Vancouver Canucks: What They Need to Change to Win the Cup This Season

To date, the Vancouver Canucks have been playing their best hockey of the season over the past month-and-a-half, and the proof is in the standings, where the Canucks sit just second in the West and the league with 59 points through 46 games on the 2011-12 campaign.

Despite being in the battle for the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the most points in the NHL again this season, the Canucks do have some aspects of their game they need to alter in order to make the next step and win those crucial games in the Stanley Cup Finals that they could not a year ago.

Fewer Giveaways

One aspect of the Vancouver Canucks' game this year that differs from that of last season is their giveaway-to-takeaway margin. At the end of the 2010-11 season the number stood with Vancouver having 41 more takeaways than giveaways, however this season has been a different story. Having just passed the halfway point of their season, the Canucks have 24 more giveaways than takeaways. 

Despite ranking in the top 10 in the league in total giveaways (fewest to most), the Canucks' giveaways throughout the season have been especially costly in creating scoring chances, odd-man rushes and goals. If the Canucks want to compete with an elite team in the playoffs they must have better puck possession and keep the puck off their opponents' sticks when it is their own fault.

There are no official statistical translations for the giveaway-to-goal ratio, but based on a lot of the giveaways we have seen this season and Roberto Luongo's difficulty to play breakaways and odd-man rushes, if the Canucks were to give the puck away to a Boston or NY Rangers team, they would make them pay.

Rebound Control

The goaltending of the Vancouver Canucks in recent weeks has been nothing short of terrific, but in saying that, even Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider have to work on some things if this team wants to win a Cup this season.

Now rebound control has become an issue this season for the Canucks. More so for starting goaltender Luongo than backup Schneider, but Schneider has had his fair share of problems controlling the puck this season too.

Specific to Luongo, however, is the amount of second and third chances he gives up. The Canucks often collapse to their net as most opposition’s strategy is crashing the net, and when Luongo is giving up a big juicy rebound or two, it is rare that an opposing player doesn't put one in the back of the net. 

Now, not all blame for rebound control can be placed on the goaltender. In certain situations, the Canucks defense has failed this season when controlling a rebound directed to them to get a breakout started, resulting in turnovers that have been costly.

This is not a huge issue and is a somewhat easy fix, but the Canucks goalies need to control their rebounds better, otherwise they should just absorb every shot and cover up to avoid unnecessary lapses in judgment resulting in goals against.

Physicality

Although the 2011-12 Vancouver Canucks are well on pace to surpass their hit total of 1,791 from a season ago, it is another form of physicality that has ailed them this season. This form of physicality comes in the fearless nature of shot-blocking.

Last season the Canucks ranked 25th in shot-blocking with a dismal 1,071. This season they are even worse, sitting 27th in the league with just 535 shots blocked through 46 games. They say you have to be crazy to get down in front of a 100 mph piece of rubber, but these players are here to sacrifice their bodies. 

Sacrifice is something the Canucks are lacking. It may be their injury-prone defense scaring them away from laying the body down, but shot-blocking is a crucial aspect to any team's winning formula. One big shot block could kill momentum, create a break down ice to the offensive zone and even kill a penalty.

The Canucks must limit the amount of shots getting through to their net, and blocking shots is just one way of doing so.

Better Awareness by the Canucks Defense

It should be fairly apparent by now that the necessary changes or alterations the Vancouver Canucks need to do to win a Cup have nothing to do with their offense; no one can talk the Canucks offensive play this season down, as it has been extraordinary, but some of their offensive defensemen could take some notes and change some of their tendencies.

Something that has occurred all too often this season is the odd-man rush created by Canucks defensemen carrying the puck too deep into the offensive zone or pinching in at the points at inopportune moments, creating a turnover.

This is an easy habit to fix, but it is an issue and Alain Vigneault and the rest of the Canucks staff must address it. 

Come playoff time, everyone is beat up and tired, and in the Stanley Cup Finals, one critical mistake in the offensive zone can turn the opposition back up the ice for a goal if a defenseman turns the puck over and the Canucks are left with just one man back.

Realistically, the Vancouver Canucks don't need to make any huge changes to their game to win a Stanley Cup this season. They have proved this season that they are still among the best teams in the league and with a few minor alterations (mostly to play in their own end) they can win a Cup this year.

John Bain is a Bleacher Report Featured Columnist

Follow John on Twitter: @JohnBainSports