2010 NHL Playoffs: Will the Vancouver Canucks Make a Splash?

The Vancouver Canucks have been the epitome of being consistently inconsistent or inconsistently consistent. Whether it's on the ice during the length, or a game, or on paper during the stretch of the season, this team has left us with question marks all over the place.

That is something that unfortunately won't change come postseason time regardless of how many times you rub your rabbit's foot.

The "Boys in Blue" are leading the league in comeback wins with 10, after pulling out a 6-4 win in Colorado on Monday. They posted three goals in the second, and three goals in the third.

As mentioned, it's clearly not the first time the team has not utilized the first 20 minutes and still pulled off a win, and it probably won't be the last.

That side note is all good, fine, and fun but when it comes to the postseason will they survive only playing two-thirds of the game(s)?

Most likely not, a perfect example of this was last year against Chicago in the Western semi-finals. They took off a period a game in most of their seven matches and on paper, the team also took the last half of the series off as well.

However, we'll come back to that among other points.

WHY THE CANUCKS WILL MAKE A SPLASH IN THE PLAYOFFS

Second Line Production

The team's problem dating back to the Naslund days was that only one line would show up. This not only happened in the season on most nights, but it was the team's constant kryptonite in the playoffs as well.

This problem has been remedied.

The team now has solid second line production and on some nights when lucky, the third and fourth lines get in on the mix as well.

Mikael Samuelsson is putting up career numbers in every point category. Currently, he sits 16th in the league in goals with 27 and thanks to his hat-trick on Monday night in Colorado, he has eclipsed his season high in points as well with 47.

He, along with Olympic scoring leader Pavol Demitra, NHL 2011 cover boy and silver medalist Ryan Kesler, are gradually gaining confidence to the likes of Mason Raymond will help the Canucks cause drastically.

Quarterback

For the first time since Ed Jovanovski in 2006, the Vancouver Canucks have a quarterback on the blue line—someone who can lead the defense offensively.

He can pass, he can shoot but above all he can score. His name is Christian Ehrhoff, and if you live in San Jose, you can probably still see his photo on milk cartons because the Vancouver Canucks stole him from the Sharks.

It was one of the most lopsided trades of the offseason and if you live on this side of the 49th, you get to watch the Canucks reap the benefits game in and game out. His confidence with the puck, quick thinking, and quick hands are one of the main reasons the Canucks will put more points on the board come playoff time.

Confidence

Never has this team had a goalie who we know can handle the pressure and play in the clutch. The 'Nucks net minder proved he has what it takes in February coming off the bench half way through the tourney to lead his team to Gold.

That kind of tenacity will payoff big time in the playoffs.

To add to that, Kesler helped lead his team to the Olympic silver medal.

Everyone says silver is the only medal you don't win, but if you look at where the USA were slated to finish according to most though, it was a big win. To add to that, Pavol Demitra was the tournament's leading scorer and he now has a chip on his shoulder.

Demitra did not get enough height on the puck in the dying seconds to tie Canada and force OT, so rest assured he wants redemption and a taste of glory.

WHY THE CANUCKS WON'T MAKE A SPLASH IN THE PLAYOFFS

Defensive Depth

General Manager Mike Gillis was not a winner on trade deadline day. The only players with big league experience he was able to acquire were Yan Stastny and Andrew Alberts.

Stastny isn't as much of a pressing issue because he will sit behind a few guys in the press box anyway. However, the acquisition of Alberts is something Gillis should not be proud of.

The Canucks were in dire need of a defenseman who could log big minutes if needed and who could handle the back end in case of injuries. They did not get that in Alberts.

He's big; he hits; he somewhat fights but he skates like he's in a school zone. For a stay at home defenseman isn't awful but in this day in age speed kills and with Aaron Rome, Willie Mitchell (eventually), Shane O'brien, and Alberts all on the depth chart, the Canucks blue line will not resemble the hare it will be rather reminiscent of the tortoise.

Size and Intimidation

For a team that is sixth in the league in fighting majors (53), you'd think they'd look mean.

Rick Rypien without question is one of the more underrated fly-middle weights in the league.

Tanner Glass likes to mix it up too but A) He's not the biggest guy and b) He won't scare anybody. Darcy Hordichuk is a moot point because he is usually tasting the appetizers in the press box and Willie Mitchell status is TBD for the post season.

That leaves four more big bodies in Andrew Alberts (6'5"), Steve Bernier (6'2"), Shane O'Brien (6'3") and Kevin Bieksa (6'1").

Alberts will scrap but his style is rather reminiscent to Jeff Cowan's old drop 'em and get dropped style.

Steve Bernier's decision to constantly keep the gloves on in confrontations is as frustrating as listening to Americans say eh?

Kevin Bieksa drops the mitts every now and then but more often than not prefers to stay out of trouble.

Finally, Shane O'Brien will drop the mitts and will put up a good tilt but his problem is that he and Rick Rypien (the team's two undisputed skilled scrappers) play third and fourth line minutes.

Confidence where it counts, IN NET

I know I said Roberto is confident but I also described the team as consistently inconsistent and vice versa, and by team I mean Roberto.

Who are we kidding? This team will never survive without a big performance between the pipes. Justice of that can be seen over the teams past 66 games.

When Roberto has a bad night, the Canucks have a bad night.

Also as mentioned, the team now has 10 come from behind wins.

If you look at each and every one of those games, more often than not it's not the players that are letting in the softies, it's the goalie. Then, when Bobby Lou turns it up in the later frames, so do the guys in front of him.

After the Olympics, Captain Lou proved that he can win when it counts. However, he also proved that softies are his weakness and when the going gets tough, Roberto gets going.

It's not a fine line in the least, its a gigantic freighter anchor chain of line between the two and the 'Nucks netminder needs to find his feet on the softies before his team has a chance of succeeding when it matters most.