On-Ice Crisis: Vancouver Canucks' Playoff Run Reaches Critical Juncture

If the Vancouver Canucks are really a Stanley Cup champion, they are now officially at the point where they'd better start showing it.

After their Game 3 drubbing at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night to fall behind 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinal best-of-seven series, the Canucks have hit the crisis point, as all of the elements that showed themselves in last year's second round match against the same Chicago team, are back.

Vancouver must now rally and show it is a true contender, or the Canucks will get dispatched from the playoffs the same way they did last year.

After eliminating the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, many Canucks fans were chanting, "We want Chicago!," in hopes that they would see revenge enacted.

The series started that way, as the Canucks took Game One with a convincing, 5-1 win, but now the tables have completely turned, with Chicago winning the last two and poised to sweep the Canucks out of the playoffs with two more wins.

So which elements from last year's exit have reared their ugly heads?

1. Dopey stretches of play.

This is probably the main reason why Chicago is now ahead in the series, but it was also present in the Los Angeles series, where the Kings were seemingly able to score at will on the power play.

For the first 70 minutes of the first two games against Chicago, the Canucks played like they had something to prove. Then for some reason (was it too easy, perhaps?), it was decided by the Canucks to take the foot off the gas pedal, and revert to that dopey, easy style in which they stop carrying the play to the opponent, and instead sit back and try to run out the clock. 

This, against a Chicago team known for its offense, and its ability to strike quickly and frequently. This, against a team that averaged nearly five goals a game against the Canucks in last year's playoff series.

This gave Chicago time to regroup, find themselves, and mount a comeback. The result: In the last two game, Chicago is averaging four goals per game. You can't win playoff series against elite teams that way. 

Against elite teams like Chicago, you keep the pressure on them for a full 60 minutes, like Vancouver did in Game One; not when they feel like doing it.

2. Roberto Luongo is now the second-best goalie.

If there was position Vancouver was to have an edge over Chicago, it was supposed to be in goal.

Last year, Luongo played poorly, giving up nearly five goals a game. If anything, this year the Canucks should have a bigger edge, because Luongo was now paired against the relevantly untried Antti Niemi.

But following that first 70 minutes, it is Niemi who is now making the big saves at the right times. The other thing that is noticeable, is that Niemi is not giving up rebounds, thus preventing the Canucks from getting second or third chances in front.

In contrast, Luongo has now surrendered four goals in each game, including an empty-netter in Game Two.

Especially in Game Three, Chicago scored every goal off rebounds.

In contrast to last year, when he played poorly, this time around, Luongo can point to a specific excuse, which is...

3. Vancouver's defense cannot stop Chicago from running its goalie.

The Blackhawk forwards, especially Dustin Byfuglien, are able to barge into the Vancouver crease with ease, and stay there without being dislodged.

This happened last year, and it was a known strategy before this series started.

In the first game, when the Blackhawks came out flat, Luongo scarcely saw a puck come his way.

In the next two games, however, all he has seen are Chicago jerseys, and when the Blackhawks are in front of him, he cannot control rebounds.

The Vancouver defensemen and forwards consistently can't move the Chicago players out of Luongo's line of vision. Still worse, the Vancouver players are being beaten to the rebounds, giving Chicago its second- and third-shot opportunities.

So far, in two playoff series against Chicago, Vancouver has shown no ability to counteract this strategy.

This could lead to the worst scenario of all, which is...

4. Chicago has learned how to beat Vancouver consistently in the playoffs.

There is nothing worse for a team than to have to play an opponent that, "has its number."

One team discovers a "formula" that consistently beats the same opponent again and again, and develops into a "hex."

Then it develops into a ridiculous situation, where no matter what the point gap of the regular season record, or what advantages in talent the losing team has, that team will always lose if they meet in the playoffs.

The loser's own arena becomes a home away from home for the winning team.  Certainly the celebrations of Dustin Byfuglien and other Blackhawks in Game Three demonstrate that they don't feel much dread coming to Vancouver, and they enjoy playing in its "hostile" environment.

How bad can this be?

In the NHL, the Boston Bruins once went over 40 years without beating Montreal in a playoff series.

This included the illustrious Orr-Esposito years when Montreal prevented Boston from becoming a dynasty.

There are probably less-celebrated streaks in the NHL, and there are lots of similar streaks in other sports.

So the Canucks are up against it now. There's no doubt they've hit the crisis point.

Vancouver wants to prove they are an elite team in the NHL, a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.

The team claims that they've learned from last year, that they are a different team, a better team that doesn't panic.

Next game, they had better prove that it's true.