Vancouver Up 2 Games To None With Momentum Heading Into San Jose

Added on May 19, 2011 by J Merrill in

NHL

How do you solve a problem like the Sedin twins? One thing is for certain, San Jose needs to figure that question out fast if they are planning on beating the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks hold a 2 games to nothing lead heading to San Jose, after last night destruction of the Sharks. Unfortunately for San Jose, the statistics aren’t in their favor as they are 4-3 at home in the post season, and Vancouver is 4-2 away from their home ice.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan summed it up after the game, and said his team didn’t have the focus or drive to win last night in Vancouver and they need to find it fast. He said “They had more battle in their game than we did. This time of the year when you have more battle and more tenacity to your game, you’re going to win.” At the end of the third period the frustration of the Sharks had reached a fever pitch that ended with multiple players getting ten minute majors. McLellan said he isn’t going to make excuses for them, and everyone needs to decide whats more important-fighting or winning the cup. He said “I’m not going to sit here and try to protect them. We lost composure, we were frustrated. As I said earlier, when you’re second, you tend to be frustrated. We’ve got some work to do. We’ve got some guys that need to ask themselves some questions, answer them, and pull the skates a little tighter.”

Recent San Jose standout Logan Couture was embarrassed by his effort, and the effort of his team as well. He said “It’s embarrassing, That’s the only word that comes to mind. We’re in the conference finals, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and to put an effort out like that. I feel bad for the fans and for the coaching staff that we gave an effort like that tonight.”

Momentum is key in the NHL all year round, but it becomes even more prevalent in Stanley Cup Playoffs. There is no doubt that the Canucks have it, and will use it going into Friday nights game in San Jose. Alex Burrows agrees, and said when they have all 20 guys on the same page in a hockey game, they are a tough nut to crack. Especially when the other teams start losing their cool. He said “When we’re able to have all 20 guys going, having everybody playing well as a five-man unit, attack all over the ice, that’s a big part of our game. When we play the way we can we’re a pretty tough team to beat.”

Canucks Coach Alain Vigneault said that this is what his team does best, and you can tell they are doing the right things when the other team falls apart mentally. He said “We’ve been that way all year long. We’ve talked about playing whistle to whistle, staying disciplined. That’s what we’ve done throughout the playoff. We did it again tonight. When their fourth-line player took a run at the NHL leading scorer, possibly the MVP, we stayed focused, we stayed disciplined. You know, we went out and played.”

Game 3 will take place on Friday night in San Jose, California.