoffs, but if you look at our points in those years we had more

points [per game] than we did in the regular season.

Q: Daniel told me what he loves about living here is he's not hassled when he goes out. Same for you?

A: Yeah, we've been treated really well from Day 1. Maybe before we came over we thought, well, hockey's so

important here, a religion, and we thought we maybe wouldn't be able to go out and have a coffee or whatever. But

people have had a lot of respect ...

Q: I have a theory.

A: OK.

Q: You're in Yaletown and Daniel lives on King Edward. I think people don't recognize you unless you're together.

A: [Laughs] I think they do. It's the red hair.

Q: Another thing people might find interesting is how competitive you two are. Daniel snuck back a week before

you last summer and did the Grouse Grind in 32 minutes, beating your best time by a minute.

A: I think I beat him this year, but he has the record all-time [between them]. We're competing in everything.

Working out in the summer it's someone to compete against. Growing up, too, I think it's a big reason why we're

here now, we always competed every day at school, playing soccer and hockey.

Q: Who's the toughest centre you've ever played against?

A: It's toughest to play against centremen who only think defence ...

Q: Does one stand out more than others?

A: [Rob Niedermayer, Travis Moen and Sammy Pahlsson of the Ducks] was a really good shut-down line, that was

the line that was probably the toughest to play against.

Q: You scored a beautiful goal on a one-timer before Christmas and Daniel told me after the game he's always

thought you have a great shot, and that you should shoot more.

A: I haven't really shot more often this year. It's probably the most I've shot, but not by a lot. I think I'm just taking

better shots. Now on a 3-on-2 for example, I'm thinking shot-first.

Q: I think it's fair to say there were times where it was ludicrous that you'd pass, say in the slot, instead of shooting.

A: Yeah, before I would. Now I know there'll be a rebound and that that will create more chances.

Q: Your son Valter is two now. How's that going?

A: He's doing really good. He comes out here [to GM Place] every time he gets a chance.

Walter knows what it takes to win, lose

Assistant bench boss has been on both sides of the playoff

coin

By Jim Jamieson, The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Ryan Walter been on both sides of the coin in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

He's been on teams that went deep -- the Cup-winning Montreal Canadiens in 1986, and the '89 Habs team that lost

an agonizingly close six-game final to Calgary.

And Walter was also a member of the 1992-93 Canucks team that -- despite having a strong lineup from goaltender

out led by Trevor Linden in his prime and a young superstar named Pavel Bure -- managed to stumble in the second

round against Los Angeles.

As the Canucks embark on the 2009 playoffs, The Province's Jim Jamieson spoke with Walter about what he took

away from the 113 playoff games he played in his 15-year NHL career.

Q: In 1986, you were part of an underdog Montreal team that rode rookie Patrick Roy all the way to a Cup win.

What characterized that team?

A: We were a good team, but not a great team. We had a time in January, like our team this year, where we went

through a difficult stretch. We seemed to come together in February and March, where we really had some

momentum into the playoffs.

Q: Roy won the Conn Smythe that season as the playoff MVP, his first of three career wins. Did you see that kind of

performance coming after his rookie regular season?

A: I give Patty a lot of credit for the way he handled himself. He was so intense. When he went on the ice, he was

on. You had a sense that he could do it, but he was just a kid so you didn't know if he was going to or not. We

learned a lot about Patrick Roy in that run. There was absolutely no doubt he was a goaltender who was driven to

win. In that sense I think there's a lot of connection to Roberto Luongo.

Q: In 1989, you went back to the final with Montreal -- again, against the Flames. How tough was it to lose in a six-

game series of close games?

A: It's such a fine line between winning and losing. That's maybe the one thing I've experienced, is that it's not worth

the energy it takes to get to the final and end up losing. If you lose you don't feel like you're second in the league.

You just feel like a loser.

Q: What can make the difference in that fine line between a playoff win and a loss?

A: A big part of it is goaltending. It has to be well above average. It's structure -- the way you play -- that can make

a difference. It's a long haul. It's all small things. You get punched in the head in the regular season, you beat

somebody up. In the playoffs, you take it. You want them to punch you so you can get a power play. It's such a

different mindset because everybody knows it's inches.

Q: How different is the process of winning in the playoffs from the regular season?

A: You learn how to win in the playoffs. There's little adjustments you have to make as players and adjustments we

have to make as coaches. I think a whole bunch of it is resilience, whether you get down by two goals or down by

two games. It's easy to think, "Oh-oh, this is over," instead of, "That's OK, it's a bump in the road, now we've got to

get Game 3." There's all these little learning curves and the mental part becomes more important.

Q: The 1993 Canucks team was arguably better positioned to make a run for the Cup than the '94 team, but they

stumbled in the second round. How do you analyze that?

A: In 1993 with the Canucks, we were as close a team as I've seen. We had some good elements to that team and I

think the key component was that we had some things to learn in the playoffs, but we had to learn them quick. It's all

small things that make a difference.

Q: If you had one thing that you would pass on from the disappointment in '93, what would it be?

A: I just remember one thing that Bobby Smith said in the dressing room in 1986 in the final. He wasn't the only one

who said it, but I remember him saying, "C'mon boys, we'd better do this because we may never have this chance

again." Really, that's what has to keep players focussed because there's not too many chances to win. Don't look at

your career and say, well, you're a three-year veteran and you'll have lots of chances. Our goal is to get on a run

here, so we've got to give it our best shot now.

No experience, no problem

Vigneault optimistic as we analyze playoff prowess

By Jim Jamieson, The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault doesn't see his team's relative lack of playoff experience as a

problem:

"[No], it's a great opportunity," said Vigneault on Tuesday. "Obviously, the stakes are higher right now, but the

game on the ice doesn't change. We're used to this and they're going to look forward to the moment and go on the

ice and put their best game on the ice."

Here's how the Canucks' players break down in terms of playoff experience and their outlook heading into the

postseason:

Mats Sundin

Career playoff games (points): 83 (74)

Most rounds: 3 (1998-99, 2001-02)

Comment: Can have a huge impact if he finds that next gear.

Pavol Demitra


Most rounds: 3 (2000-01)

Comment: Needs to shake history of playoff disappointment.

Sami Salo


Most rounds: 2 (2001-02, 2002-03, 2006-07)

Comment: Stay healthy and crank up that point shot.

Henrik Sedin


Most rounds: 2 (2002-03, 2006-07)

Comment: Can and needs to be the difference-maker.

Daniel Sedin


Most rounds: 2 (2002-03, 2006-07)

Comment: See above.

Mattias Ohlund



Comment: Long run would be nice last hurrah.

Willie Mitchell



Comment: Needs to continue wet blanket act.

Taylor Pyatt



Comment: Status still uncertain.

Steve Bernier


Most rounds: 2 (2005-06, 2006-07)

Comment: Can he evoke John Druce?

Ossi Vaananen



Comment: Ready if there's injury.

Roberto Luongo

Career playoff games (stats): 12 (5-7, 1.77 GAA, .942 save pct.


Comment: Canucks will go as far as he can take them.

Alex Burrows



Comment: One of the young core, needs to keep it going.

Jannik Hansen



Comment: Should draw off two years ago vs. Anaheim.

Kevin Bieska



Comment: Key is staying on even keel.

Ryan Johnson


Most rounds: 1 (2002-03, 2003-04)

Comment: Block shots and stay healthy. Ouch.

Alex Edler



Comment: Must show big-game poise.

Darcy Hordichuk

Career playoff games (pts): 7 (0)

Most rounds: 1 (2006-07, 2007-08)

Comment: Keep making the hits.

Shane O'Brien

Career playoff games (pts): 6 (0)


Comment: Stay out of the box.

Rob Davison

Career playoff games: 6 (2)


Comment: Ready and willing.

Ryan Kesler

Career playoff games (pts): 1(0)

Most rounds: 2 (2006-07, came off injured list in second round)

Comment: Undisputed heart of the team.

Kyle Wellwood

Career playoff games: 0

Comment: Could have a big impact in tight series.

Mason Raymond


Comment: Speed is an asset.

Rick Rypien


Comment: Made for playoffs.

Jason LaBarbera


Comment: Capable if (yikes!) Louie goes down.

Kesler and his fingers ready for playoffs

Centre anxious to finally play meaningful postseason game


How much the playoffs mean to Ryan Kesler was summed up in one, borderline insane thought he had two years

ago.

When Kesler suffered a broken, displaced finger in Vancouver's first game of the 2007 playoffs -- his first game

after a return from hip surgery that was as improbable as it was inspiring -- the centre thought he knew exactly what

needed to be done.

He told them to cut the digit off.

It tells you everything you need to know about Kesler.

"Having played just one playoff game, the anticipation for me is so big going into it this year," Kesler says. "It can't

come soon enough. I just can't wait for that puck drop.

"It was so tough for me two years ago. I got this little taste of playoff hockey and then it was taken away. I had to sit

out two playoff series. It was tough to watch the guys battle and not be able to help them.

"It's still in my mind. You can say there's motivation there."

Kesler has never been better equipped to help his team. He looks like he has an extra gear on the ice, and never

before has he seen the game like he sees it now.

It's helped him to a signature season, a breakout year. It was one in which he changed people's assumptions about his

game, proved people wrong.

His speed, edge and tenacity combined with his lack of playmaking finesse were thought to be best suited for a

checking-line role.

But he evolved. And that evolution is one of the biggest reasons the Canucks had the best record in hockey during

the final two months of the season.

Kesler flourished when head coach Alain Vigneault moved him up to the second line, where he has not only found

his offensive game, he's made both Mats Sundin and Pavol Demitra better players. And who would have thought

that possible before the season?

Kesler established himself as one of the game's top two-way forwards. He set a career high in goals (26) and points

(59) and was voted the team's MVP. His year has made him one of the frontrunners for a Selke Trophy nomination.

Before this year, people suggested pairing him with Alex Burrows again in a shutdown role and be done with it.

But that's not how Kesler ever saw his future.

"I'm striving to be a marquee player on this team," Kesler said before the season.

"I want to be that guy, the guy the coach looks to put on the ice at the end of a game to win it."

He got his wish.

"I wanted to become a bigger part of the team, a bigger leader," says Kesler. "I think from last year, I wanted to use

it as a stepping stone, I was striving to take another step.

"This was something I wanted to accomplish from the start of the year and it's nice I accomplished it."

Playing a significant role in Kesler's growth was the Canucks decision to put an "A" on his jersey before training

camp. People forget, but he is still young, only 24 years old.

The honour gave him confidence and entrenched him in his role on as the heart of the team.

"Being able to wear the 'A' on my chest was big, I was really happy to be doing it," Kesler says. "It meant a lot to me

to have the coaches and management think about me as a leader.

"To put the 'A' on my chest is something I was very excited about."

He eats! He scores!

The Canucks keep their diet simple, nutritious and easy to

replenish

By Mia Stainsby, Vancouver Sun

I once interviewed a few of the Vancouver Grizzlies' basketball players about their diets, before the team moved to

Memphis. They said their skyscraper frames were built of plenty of fried foods. One of them had just hired a chef

(who formerly worked for Colin Powell, the retired U.S. general and secretary of state) to help him eat healthier.

The Vancouver Canucks, I'm happy to say, eat smart. Although it's not the sexiest part of hockey training, they

know savvy nutrition can help tip a team into the playoffs and give them an edge in their quest for the Stanley Cup.

"They start preparing for performance months ahead of time. They're looking at conditioning, optimizing nutrition

and power and muscle," says Cristina Sutter, the team's consulting registered dietitian.

Sutter, who also works with Olympic athletes, says professional players already know the basics of eating for

performance. By that stage, it's habit, it's remote control.

"They're really not eating five-star kind of food. They're eating simple foods and it's true for most high-performing

athletes," says Sutter, who operates out of Satori Integrative Health Centre in Steveston.

"They don't want rich, complicated foods. They want easy-to-digest, high-quality, familiar food and it's for a reason.

If they were to eat out in restaurants regularly, they would get completely different proportions, not the same quality

or quantity of protein, fat and carbs, tailored to their needs."

Roger Takahashi, the team's strength and conditioning trainer, is diligent about their training and looks at all aspects,

she says. Her role is to help make the team faster and stronger and last longer than their competition.

Sutter says at this stage of the season, as playoffs begin, players have unique and demanding nutritional

requirements. "They'll often have a run of games back to back and the challenge is to stay as recovered and fuelled

for the sixth or seventh game in a row as they were on Day 1. If they don't recover properly, performance isn't the

same. They need to recover quickly after each game or practice so their gas tanks are full, they're rested and their

muscles stay strong."

Another hockey anomaly is the time of day the games are played. "They're performing during our dinner time, so

fuelling is a challenge. They need to eat very differently than the rest of us. They need to turn lunch into their dinner,

have a light snack before the game and a light dinner after."

Takahashi says that during the season the big concerns are dehydration and recovery. "They're key issues when

they're playing 82 games [in a regular season], travelling, sometimes not getting enough sleep and playing back to

back. Nutrition is definitely part of the puzzle," he says.

"Three years ago, in Round 1 against Dallas, they played four overtime periods. Imagine how drained they were." (I

remember my partner coming home from that game sometime past midnight, exhausted, just from watching the

game.)

Water bottles are all-important. During a game, the Canucks will drink either regular water or Gatorade drinks with

nutrients for electrolyte balance, endurance, fuel or energy.

"A goalie can drop five to eight pounds in water weight during a game," says Takahashi. "It's an individual thing as

to whether players are heavy sweaters or salt sweaters. Generally, our guys aren't heavy sweaters."

Without hydration, there's a risk of muscle cramping.

"Other teams talk about goalies cramping so much they can't unlock their hands," he says.

Takahashi gives his guys a liquid protein recovery drink within 15 minutes of coming off the ice. "We try to

replenish glycogen within a short amount of time. They'll shower and then eat within a half hour after the game," he

says.

"Players are drug-tested three times a year, so they have to be careful with supplements [such as] vitamins and

protein powders and be aware of what's in them. We have a list of ones to use," says Takahashi.

On the road and at home, all the players eat simple foods, he says. "Turkey with mayo on the side; pasta with

chicken breast; sometimes pizzas but with thin crust," Takahashi says. On flights, they'll ask for "fairly simple

foods," he says. Again, it's pasta with chicken, salad with chicken and not a lot of sauces. "European players [such

as] the Sedins [Henrik and Daniel] are not [accustomed] to eating huge portions or deep-fried foods," he says.

Asked if players look forward to certain cities and certain restaurants, Takahashi says when the team plays six cities

in 12 days, the cities are mixed up. "It's all fairly similar in what they eat," he says. "We try to keep them consistent,

post-game."

He says dietitian Sutter educates draft picks before they even make the team. She sends them nutrition logs to

monitor their eating. "The players in junior ranks are hanging on to two jobs, have school, practice, and grab

something to eat. It's quick, fast-food that's cheap. The trainers are working to educate them. They can make good

choices these days, even at McDonald's."

The intensive powers of nutrition

Eating right, and at the right times, can provide the right

fuel when the body needs it

By Mia Stainsby, Vancouver Sun

Nanci Guest, head sports nutritionist for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, says it in a nutshell: "So many

games are won or lost in the last five seconds. If athletes are hydrated and fuelled right down to the last five seconds,

it's a huge advantage. When we're talking Olympics, it's a difference of milliseconds."

Guest, who was consultant to the Vancouver Canucks in the 2004 to 2006 seasons, says the sporting world

underestimates the fuelling/powering/healing powers of nutrition, but they're coming around, she says. "In the past,

in the Wayne Gretzky years, athletes were gifted and could rely on genetics, but now there are a lot of gifted athletes

and they're working their butts off," says Guest, who has offices in Vancouver and Toronto.

Kristen Reaves, a registered dietitian with Kinesiologists.ca in Vancouver, believes nutrition still is a low priority

with many athletes. One challenging piece of advice she gives her athlete clients is to eat several small meals a day

for efficient fuelling. "It takes pre-planning and you need a system. All my clients are on five meals a day," she says.

But isn't that slightly insane? Not at all, she says -- she's a constant eater herself. "I always have lots of Tupperware

in the house. I'll cook 10, 12 chicken breasts at a time and keep it in the fridge. I'll make salads and sandwiches with

them. I tell clients to make big pots of soup or chili, to cook twice a week to last two, three days. Once they run out,

I give them new recipes." Yes, in many cases, her clients learn to boil water first and she'll start them off with easy

things to make.

She gives clients general guidelines on what to eat, instructing them to cover carbs, protein and fat. The carbs give

energy and endurance; protein repairs and builds muscle. And athletes underestimate the importance of heart-healthy

fats, she says. "It's been shown over and over how it can help. It's so crucial to maintain mass, stamina, endurance,

thinking and memory as well as preventing joint pain," she says.

The carbs, she says, should come from whole grains, vegetables and fruits -- complex carbohydrates which stabilize

blood sugar and take longer to digest. "They need a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as herbs, spices for

antioxidants and building a strong immune system," says Reaves. "Anti-oxidants are very important for recovery in

athletes. It's much better than supplements." She says about 60 to 65 per cent of food should be carbs for energy.

(Hockey players burn 1,100 to 1,200 calories in an hour.) Athletes need one to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of

body weight, compared to .8 to one gram for an average person.

Athletes have to watch what and when they eat before intense workouts or the food could very well revolt. "When

muscles are working intensely, there's less ability to digest. There's competition between working muscles and the

GI [gastrointestinal] tract," says Guest. "The top priority for the body is to digest food so the muscles aren't getting

the blood supply and they'll feel lethargy instead of power and endurance and speed. I've seen so many athletes bring

it all up. They stop at a drive-through on the way to practice, grab a burger and fries, and 20 minutes into practice, it

comes back up, hopefully, in a toilet."

Fat takes three to five hours to digest, so it's a no-no just before workouts. A large meal takes four hours to digest.

"As it gets closer to practice or game time, eat more carbs, but not high-fibre carbs as fibre doesn't digest easily. In

the last hour, it should be 100-per-cent carbs in the form of a sports drink or banana or dried fruit. In the last 30

minutes, the best bet is a sports drink," Guest says. "And you want to avoid simple sugars -- pastries and candies."

"The major mistake is improper nutrition before and after workouts," says Reaves. "After a workout, there's a 30- to

35-minute window to get the right nutrients. It's when the body is most able to take in nutrients. If muscles have

ripped or torn, the carbs go straight to the muscles as stored energy and protein helps to prep and build up and

maintain mass."

Gatorade, fruit, a protein shake or a turkey sandwich should do it, she says.

Canucks battle history Open playoff series tonight By TERRY JONES, SUN MEDIA

VANCOUVER -- You've heard teams jinx the deal by announcing the parade route before they've actually won the Stanley Cup.

But this has to set some sort of record.

The Vancouver Canucks open their Western Conference quarter-final against the St. Louis Blues here tonight. And defenceman Willie Mitchell already has the parade route mapped out.

He sees a Stanley Cup flotilla.

"Put us on boats and take us around the seawall of Stanley Park and then end up at the Convention Centre," said the native of Port McNeil on Vancouver Island.

"That would be the ultimate. It would be really, really cool," Mitchell said after practice yesterday.

A Canucks fan growing up, Mitchell said that "because of the '94 chaos" -- when fans rioted on Robson Street after losing Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final to the New York Rangers -- a traditional downtown parade ought not be the plan.

Obviously he's given this some thought.

"It's my dream. It's what I play for," Mitchell said.

There aren't many places a Stanley Cup would mean more.

mailto:[email protected]

"There would be nothing better than being one of the 23 guys who wins a Stanley Cup here. There have been some lean years. If you grew up as a Canucks fan as a kid, you know what it would mean. It would mean everything.

"You've got to believe. We're capable. We've definitely got a shot."

As the Canucks came down the stretch, rookie GM Mike Gillis went on radio and lectured the left coast media and populace about being gloom and doom deliverers, nattering nabobs of negativism and general all-around playoff party poopers because of past post-season performances.

Gillis accused the people of being so scarred by previous playoff failures of the franchise that has yet to win a Stanley Cup after 38 years in the league -- and has only twice made it past the second round -- that they help create conditions for the pratfalls to persist.

But geez. A parade route? Before Game 1 of the first round?

If they weren't the Canucks, if it weren't for their history and all those years wearing all those clown suits, you could easily come to the conclusion that Vancouver has, by far, the best chance to be the last Canadian team still skating this spring and could still be playing well into May.

If they weren't the Canucks you'd say there's all sorts of room for optimism going into Lord Stanley's annual shinny shindig this year.

First, contrast the Canucks with the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames.

The other two Canadian teams go into the playoffs with major injury problems, coming off serious skids at the end of the schedule.

The Canucks went 23-7-2 after Feb. 1 and made up a 14-point deficit to the Flames to end up with a 100-point season and first place in the Northwest Division.

Roberto Luongo is going in with two shutouts and a 46-save performance in a one-goal win before that, judged to be his most outstanding game of the season. He's stopped 88 of the last 89 shots he's faced.

But they're still the Canucks. What if they don't do it this year?

Henrik and Daniel Sedin are about to be free agents and Brian Burke, who brought the twins here, has a ton of salary cap room with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mattias Ohlund will be a free agent. Ditto former Leafs captain Mats Sundin. And next year, Luongo.

The twins were a combined minus-13 in the playoff against Anaheim in 2007.

"You're always going to be judged by what you did the last time out. The last time we were disappointed with the way we played. We weren't very good. We're a lot better than we were two years ago. We're two years older and two years more mature," Daniel said yesterday.

Coach Alain Vigneault agrees.

"I don't think the twins should go into this series thinking about two years ago," he said. "I don't think the team should go into this thinking about two years ago or thinking about the Canucks of the past.

"We can't do anything about the past. What do you want us to do about 10, 15 or 30 years ago? You can bring it up as much as you want, but we've turned the page."

Right then.

Might as well plan that parade route.

Sundin to savour every shift

The Canadian Press

April 14, 2009 at 6:26 PM EDT

VANCOUVER — Mats Sundin says he'll cherish every shift in the Stanley Cup playoffs as the clock ticks louder on

his Hall of Fame career.

How many shifts that will involve first depends on how his Vancouver Canucks fare in an opening round best-of-

seven series against the St. Louis Blues, which begins Wednesday at GM Place.

"I don't have too many chances left (and) whether I play next year or not I am definitely at the end of my career," the

38-year-old Sundin said Tuesday on the eve of his 84th playoff game.

"I think when you get to my age, it feels very fortunate to be part of it and you cherish every time you get on the ice

and get a chance to compete."

Sundin has competed for the Stanley Cup in nine playoff seasons, eight with the Toronto Maple Leafs, whom he led

to two Eastern Conference finals.

But hockey's holy grail has eluded the big Swede who has three world championships and a gold medal from the

2006 Turin Olympics on his resume.

"Being able to play in this league for 17 years and compete at the highest level internationally and in the NHL, I've

been very fortunate with the career I've had," Sundin said. "Saying that, the dream that keeps inspiring you to come

down and work out and practise every day is a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. For sure, it's a big carrot."

General manager Mike Gillis began courting the six-foot-five, 231-pound veteran with the Leafs' career scoring

record of 555 goals and 1,321 points by offering a two-year, US$20-million deal last July.

Sundin wavered for months, first on whether he wanted to play again and second on which team he would join.

He eventually signed a pro-rated deal for about US$5 million on Dec. 18 and recorded nine goals and 28 points in

41 games. Two of those goals came on the road against the Blues, who will also face the Canucks in Vancouver on

Friday before the series shifts to St. Louis for Games 3 and 4 on Sunday and Tuesday.

Playing on the second line with Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra, the other elder statesman with 77 playoff games,

Sundin has averaged nearly 17 minutes of ice time per game.

While there have been suggestions he has lost a step, Sundin has been effective on the power play, with five goals

and pin-point passes that led to others, as well as winning key faceoffs.

His big body can also protect the puck near the opposition goal.

While Sundin's production hasn't matched his career point-a-game average and he didn't score in the final 13

regular-season games, he did pick up eight assists in that span.

"He's good down low, he hangs on to (the puck) and it creates more room for me," said Kesler who scored a career-

high 26 goals. "He's been a leader in this dressing room since he got here and he continues to grow in that aspect."

Kesler said their line has played well and its role will be making the Blues focus less on the top unit of Alex

Burrows and twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

"There's room for improvement still but we're going to try to be that secondary scoring to take the pressure off Hank

and Danny, make St. Louis worry about us a little bit," he said.

Coach Alain Vigneault agreed Sundin's post-season experience is important to his club.

"We're going to need his presence on the ice, his presence in the dressing room," Vigneault said.

Vigneault also said Sundin should be hungry after not appearing in the playoffs since 2004.

"He's right, I am," Sundin said after a practice that focused on special teams and set plays. "You play a whole season

to get to a point where every game is so important.

"The thing that comes out in the playoffs is that everything magnifies, the intensity goes up, there's more value in

each shift.

"I hope that's going to help me prepare."

Notes: Canucks defenceman Willie Mitchell was back at practice after taking Monday off for what Vigneault

described as a maintenance day ... Burrows led all scorers in the four regular-season games between the two clubs

with four goals.

Spotlight on Luongo as series opens Wednesday, April 15, 2009

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - The Vancouver Canucks needed a record-setting run to fight back from a January slump and clinch the Northwest Division in their final game of the season. So what was their reward for erasing a 13-point gap and passing Calgary to claim the third playoff seed? A first-round series against the St. Louis Blues, the only team with a better record than

Vancouver in the Western Conference over the second half of the regular season. While the Canucks are 23-7-2 since February, the Blues went 25-9-7 the final 41 games, going from dead last in the west on Feb. 15 to the sixth seed with a 9-1-1 run to finish the season.

"Talk to guys who won the Stanley Cup and they'll tell you the first round is the toughest," Canucks

defenseman Willie Mitchell said. "That's why this is so special this time of year because every team that got to the dance is good, and it becomes a matter of the will to win, the desire to elevate your play to the next level. If you don't you're probably going home in four or five games." The Canucks can take comfort that they're opening the best-of-seven series Wednesday in Vancouver, where they are 13-1-1 since February, including a team-record 11 straight wins.

"It s a confidence thing too, going into the playoffs knowing we battled to win a tough division," Mitchell added. "The dial is reset come playoffs, but it gives you a little extra confidence." The Blues were saying similar things after ending their franchise's three-season playoff drought, but

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cautioned against putting too much emphasis on their late success.

"We don't want to start thinking we've been playing playoff games," forward Andy McDonald said. "We've been playing games we can't lose but I think the competition is going to get a lot harder."

While Vancouver's impressive second half coincided with the return of all-star goalie Roberto Luongo from a two-month absence due to a groin pull, the Blues had to overcome a long list of injuries - 461 man games in total - to key players. Top defensemen Erik Johnson and Eric Brewer remain out. "That's probably the best job a coaching staff has done this year bringing that team into the playoffs with the injuries they've had to key personnel," Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said.

St. Louis forward Paul Kariya had surgery on both hips after recording 15 points his first 11 games, but is now skating in Vail, Colo., and could be cleared to return later this week. "Paul is not here, he's not practicing with us, and until I see him on the ice with our team, he's not

part of the equation," Blues coach Andy Murray said, refusing to speculate on a possible return.

In his absence, the Blues rely on a mix of veterans like 37-year-old captain Keith Tkachuk, and talented young forwards like David Perron and David Backes, and rookies Patrik Berglund and T.J. Oshie, who are all under the age of 26 and among the Blues' top seven scorers. "It's good for a lot of our young guys who don t have playoff experience to come in and play that must-win type of hockey the last three months," Tkachuk said. "Obviously it's another level now. We

have a lot of guys that haven t played in playoffs yet, and that could be a scary good thing. The Canucks aren't exceptionally rich in playoff experience either. Veteran Mats Sundin, who signed as a free agent in mid-December, leads the team with 83 career playoff games, but hasn't been to the postseason in five years.

"This is why I played this year to get a chance to in the playoffs, there's not too many left," the 38-year-old Sundin said. "Good teams in the playoffs find a way to do what made them successful in the regular season, and do that when the intensity and the importance of the games goes up." Notes: The teams split the four-game regular season series, including a 6-4 victory for each before their second-half sprints, and one win apiece in the final month. ... Canucks LW Taylor Pyatt hasn't

rejoined the team since his fiancee, Carly Bragnalo, was killed in a car crash April 3 while vacationing with family in Jamaica. Bragnalo's funeral was Tuesday in Thunder Bay, Ontario. ... Canucks RW Mason Raymond is married to the daughter of Murray's cousin. "I always like it when Mason scores and we win, joked the Blues coach. The last time these teams met in the first round in 2003, the Blues built a 3-1 series lead before most of their top players got the flu, and they lost the series in seven games. There are as many current Canucks from left from that St. Louis team (Pavol Demitra and Ryan Johnson) as Blues (Keith Tkachuk and Barret Jackman).

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St. Louis Blues Clippings

Backes has blossomed into an impact player

Canucks offer for the solid forward was like trying to trade

a Volkswagen for a Porsche, writes Jim Jamieson

The Province

It's not hard to see why Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis targeted David Backes for restricted free agent offer

sheet last July 1.

Earlier in the first day of the free agency shopping period, Gillis had attempted to pry the 6-foot-3, 225 pound

forward away from the St. Louis Blues in a trade, but was rebuffed by team president John Davidson -- who made

the memorable comment: "The offer was like a Volkswagen for a Porsche."

The Canucks signed Backes to a three-year, $7.5 million deal, which St. Louis quickly matched.

If Gillis's information was that Backes -- who had 23 goals in a season and a half with the Blues -- was about to

blossom into an NHL impact player, it was right on.

Backes has indeed played very much like a Porsche this season for the Blues. He went from 13 goals to 31 goals and

54 points, second on the Blues in each category, while leading the team with 240 hits. He was moved to centre just

after Christmas although he'd played the wing most of his career. He's taken to it like a duck to water and anchors

the Blues top line between Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes.

Anyone who watched the Canucks games with the Blues this season knows that Backes is a force, but the rest of the

league noticed in a 5-4 victory St. Louis win at Detroit on April 2, when he scored four goals for his first NHL hat

trick.

"I'm glad Backes is playing for us and not for Vancouver," quipped St. Louis head coach Andy Murray. "He's had a

great year. He's a guy who'd never played centre before Christmas. I told him we needed a centre and we moved him

into that spot. He's very intelligent, physically strong. He plays hard."

Backes said he's looking forward to his first taste of the NHL playoffs.

"We've been playing desperate hockey for a couple of months here and we know we're going to have to step it up

another notch," said the 24-year-old Minneapolis native. "The Canucks are a great team. It's going to come down to

who works the hardest. We're going to bring our youthful energy and hopefully use that to our advantage."

The Blues' rash of injuries allowed Backes to take on a much bigger role with the team.

"It was getting a bit more responsibility and with that came more ice-time, which allows you to get into the game

more," he said. "Playing with Andy McDonald and Brad Boyes gives me a lot more room out there."

Backes said the initial switch to centre was a bit intimidating.

"It was kind of a baptism by fire, just getting thrown in there," he said. "The first couple of games I was at home and

they protected me pretty well as far as who I was matched against. I enjoy it. It's a lot less starting and stopping and

less grunt work along the wall but there's more responsibility in the D zone."

Blues veteran Keith Tkachuk said Backes has been St. Louis' best forward this season.

"He's been a horse out there playing centre," said Tkachuk. "He seems to get better each game. I don't think anybody

would have guessed he'd score 30 goals. He's definitely a guy who'll elevate his game in the playoffs He's go-to guy

for us."

Young guns need to fire

By Gordon Mcintyre, The ProvinceApril 15, 2009

The Blues have some great youngsters, including David Backes, who Mike Gilles tried to sign as an RFA last

summer, and David Perron, who the Canucks passed on to take Patrick White.

Lest his young playoff virgins start readjusting their helmets to accommodate swelling heads, however, Andy

Murray had some pointed criticism aimed their way.

"To be very honest with you, our young kids have to play better," he said. "I don't think our young kids have played

very well the last five games.

"They've played some great hockey games for us this year and there have been some high moments, but of late -- all

year, really -- it's been the play of our veterans that's made the difference."

That and Chris Mason starting to "give us some saves," the St. Louis coach said.

"Our young guys show some promise," he said.

"I'm like the rest of you, I'm excited to see how they're going to play."

Here's how the season series went:

- Jan. 9 at GM Place, L 6-4: Brad Boyes scores with 2:10 left and Mats Sundin in the penalty box.

- Feb. 10 at St. Louis, W 6-4: Sundin scores the first two. Alex Burrows joins the Sedin line.

- March 19 at GM Place, W 3-0: After being roasted for suspect puck-handling, Roberto Luongo gets his first

shutout in four months.

- March 26 at St. Louis, L 4-2: The Canucks give up two power-play goals, go 0-for-5 themselves and give up a

short-handed goal by Backes.

Oshie grew up in shadow of Canucks — but

was never a fan

By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun

The first things you need to know about St. Louis Blues’ rookie dynamo T.J. Oshie are those

initials.

What do they stand for? Tommy James? Terry Joseph? Tyler John?

“Actually it’s Timothy Jr.,” explained the 22-year-old, who was born in Mount Vernon, Wash.,

grew up in Everett and was not a Vancouver Canuck fan despite his Pacific Northwest roots.

“My dad’s first name is Timothy.”

Oshie will be front and centre tonight at GM Place when the Canucks and Blues open their first-

round playoff series at 7 p.m. He’ll start on a Kid Line with Patrik Berglund and David Perron

and attempt to make an impact the way he did March 26 against the Canucks. That night, he

scored a brilliant goal, added a shorthanded assist and was the best player on the ice.

It figures. As a kid, he skated against Vancouver-based teams on a routine basis.

“I played for Seattle Junior Hockey growing up and we played in the Canadian league for the

most part,” Oshie said. “There weren’t enough teams in Washington when I got to peewee and

bantam so we had to come up and play here.

“We went to Whistler and Burnaby every year for tournaments. But, no, I don’t know Vancouver

very well. I was just a little guy and I don’t remember too much of it, the town anyways.”

After Grade 9, Oshie moved to Warroad, Minn., to compete in that city’s superb high school

hockey program. (His uncle, former NHLer Henry Boucha, is from Warroad.)

He won the state championship his senior year — “triple overtime, biggest game I ever played

in” — then it was on to the University of North Dakota for three seasons where he was a

teammate of Chicago Blackhawk captain Jonathan Toews and New Jersey’s Travis Zajac.

Now he’s breaking new personal ground: the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“I’m open-minded and I’m excited to get out there and play,” Oshie said Tuesday. “Some of the

older guys gave us four or five points on what we should expect and what we need to do. It

actually got me a little nervous and I usually never get nervous at all, even for championship

games. When your teammates talk about their experiences, to be in this together and to go

through this together, the butterflies get going a little bit.”

The mop-haired Oshie was the Blues’ first pick in the 2005 entry draft. He made the jump from

North Dakota directly to the NHL and, according to veteran goalie Chris Mason, has fit in just

fine.

“I can’t say enough about what a special player he is,” Mason commented. “First of all, he’s a

really good kid, which is probably the first thing you look for. And he’s one of the most exciting

players, I think, in the league right now, especially on our team.

“You’re in awe sometimes watching him knowing that this is just his first year. His vision and

the things he can do on the ice are amazing.”

Mason comes through for Blues

MATTHEW SEKERES

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

April 15, 2009 at 12:07 AM EDT

VANCOUVER — The defining moment of the St. Louis Blues' remarkable season came on Feb. 2 when Chris

Mason replaced Manny Legace as the starting goaltender.

With Legace dispatched to the minors, Mason started 34 successive games and the Blues became one of the hottest

teams in the NHL, qualifying for their first postseason in five years. Many have fingered Mason, 33 on Monday, as

one of the catalysts, but ask the journeyman goaltender for the defining moment of his career, and no answer is

forthcoming.

There have been so many moments, with so many teams, and so many times when it looked as though the dream

was over.

"It's been an ongoing mentality to never give up and never buy into self-pity," Mason said as the Blues prepared for

Game 1 of their best-of-seven playoff series against Vancouver tonight. "I just never felt sorry for myself."

Rewind to the mid-1990s, when the native of Red Deer, Alta., was playing in the Western Hockey League for the

Prince George Cougars. He suffered through four consecutive losing seasons, posting a career record of 44-95-6.

"We played 12 games a year against Kamloops, and they had Jarome Iginla, Darcy Tucker, Hnat Domenichelli and

Shane Doan," Mason explained. "That helped me."

In 1995, the New Jersey Devils drafted Mason in the fifth round, but he wound up signing with the Anaheim Ducks

two years later. After one year in the AHL, Mason signed with the Nashville Predators, and played three regular-

season games, suggesting his rise to the NHL might be quick.

Not so.

In the next four years, Mason played just one NHL game, and he shuttled from Nashville to Florida and back to

Nashville. The Predators dispatched him in favour of goalie Jan Lasak, a second-round pick who played just six

NHL games. But Nashville picked up Mason again in the 2003 waiver draft.

"When you're around Chris, you understand how hard he works," Predators general manager David Poile said

yesterday. "You're on Chris's side all the time."

Mason's emergence and St. Louis's scorching second half might have cost the Predators a playoff berth, but Poile

said he is still rooting for the goaltender based on their personal history. Given Mason's excruciating climb to the

NHL, you can bet there are others.

"I played six years in the minors," Mason said. "I was never a high draft pick or a top prospect, so I knew going into

my professional career that my road was going to be longer … but I'm proud of my road, and I wouldn't want it any

other way."

In 2003-04, Mason became the backup in Nashville and played 17 games. But when NHL players were locked out

by owners before the following season, Mason got a call from then teammate Scott Hartnell and headed for Norway

to play with a team that promised him his release should the NHL season resume.

Upon his return to North America, Mason spent another season caddying for Tomas Vokoun of the Predators. He

split time with Vokoun the next year, and became Nashville's postseason starter only when Vokoun was injured.

The Predators lost in five games, but Mason showed enough that he became a part-time starter over the next two

seasons, splitting time with Vokoun and, last season, with Dan Ellis. The Predators made the playoffs both those

times, but Mason didn't play a minute.

"Last year, Ellis just played better than me," he said.

In June, Mason was acquired by the Blues for a fourth-round pick in the draft, yet despite a $3-million (U.S.) salary,

he began the season backing up Legace. Yesterday, when St. Louis head coach Andy Murray was asked about his

team's season, he said that the first half was defined by hard work and good structure by his skaters.

"But we weren't getting the saves," Murray said. "And as you know in this market, you need goaltending."

Indeed. The starkest contrast in this first-round series is between Mason and Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo.

Luongo is a first-round selection, an all-star, and a candidate for the 2010 Canadian Olympic team. Mason is only

now, nearly 14 years after he was drafted, a bona fide NHL starter.

"It's the best feeling in the world," Mason said. "All those years in the minors, it feels like it's all paid off and that it

was all meant to be. There's not a day that I don't appreciate being in this league."

St. Louis Blues: Five to Watch

Chris Mason The 32-year-old journeyman goaltender has started 38 consecutive games and posted a 21-8-6 record,

with four shutouts, since the NHL all-star break. But he has struggled against the Canucks in his career. Mason is 1-

4-1 with a 3.19 goals-against average and an .892 save percentage. He is just 1-4 in the postseason.

Keith Tkachuk The Blues kept the veteran forward at the March 4 trade deadline and hoped to make a push. Nice

call. The 37-year-old, who can become a free agent this summer, has 13 points in 18 games since, including seven in

his past four games. Tkachuk also has 60 points in 61 career games against Vancouver, but just 56 points in 85

career playoff games.

T.J. Oshie One third of the Kid Line, this dynamic American forward had five points in four games against the

Canucks this season. He also had 15 shots on Vancouver goaltenders, his most against any team. Oshie has 34 points

in 42 games since Jan. 1.

David Perron The other Kid Line winger, Perron had three points in four games against Vancouver this year.

Canucks fans also rue the draft day when Perron got away. He was taken 27th overall in 2007, two picks after the

Canucks drafted University of Minnesota centre Patrick White, who is a fledgling prospect, at best.

The injury list Winger Paul Kariya and defencemen Eric Brewer and Erik Johnson. Remarkably, St. Louis qualified

for the playoffs despite just 39 combined games from this injured trio. Johnson, the first pick in the 2006 draft, didn't

play a game (knee) and Brewer, the Blues captain, had December surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.

Kariya, who had surgery on both hips, could be cleared to play later this week.

Vancouver Canucks: Five to Watch

Forward Ryan Kesler

The team's MVP was one of 12 players who had career seasons scoring-wise. Kesler played just one playoff game

two years ago, succumbing to a broken finger in Vancouver's postseason opener. In this series, he is expected to

produce points and check some of St. Louis's top players.

Forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin

Vancouver's top point producers have a nasty playoff reputation they'd like to lose. But the Sedin twins are also

playing the best hockey of their careers, and they're playing for rich contracts this summer. They should be

motivated.

Forward Alex Burrows

The Canucks most exciting (and irritable) player is also a key contributor. His 28 goals were second best on the

team, and he is a dangerous penalty killer who has scored four shorthanded goals. Even if he is not scoring, Burrows

finds ways to be effective.

Forward Mats Sundin

In perhaps his last kick at the Stanley Cup can, the 38-year-old will play a support role to the Sedins. Sundin is no

longer a point-per-game player, and he can be a liability defensively, but he is still a dangerous puck-possession man

in the offensive zone, and he still has that heavy, accurate shot.

Goaltender Roberto Luongo

Luongo enters his second postseason scorching hot. He is coming off consecutive shutouts, and has allowed just one

goal in his last three games. Because the Canucks are a better offensive unit this season, Luongo doesn't have to be

the game-saving force he was two years ago.

SEASON SERIES

The Vancouver Canucks went 2-2 against the St. Louis Blues this NHL season. Here's a closer look at those games:

Jan. 9, at Vancouver

Blues 6, Canucks 4

The defeat triggers an eight-game losing skid, and one of the worst months in Canucks history (2-4-5). Mats Sundin

plays his first game at GM Place, but wears the goat horns. He is in the penalty box when the Blues tally the winning

goal. St. Louis scores twice in the final 2 minutes 10 seconds to win.

Feb. 10, at St. Louis

Canucks 6, Blues 4

Sundin gets some revenge with his only two-goal game of the season. The Canucks erase two separate two-goal

disadvantages, and score four times in the third period. St. Louis centre Andy McDonald returns from a 36-game

absence (broken ankle) and has a goal and an assist.

March 19, at Vancouver

Canucks 3, Blues 0

The Canucks win their fourth consecutive game as Roberto Luongo records his first shutout in four months. The

Blues fall to 12th place in the Western Conference, four points out of a playoff position. Vancouver improves to

fourth in the West, and declares itself a contender for the Northwest Division title.

March 26, at St. Louis

Blues 4, Canucks 2

The Blues score three times on special teams (once short-handed) and move to five games above .500 for the first

time in 2008-09. Vancouver squanders an opportunity to move within a point of the Calgary Flames in the

Northwest. Blues goalie Chris Mason wins for the first time in eight career appearances against the Canucks.

Future looks bright for Blues Youth serves up post-season party By STEVE MACFARLANE, SUN MEDIA

One of the most exciting aspects of the St. Louis Blues' amazing finish to put them into the post-season is the idea it is likely to happen again and again in the coming years.

They've made the charge without sacrificing any of their young players to make it happen.

mailto:[email protected]

Most deserving of the credit, in fact, are those youngsters.

Kids like T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, David Backes, and David Perron give the Blues a bright future.

Prospects for the next few weeks are pretty positive, as well.

The Blues could surprise their first-round foe, although no one should take them lightly after the way they charged into the playoffs.

"We've sold the same message every day, and the players have gone out and played hard every single day as well," Blues coach Andy Murray said recently. "On one hand, I can count how many games our team didn't play hard this year."

Sitting last in the Western Conference at the all-star break, the Blues made their way up seven spots with a lunch-pail personality the Calgary Flames showed in 2004 when they made a run to the Stanley Cup final.

It's not a mentality you're used to seeing from rookies like Oshie (22), and Berglund (20), or youngsters like Backes (24), and Perron (20).

Maybe veterans like defenceman Jay McKee and winger Dan Hinote rubbed off on the kids.

"Road or home, we know the kind of effort we have to put out there," Hinote told reporters last week. "We'll show up every night and work hard, and hopefully the outcome goes our way. That's the kind of thing we pride ourselves on."

Their skill doesn't take a backseat to the efforts, however.

Oshie owns the title of NHL.com's Goal of the Year for his individual effort against the Vancouver Canucks March 26. He's also made the YouTube generation's favourites for a couple of heavy hits he's laid on division rival Rick Nash this season.

Oshie and linemates Berglund and Perron often appear to be the team's top line, although veteran Keith Tkachuk, leading goal scorer Brad Boyes and Backes hold that title on paper.

And who knows what kind of boost the team could get from winger Paul Kariya if he is cleared from a pair of hip surgeries that kept him out of most of the regular season?

Between the pipes, Chris Mason stole the top job from Manny Legace mid-season, and Legace was demoted to the American Hockey League as a result.

A move like that could have crushed the team's spirit, but they responded as if all their jobs depended on making the playoffs.

"Maybe I put the fear of God into them," Legace told The Hockey News near the end of the regular season. "You know, 'Anybody could be sent down' -- because they've been playing phenomenal ever since.

"I've watched their games and thought, 'Why didn't they play like that when I was there?' "

They're playing that way now -- and that makes them dangerous

St Louis Blues

St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray brings same approach to every game

By DAN O’NEILL POST-DISPATCH GOLF COLUMNIST

Wednesday, Apr. 15 2009

Last year at this time, the Blues sputtered to the finish line of the NHL‟s regular season, winning just five of their last 23 games, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive time and finishing two points worse than a season before. The “Whatever It Takes” marketing slogan inspired an obvious punchline:

“It Takes A Miracle.”

As frustration seeped through the cracks of the Blues‟ youth movement, coach Andy Murray was the man in the middle. Rumors floated he had lost the locker room, suggestions were made his meticulous style came with a short shelf life and his time in St. Louis was not long if the team started poorly in 2008-09.

Twelve months later, the landscape is completely different. The Blues finished the 2008-09 regular schedule the way Usain Bolt finishes an Olympic sprint, bursting from the back of the pack to snatch sixth place in the Western Conference, using a 25-9-7 second-half surge to crash the playoff party. “Whatever It Takes” has become “Take No Prisoners.”

Again, Murray is the man in the middle, a bona fide coach of the year candidate, the toast of the St. Louis hockey set. The situation is night and day and yet, as far as the Blues coach is concerned, the situation is the same as it ever was.

“To me, when you win, and guys ask me questions, I‟ll say, „Just go to the book on winning,‟ “ Murray said. “And everything will be in there - the chemistry was great, the players liked each other, they respected the coach, the coach was a great communicator, great game plan.

“And then if you don‟t win, just go to the book on losing. It‟ll all be there - the coach doesn‟t communicate, he‟s too hard on them, he‟s too soft on them and all those different things. To me, you just do what you do and you do it the same all the time. I feel I‟ve coached exactly the same this year as I have always coached.”

He is still coaching. The Blues will open their first playoff series since 2004 when they face the Canucks in Vancouver tonight. While the team‟s dramatic postseason push has put fresh new paint on Murray‟s coaching bio, the playoffs represent a whole new project.

Joel Quenneville is the most successful coach in Blues history by a wide margin. During six full seasons in St. Louis, from 1997-98 to 2002-03, Quenneville‟s Blues averaged more than 43 wins and in 1999-2000 won the President‟s Trophy with the NHL‟s best regular-season record. But Quenneville came under considerable criticism for his lack of playoff success.

That 1999-2000 bell ringer was eliminated in the first round. The Blues only once made it as far as three rounds during Quenneville‟s tenure, losing in five games to Colorado in the 2001 conference finals.

On many levels it is ludicrous to hold a coach responsible for a team‟s playoff success. Many variables come into play, including health, roster depth and caliber of opposition. But in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of coaching, the postseason can puncture or punctuate a regular-season résumé.

To start, coaching against one opponent and one set of players for several games in succession offers both advantages and challenges.

“If you‟re a team that doesn‟t necessarily prepare a ton for each individual team, then that‟s something that is different,” said Blues forward Dan Hinote, a Stanley Cup winner with Colorado in 2000-2001 and a veteran of 69 playoff games. “On this team, we are very well prepared for each team we play against. We know a lot of the ins and a lot of the outs. So there may not be a lot of change here because of that.

“The one thing you can always count on is that your coach has to be a rock for your guys. When the roller coaster goes up and down, you don‟t want a guy that is riding that roller coaster. You want somebody you can look to and say, „OK, everything is all right.‟ “

Murray has coached in playoff situations on all levels, from international tournaments, to college hockey to minor leagues and major leagues. He was coach of the American Hockey League Hershey Bears when they won a championship in 1988. He was an assistant coach with Minnesota when the North Stars went to the Stanley Cup finals in 1990-91.

During his seven seasons in Los Angeles, his teams made the playoffs three times, never advancing farther than the second round. But his postseason experience includes some spectacular moments. After the 2000-01 season, his No. 8 seeded Kings were down 2-1 in a series with No. 1 seeded Detroit, and losing 3-0 with six minutes remaining in Game 4.

Los Angeles scored three times in the waning moments to tie it in regulation and won in overtime. The Comeback Kids went on to upset the powerful Red Wings in seven games and force eventual Stanley Cup winning Colorado to seven games before losing in the conference semifinals. Murray immediately recognizes a similarity between that team and his current Blues.

“We‟re playing well,” Murray said. “We were playing very well at the end of the year that season. If you‟re a low seed and you‟re just scraping your way in and not really deserving, I don‟t think it‟s a good way to go in.”

The Blues had scouts following each potential playoff foe in the final stages of the regular season and Murray has extensive video and statistical data on opponents, including the Canucks. He is not big on abstract ideas, things like confidence, momentum or pressure. His energy will be intense. His planning will be precise, his information will be to the point.

Officially, the Blues see their first playoff action in four seasons tonight. Unofficially, they have been experiencing playoff games for some time. If the environment has changed, the message has not.

“With our group here, I think they feel that way,” Murray said. “Part of it is because of what our record has been the second half of the season. For us, the message will be the same, and it‟s been the same one as it‟s been since training camp. We‟ll just approach every playoff game like the next game we play. We‟ll just do what we normally do for a game. It would be wrong of us to change the routine now.”

No matter what happens in the playoffs, Murray will be credited with bringing the Blues back to the table, overcoming a series of potentially crippling injuries to persevere. He did not agree with the criticism last April, but he didn‟t take it personally.

When he coached Shattuck-St. Mary‟s prep school to a Midget Triple A USA Hockey national title in 1999, he asked his kids to play like NHL players. When he talks to his team before they face the Canucks, he will ask NHL players to play with the energy and passion of prep school kids.

“I am what I am as a coach,” Murray said. “To me, you don‟t coach any differently. You just try to eliminate the excuses.”

For more information, pull out the book on winning.

St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED 04.15.2009

483315 St Louis Blues

Young Blues get sip of Cup vibe

By Jeremy Rutherford ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH


VANCOUVER, BRITISH

COLUMBIA - In a sport where meetings can be frequent and repetitive, a gathering of Blues players Monday night in Vancouver was meant to be informative and inspirational.

Stanley Cup champions Andy McDonald and Dan Hinote, along with Keith Tkachuk and Jay McKee, were granted the floor and given the responsibility of prepping a young team for its first NHL playoff experience.

“The intensity is going to go up a lot,” said McDonald, who won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007. “We don‟t want them to think that we‟ve been playing playoff games (the past couple of months). We‟ve been playing games that we can‟t lose, but I think the competition is going to get a lot harder and certainly we want to be prepared for that.”

When the Blues meet Vancouver in Game 1 tonight of their first-round playoff series, only eight players in the Blues‟ lineup will bring postseason experience to the ice, compared to 16 for the Canucks. Aware of that discrepancy, veterans hoped that by re-telling their personal experiences, the Baby Blues could get past their nerves.

“Well, they were listening,” said McKee, who has 51 games of playoff experience with Buffalo, which lost to Dallas in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. “There‟s not a ton of experience in this room playoff-wise. But some real good things were said by guys that have won. You really have to live the experience to know what it‟s like. But I think guys were pretty receptive and just took it in.”

McDonald said that he talked to the players about controlling themselves.

“We just want to teach them to manage their emotions a little bit,” he said. “There‟s going to be some bumps along the way ... just kind of keep an even-keel. Make them realize that if they have a bad shift, or something happens, that they quickly forget about it and be ready for the next shift. So much about playoffs is momentum and you can‟t let negative things that happen on the ice affect you.”

Tkachuk said that he was careful in how much information he tried to convey.

“You want to try to help them out as much as possible, but not overdo it,” Tkachuk said. “These guys gave us a chance to get into 6th place. You don‟t want to tell them too much.”

Despite the best efforts of the veterans, Blues rookie T.J. Oshie admitted that the conversation “got me a little nervous.”

“I usually never get nervous at all, even in the championship games that I‟ve played in the past,” Oshie said. “But when your teammates talk about their experiences ... the butterflies get going a little bit.

“But one thing that really stuck out is playing for each other, playing for the guy next to you. I think we‟ve been doing that for a long time now. But we haven‟t been able to go back and reflect on it. Now that you look at back it, you realize what you have to do in the playoffs.”

While Oshie, 22, fellow rookie Patrik Berglund, 20, and second-year forward David Perron, 20, are the youngest Blues, they aren‟t the only ones without playoff experience. There‟s a long list of others that includes Brad Boyes, who will turn 27 Friday, Jay McClement, 26, and David Backes, 24, who haven‟t appeared in the postseason as well.

Backes, though, doesn‟t look at it as a disadvantage.

“We‟re fresh, we‟re ignorant and we‟re expecting it to be as hard as it can be,” Backes said. “It‟s going to be physical, it‟s going to be seven games against the same opponent. You‟re going to learn to hate everyone on the other team. We‟re willing to give a good effort every night.”

That‟s an important attitude to have, McKee said, because these young Blues don‟t know when their next tickets to the playoffs will come.

“It was „99 playoffs when I went to the finals in Buffalo ... I was 21 at the time,” McKee said. “After that experience, I just kind of felt like, „Hey, it‟s going to happen again next year and the year after. We‟ve got this team here and it will be here forever.‟

“It‟s not like that. I‟m 31 now and I haven‟t been back to the Stanley Cup Finals. The main point was, don‟t take anything for granted. This is a real tight bunch in this room and it doesn‟t happen every year. We‟re here right now, so let‟s try and make it happen right now.”

Blues coach Andy Murray, who planned Monday night‟s meeting but had little to do with it otherwise, said on Tuesday: “What we‟ve told our players is, „This might be our best chance to win the Stanley Cup. It‟s an open field right now ... this might be our best chance. Who knows?‟

“It‟s been our veteran players that have made the difference all season. Our young guys have shown some promise ... but I‟m like the rest of you, I‟m excited to see them play.”

Added Tkachuk: “It‟s going to be exciting to get those young legs going in the playoffs.”



Blues-Vancouver matchup

By Jeremy Rutherford

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH


Head-to-head - Series split 2-2

Jan. 9 - Blues 6, Canucks 4

Feb. 10 - Canucks 6, Blues 4

March 19 - Canucks 3, Blues 0

March 26 - Blues 4, Canucks 2

Scoring

Blues - 2.77 goals per game. Ranks 19th in NHL

Canucks - 2.96 goals per game. Ranks 11th in NHL

Head-to-head - Vancouver has outscored the Blues 15-14 in the four games they‟ve played this season. Alex Burrows leads the Canucks with three goals, while Jannik Hansen and Mats Sundin have two apiece. For the Blues, David Backes, T.J. Oshie, Brad Boyes and Andy McDonald have each netted two goals against the Canucks.

Goaltending - Blues‟ Chris Mason vs. Canucks‟ Roberto Luongo

Mason - 2.41 goals-against average. Ranks No. 9 in NHL

Luongo - 2.34 goal-against average. Ranks No. 5 in NHL

Head-to-head - Mason, who did not play in the Blues‟ first game against Vancouver, has a record of 1-2 with a 3.44 goals-against average and an .863 save-percentage against the Canucks this season. Luongo, who also missed the teams‟ first meeting, is 2-1 with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .911 save-percentage.

Blues‟ power-play vs. Canucks‟ penalty-kill

Blues PP - 20.5 percent. Ranks No. 8 in NHL

Canucks PK - 81.4 percent. Ranks No. 16 in NHL

Head-to-head - The Blues‟ power-play unit is five for 25 against the Canucks this season. Boyes has two power-play goals for the Blues, who have scored at least one power-play goal in three of the four games. In the Blues‟ 3-0 loss to the Canucks on March 19, the club was 0 for 5 on the power play.

Canucks‟ power-play vs. Blues‟ penalty-kill

Canucks‟ PP - 18.8 percent. Ranks No. 17 in NHL

Blues‟ PK - 83.8 percent. Ranks No. 3 in NHL

Head-to-head - The Canucks‟ power-play unit is three for 14 against the Blues this season. Mats Sundin, Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler each have goals. In the first two games of the season series, the Canucks were three for seven on the power play. In the last two games, they were 0 for 7 with the man-advantage.



Blues NOtebook

The doors of the Blues‟ locker room at GM Place in Vancouver burst open Tuesday, and dressed in full gear, the players emerged ready for practice.

But they weren‟t practicing at GM Place, which is where tonight‟s Game 1 of the Blues‟ first-round series against the Canucks will be played.

Instead the team ducked out a back exit, loaded up a bus and drove 20 minutes to the University of British Columbia for practice.

“It wasn‟t any real thing of genius or trying to trick anybody,” Blues coach Andy Murray said. “I just felt being in the same place for five days ... we haven‟t been in that mode. We thought it would be kind of neat to go over there and practice. Just the drive out there, the guys were captivated, looking at the mountains and the ocean. Just a change of venue was good for us.” There are other motives as well, such as not allowing Vancouver to scout the Blues‟ practice. That wasn‟t the case, though, as the Canucks sent someone to UBC to watch the Blues work out.

Blues forward Paul Kariya was not at the rink. His pending return from an injured hip led some to believe he might have been the reason the team chose to practice elsewhere. But that turned out not to be true, as Kariya spent the day in Vail, Colo., continuing his rehab.

“When he‟s 100 percent, he‟ll be here ... not before then,” Blues President John Davidson said.

When the Blues returned to GM Place, the media jokingly asked if Murray had installed a few new plays. “Maybe a couple,” Murray responded.

Davidson stressed that the Blues didn‟t commit a foul by changing its practice site. “There‟s rules that the NHL puts into place and we‟re staying within the rules,” Davidson said. “No issues at all.”

PRESSURE ON SEDINS

In a combined 1,288 games in the NHL regular season, Vancouver brothers Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin have totaled 922 points together. But in the 86 combined playoff games for the pair, they have 38 points.

“We don‟t listen to what people say, we will try and go out there and play the way we‟ve always played,” Daniel Sedin said.

“We can‟t panic. We have played our best hockey the last month-and-a-half and we‟re going to try and do the same thing (in the playoffs).”



Quenneville gives Blackhawks steady hand on the bench

By CHRIS KUC

As Dale Tallon sat at the podium on Oct. 16 explaining why he was replacing Denis Savard with Joel Quenneville as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, the general manager spoke of the need for an experienced hand guiding the young team.

That move, as controversial as it was just four games into the season, turned out to be a successful one as Quenneville has guided the Blackhawks into the postseason for the first time since 2002.

With just 10 players on the roster with NHL playoff experience, Quenneville‟s history becomes even more valuable as the Hawks prepare for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at the United Center.

Quenneville—who coached the St. Louis Blues from 1997 to 2004 -- has a 483-307-127 record in regular-season games spanning 11 seasons. He has a 42-45 mark in nine career postseason appearances.

“Any experience he‟s gained in the past is going to be great for us to learn from,” said winger Andrew Ladd, one of three Hawks who have won Stanley Cup championships (Carolina in 2006). “He knows what it takes to get there and what needs to be done. It‟s going to be good for us in terms of him laying out the plan and us executing it.”

Quenneville-coached teams have reached at least the second round six times, and the 37th head coach in Hawks history was an assistant coach with the 1996 Colorado Avalanche, which won the Stanley Cup.

“(Quenneville has) been good for us all year,” defenseman Duncan Keith said. “He‟s brought an even-keel attitude, a lot of consistency to our team and a lot of structure. If we continue to listen to what he says and what all the coaches have been talking about, it‟s only going to help us.

“Being so young we don‟t think a whole lot about what‟s really going on. We‟re just playing to win and he definitely brings a lot of experience for us and knows what to expect and what‟s ahead.”

After the rigors of the regular season, Quenneville relishes the opportunity to coach a team playing for a championship and the unique set of challenges that come along with it.

“It‟s always a fun and exciting time of the year,” Quenneville said. “Going into it, once you identify the competition and scheduling, the preparation is fun. The adjustments in the course of games and in between games is equally challenging and enjoyable.”

A former Jack Adams Trophy winner as the NHL‟s top coach in 1999-2000 with St. Louis, Quenneville began the season as a pro scout but was selected by the Hawks‟ hierarchy to replace Savard, who got the team to within three points of a playoff berth last season, his first full campaign as an NHL coach.

“(Quenneville‟s) been good for us in terms of the way we prepare for games and what we need to do to be successful,” Ladd said. “He‟s definitely emotional on the bench, but there‟s still composure there. He sets out exactly what we need to do and prepares us well.”

Belleville News-Democrat LOADED 04.15.2009


Blues not surprised to be underdogs vs. Canucks

By NORM SANDERS News-Democrat

Counted out of the NHL playoffs right up until they clinched a postseason berth last Friday, the St. Louis Blues aren‟t surprised to find themselves underdogs in a first-round series against the Vancouver Canucks.

“It can‟t be any tougher than what it was over the last two months,” said Blues President John Davidson, whose team still resided on the lowest rung of the Western Conference ladder in mid-February. “There were a lot of very tense moments and I don‟t see it being any worse. I don‟t think there‟s any pressure on our team here, the pressure‟s on them.

“They‟re the favorites. We want to go out and play.”

Blues coach Andy Murray says he doesn‟t believe in momentum. Don‟t even broach the subject of team chemistry with him.

But how else do you explain the Blues‟ 9-1-1 path of destruction through the final 11 regular-season games? The NHL-best 25-9-7 record since Jan. 3 that brought them from 15th place to sixth?

“We don‟t want to start thinking we‟ve been playing playoff games,” Blues forward Andy McDonald told the Associated Press. “We‟ve been playing games we can‟t lose but I think the competition is going to get a lot harder.”

Even the Canucks—who were a red-hot 23-7-2 after losing eight in a row in January—have to be wondering a little bit about the Blues and their superlative second-half surge.

“I think the guys know we really accomplished something special this season,” Blues defenseman Jay McKee said. “I think everybody counted us out from day one and it‟s a special feeling in this room.

“We‟ve really done something amazing the last couple months and we want to carry that momentum into the playoffs, which is what we‟re going to do.”

One dramatic wildcard in the series is the large amount of players on both sides who will be embarking on their first NHL playoff voyage.

“It‟s good for a lot of our young guys who don‟t have playoff experience to come in and play that must-win type of hockey the last three months,” Blues center Keith Tkachuk told the AP. “Obviously it‟s another level now. We have a lot of guys that haven t played in playoffs yet, and that could be a scary good thing.”

Scary indeed.

Blues rookie T.J. Oshie victimized the Canucks and all-world goaltender Roberto Luongo for a dazzling goal March 26 that NHL fans voted for as the league‟s “Goal of the Year.”

Blues rookie Patrik Berglund was scoreless in his final six games, but had six points in four games against the Canucks this season.

The Blues are extremely young, with four of their top six scorers under 26. Berglund and second-year winger David Perron are 20.

Oshie played in the NCAA Frozen Four as a star at North Dakota and Berglund has played for Sweden at the World Junior Championships.

But those aren‟t the NHL playoffs, where legends are made and mistakes aren‟t soon forgotten.

“They have no idea what they‟re going to see,” Tkachuk said. “The majority of the guys in this locker room haven‟t even seen the playoffs yet and it‟s a whole different atmosphere.

“It‟s a whole different ballgame. There‟s a lot of bumps and bruises every game and you‟ve got to fight through it.”

Tkachuk and defenseman Barret Jackman are the lone holdovers from the a 2003 playoff matchup against Vancouver.

The Blues couldn‟t close out a 3-1 lead and dropped the series in seven games. They lost star defenseman Al MacInnis to a shoulder injury in a series that turned former Canucks star Todd Bertuzzi—whose hit injured MacInnis—into Public Enemy No. 1 in St. Louis.

Looking for enemies this time around? Start with the Canucks front office, which signed Blues forward David Backes to a three-year, $7.5 million offer sheet last summer that the Blues quickly matched.

The Blues never had any intention of letting Backes go, but he rewarded their faith with a monster 31-goal, 54-point season.

The Blues then made their own offer sheet to Canucks‟ forward Steve Bernier and it, too, was matched quickly.

Don‟t forget those pesky identical twins from Sweden, scoring leaders Daniel Sedin (31 goals, 82 points) and Daniel Sedin (22 goals, 82 points). They are Vancouver‟s top scorers and possess an elite ability to draw penalties, something the Blues would do well to avoid.

Ryan Kesler (26 goals, 59 points), former Blues star Pavol Demitra (20 goals, 53 points) and winger Alexandre Burrows (28 goals, 51 points) add scoring punch.

The Canucks have won both playoff series against the Blues, winning in seven games in 1995 and 2003.

Playoff intrigue

The Blues changed into their practice gear Tuesday at Vancouver‟s General Motors Place, the Canucks home arena. Then they boarded a bus to practice at the University of British Columbia, about 25 minutes away.

The Blues didn‟t have anything to hide, according to Davidson.

“We‟re not hiding anything,” he said. “You know our coaches, they like to move things around. It‟s 25 minutes from the other rink, we just wanted a different venue rather than being in the same rink for four days.

“We‟re just switching it around. It‟s no big deal.”

Davidson said there was no news regarding winger Paul Kariya, who hopes to be cleared for a return to the team following double hip surgery.

“When he gets to 100 percent, he‟ll call and we‟ll get him to our club,” Davidson said. “We haven‟t heard anything, we‟re waiting for him to be cleared.”



Canucks, Blues match to be fierce

Both teams need to gain a win

Associated Press

The Vancouver Canucks needed a record-setting run to fight back from a January slump and clinch the Northwest Division in their final game of the season.

So what was their reward for erasing a 13-point gap and passing Calgary to claim the third playoff seed? A first-round series against the St. Louis Blues, the only team with a better record than Vancouver in the Western Conference over the second half of the regular season.

While the Canucks are 23-7-2 since February, the Blues went 25-9-7 the final 41 games, going from dead last in the west on Feb. 15 to the sixth seed with a 9-1-1 run to finish the season.

“Talk to guys who won the Stanley Cup and they‟ll tell you the first round is the toughest,” Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell said. “That‟s why this is so special this time of year because every team that got to the dance is good, and it becomes a matter of the will to win, the desire to elevate your play to the next level. If you don‟t you‟re probably going home in four or five games.”

The Canucks can take comfort that they‟re opening the best-of-seven series today in Vancouver, where they are 13-1-1 since February, including a team-record 11 straight wins.

“It s a confidence thing too, going into the playoffs knowing we battled to win a tough division,” Mitchell added. “The dial is reset come playoffs, but it gives you a little extra confidence.”

While Vancouver‟s impressive second half coincided with the return of all-star goalie Roberto Luongo from a two-month absence due to a groin pull, the Blues had to overcome a long list of injuries -- 461 man games in total—to key players. Top defensemen Erik Johnson and Eric Brewer remain out.

“That‟s probably the best job a coaching staff has done this year bringing that team into the playoffs with the injuries they‟ve had to key personnel,” Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said.

Blues forward Paul Kariya had surgery on both hips after recording 15 points his first 11 games, but is now skating in Vail, Colo., and could be cleared to return later this week.

“Paul is not here, he‟s not practicing with us, and until I see him on the ice with our team, he‟s not part of the equation,” Blues coach Andy Murray said, refusing to speculate on a possible return.

The Canucks aren‟t exceptionally rich in playoff experience.

Veteran Mats Sundin, who signed as a free agent in mid-December, leads the team with 83 career playoff games, but hasn‟t been to the postseason in five years.

“This is why I played this year to get a chance to in the playoffs, there‟s not too many left,” the 38-year-old Sundin said. “Good teams in the playoffs find a way to do what made them successful in the regular season, and do that when the intensity and the importance of the games goes up.”

Notes: The teams split the four-game regular season series, including a 6-4 victory for each before their second-half sprints, and one win apiece in the final month. ... Canucks LW Taylor Pyatt hasn‟t rejoined the team since his fiancee, Carly Bragnalo, was killed in a car crash April 3 while vacationing with family in Jamaica. Bragnalo‟s funeral was Tuesday in Thunder Bay, Ontario. ... Canucks RW Mason Raymond is married to the daughter of Murray‟s cousin. “I always like it when Mason scores and we win,” joked the Blues coach. The last time these teams met in the first round in 2003, the Blues built a 3-1 series lead before most of their top players got the flu, and they lost the series in seven games. There are as many current Canucks from left from that St. Louis team (Pavol Demitra and Ryan Johnson) as Blues (Keith Tkachuk and Barret Jackman).



Net result: Mason solid as a rock

Blues goalie faces pressure with success

By NORM SANDERS ews-Democrat

Asked to choose a goaltender between Chris Mason of the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver‟s Roberto Luongo, many NHL fans would take Luongo without hesitation.

Who could blame them?

Luongo and the Canucks allowed only one goal over their final three regular-season games. The four-time all-star and Canucks captain had 46 saves in a 4-1 win over Calgary, then posted back-to-back shutouts against Los Angeles and Colorado.

He stopped 88 of 89 shots and hasn‟t allowed a goal in his last 145 minutes, 56 seconds. The Montreal native once stopped 72 of 76 shots in a 2007 playoff victory over Dallas and is 22-8-5 with four shutouts since returning from a groin injury in January.

However, Luongo hasn‟t been playing under pressure anywhere near as intense as that facing Blues goaltender Chris Mason.

For two months, the Blues have been facing “must-win” games, knowing that even a two-game losing streak might be the difference in making or missing the playoffs.

On many nights, Mason was the difference.

“I just really feel that our team is a true definition of the word „team,” Mason said. “We need everybody in our room. We are not going to blow our teams out of the water. All of our games are hard-fought and there‟s just no quitting.”

Mason wasn‟t even the starter until Feb. 6, when the Blues put former all-star Manny Legace on waivers before shipping him to the minors.

At the time, Mason—who was 3-13-1 earlier this season—was still a pedestrian 7-14-1. Who realized he would put together an amazingly confident run that included a 20-7-4 mark, 2.26 goals-against average and .917 save percentage?

The Blues are counting on a similar performance from Mason in the playoffs.

“He‟s in his early 30s, and he‟s mature enough to handle it,” Blues President John Davidson said. “He‟s been in the playoffs before and had to face the Detroit Red Wings with a very young team in Nashville.

“He knows he‟s in a pretty good groove, so all he has to do is maintain his focus.”

Mason was 9-1-1 in his final 10 games, backstopping the Blues into the pla

yoffs for the first time since 2004. He started the final 33 games and in his last 38 appearances is 24-8-6 with a 2.08 goals-against average, five shutouts and a .924 save percentage.

“The guy is such an honest athlete,” Davidson said. “He works hard and the thing I admire is he didn‟t quit on himself or his team when things weren‟t going well. He kept working.”

Much of that work took place with Blues goaltending coach Rick Wamsley, a longtime NHL netminder who knows a thing or two about postseason hockey.

“I think once those kind of things came,” Mason said, “they were starting to come natural, instead of having to really think about doing the different things and consciously changing, kind of one thing at a time.

“Once it all started to come together, it just was natural. It was just easier; instead of thinking about it, I would try to make my game a little more efficient.”

Davidson, another former Blues goalie, said Mason‟s improvement isn‟t as dramatic as everyone thinks. The Blues are scoring more goals for him, and Mason is making the big saves when necessary.

Mason is extremely popular among his teammates, a trait Davidson said the Blues‟ goalie shares with former NHL stars Grant Fuhr and Mike Richter.

“These are goaltenders that teammates wanted to play for, they‟re just good people,” Davidson said. “The players like to play for Chris, I‟ll tell you that. That‟s part of goaltending.”


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