NHL Playoffs 2012: Vancouver Canucks in Desperate Need of Spark

The Vancouver Canucks, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, were supposed to be the clear favorite against the Los Angeles Kings.

Instead, they find themselves down, 3-0, in the best-of-seven series and at the brink of elimination.  

How times have changed.

Remember, the Canucks ended the regular season with the most points in the NHL (111). They had won eight of their last nine games headed into the postseason. 

The Kings, on the other hand, finished with the fewest points among Western Conference playoff teams (95). They also had lost five of their final eight games, including their last two against the San Jose Sharks.

But it's pretty simple why the Kings are on the verge of shocking the world: They have come out with more fire and heart.

There is no reason whatsoever that the Canucks should be down, three games to none, to the Kings. They have more talent and they began with home ice advantage. What's more, they've been outscored, 9-4, in the first three games of the series.

Dustin Brown has been fantastic in the front for the Kings, while Jonathan Quick has stopped nearly everything that's come his way. That is, whenever the Canucks did manage to get close to the net.

Now, the Canucks find themselves one game away from going home, on the Kings' home ice, and struggling to score after averaging the fifth-most goals in the NHL during the regular season (2.9). Yes, part of that has been because of Daniel Sedin's absence, but that's still not an excuse against the No. 8 seed in the West.

You either come into the playoffs ready to do damage or you see a more hungry team take over. The Kings are the more hungry team now, and that trumps the difference in overall talent.