2011 NHL Playoffs: Vancouver Canucks Fans in Unchartered Waters

As the final frantic seconds of Vancouver's game 6 against Nashville ticked away, Canuck fans could barely breathe.

As British Columbia's own Shea Webber loaded up his heavy slap shot and fired it through a sea of bodies towards Robert Luongo, a legion of fans' hearts stopped beating.

As the puck glanced off Dan Hamhuis and fell harmlessly to the corner, it was over. 

Canuck fans everywhere either jumped for joy or slumped into their chairs in exhaustion. Not since 1994 has the team been this far. 

It's been a long time coming, but now what?

Canuck fans are historically a nervous, twitchy and miserable lot. They possess undying love for their team, but have been beaten down by playoff disappointment so often that this winning thing still feels new.

During every Canuck season, the fan base finds reasons to believe the team is headed for greatness, but they can't help thinking the Canucks are one bad bounce away from disappointment—the latter feeling is usually the one that prevails on local talk shows and message boards.

That worry is still present. Despite being in the conference finals for only the third time in franchise history, this morning was full of hand wringing.

"Luongo still let in some soft goals, we can't trust him. The Sedins are soft and can't play. Kesler can't keep it up. What's wrong with Samuelson?"

All good questions, and all questions that will be answered in due time.

Game 1 of the Western Conference finals isn't until Sunday evening, so now is not the time to fret.

Enjoy these next few days, Canucks fans. You've earned it. 

Sit back, enjoy your favorite beverage, and root for a seven-overtime physical battle between Detroit and San Jose.

Enjoy not being nervous for a few days. Enjoy the fact that Ryan Kesler has turned into an unstoppable superstar. Enjoy the fact that the Canucks, as disjointed and dysfunctional as they seem, have made it somewhere they haven't been in a long time.

Enjoy it for now, because you'll have plenty of time to fret over Luongo, the twins and bad coaching decisions come Sunday evening.