NHL Playoffs 2012: How Penguins and Canucks Will Respond After Losing Home-Ice

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks gave away in one night what they worked all season to earn. Now it's time to pick up the pieces and regain control of their first-round series.

If they don't win tonight, things will be bleak for both.

The Penguins had Game 1 in the palms of their hands, but they squandered a 3-0 lead and lost in OT. In Game 2 tonight, they must be aggressive for 60 minutes, and take advantage of their opportunities. As secure a lead as three-goal advantage was, they still had room to be ahead by more.

The Penguins were 0-3 in power play chances. If they could have converted on just one of those opportunities, it would have changed the game.

That said, they can't allow themselves to be too down on this game. They are still at home for Game 2, and they still have perhaps the game's best offensive player in Sidney Crosby.

Pittsburgh showed they could penetrate the Flyers' defense in the first period with three quick goals. The bad news is that they were shut out the rest of the way.

A slow start in Game 2 will result in a carryover of momentum from Game 1.

If that happens, the Penguins will go down in flames, and the Flyers will seize control of this series in a major way.

I believe the Penguins respond at home, igniting what will be a classic series.

The Canucks are in a similar position. They lost to the Kings in Game 1, and as the top seed, the loss is especially concerning.

This one quite simply came down to a lack of discipline from Vancouver. The 27 penalty minutes is unacceptable, and if it persists the Kings will upset Vancouver.

Los Angeles scored two power-play goals, and the win has only given the upstart Kings confidence.

Vancouver isn't in as much danger as the Penguins in my opinion. They are clearly the better team, and their issues come down to discipline.

Players like Chris Higgins and Byron Bitz must play smarter and more effective.

Those two were minus-2, with 17 penalty minutes combined. That is a recipe for disaster.

The Canucks will rebound with a convincing win in Game 2 to right the ship. I would not be surprised to see Vancouver reel off four straight wins.