NHL Playoffs 2012: Vancouver Canucks' Goaltender Switch Will Not Fix Issues

The Vancouver Canucks are in trouble. They are in Los Angeles for Game 3, and already in a 0-2 hole. Roberto Luongo has been pulled for tonight's game because of ineffectiveness. His 3.00 goals-against average won't get it done.

The Canucks will be turning to Cory Schneider in net, but even that change can't save the Canucks in this matchup.

Luongo hasn't been sharp, but his team hasn't done him any favors either. The deciding factor through the first two games of this series hasn't been the goaltending—it has been on special teams.

The Kings have dominated on the power play as well as short-handed.

Los Angeles has scored three times on the power play and two more times while playing short-handed. That is more than half of the goals the Kings have scored this series, and more than the Canucks have tallied overall.

Even if Schneider is markedly improved over Luongo, it won't matter unless the Canucks can be more physical against the Kings' attack and take advantage of power-play opportunities.

They were out-hit in Game 1, so they revved up the intensity in Game 2. That resulted in a 45-32 hits advantage, but also 32 minutes in the sin bin.

You know you're in trouble when you're losing in a variety of ways. That is what's happening to Vancouver. 

The Kings haven't played perfect—in fact, they have given the Canucks plenty of opportunities. They've averaged nearly 30 minutes per game in the penalty box, yet the Canucks haven't tallied one power-play goal.

To make matters worse, Daniel Sedin will miss the game and possibly the rest of the series after suffering a concussion.

The two-time defending Presidents' Trophy-winners are in a bad way. With the series shifting to LA, a quick start by the Kings will all but destroy what the Canucks spent 82 games building.

My prediction: an 0-3 hole, and a loss in five games to the up-and-coming LA Kings.