by Brandt Corbin
Lets face it, Pekka Rinne and Roberto Luongo played their worst hockey all year in the first round last week. Whoever turns it around faster and remains consistent during the series will have to be considered the favourite. Vancouver has more talent, but the Canucks have to play a more deeper hockey club in the Nashville Predators. In the first round, the Canucks played a softer, not as deep Chicago Blackhawks. Now they are playing a team with much more structure defensively, but also a team that has no obvious weaknesses.
Physicality
Both teams were in overly physical first rounds, and the teams at times had questionable officiating both early and late in the series. What is and what is not a penalty? The Canucks will find out early in the series, the Predators will not back physically like the Hawks did for the majority of the series. While the Canucks have Kevin Bieksa, Raffi Torres and Maxim Lapierre, the Preds will have SOB, (Shane O’Brien) and the most physical player in series Jordin Tootoo. Vancouver has to be cautious, Tootoo is one of the few players in the NHL that can take over a game with his banging and crashing, the Nuvait Inuktitut native played hands down his best hockey in the month of April.
Secondary scoring
The Canucks without question have the top end skill that Nashville does not have, and yes its been pointed that Nashville was the most challenged offensive team going into the playoffs. But, Nashville in the first round scored the 2nd most goals averaging 3.67 goals per game, while the Canucks scored the 2.29 gpg, 3rd worst during the first round. Alain Vigneault’s team better hope they get more secondary scoring plus more from their top end. And why? Every skater on Nashville with the exception of O’ Brien had atleast 1 point, furthermore every skater but 3 has at least 3 points, that is something Vancouver cannot match.
Intangibles
Both teams penalty kill in the first round was less than desirable and just like the goaltending, the team that turns the specialty teams around earlier will be more successful. It’s no secret the Canucks are stacked on the first two lines, then throw two checking lines at you. Nashville on the other hand have four lines that can score, and check, but not one of those lines are going to score two or three goals faithfully every night, its offense by committee.
Each team have a couple of injuries they need to deal with. The status of Sami Salo is uncertain, but likely will miss the first half of the series, aside from that the Canucks are healthy. For Nashville, Martin Erat (upper body) will likely miss the start of the series, they will be without Francis Boulion and Matthew Lombardi for the entire series.
Another question that may need to be answered is this, what is in game 1 Luongo lets in 5 goals on 20 shots, how soon would they turn to backup Cory Schneider? That an issue in round 1, and come game six Schneider was in action.
Game Changers
Up front the Canucks have more game changers, mainly in the Sedin’s and Ryan Kesler. Make no mistake, if these three all stars are absent in round 2 like in round 1 they cannot win. The Canucks took the Hawks for granted and it came within inches of costing them the series. Nashville has three game changers themselves, Norris nominee Shea Weber one of if not the brightest young defenseman in the NHL, along with his defensive partner Ryan Suter. It has been said by many experts Weber & Suter are the best tandem in the league. Rinne is another game changer for the Preds. The Finnish netminderin with Luongo were nominated for top goaltender in the NHL. Nashville’s third game changer is there work ethic, it virtually impossible to outwork Nashville, just ask Anaheim.
Line Matching
We likely will see Kesler’s line matched up against the trio of Sergei Koisysten, Patric Hornquist and Mike Fisher, while you’re going to see Nashville coach Barry Trotz do whatever he needs to do to get Weber & Suter against the Sedins. When Nashville gets home ice look for Trotz to get Fisher head to head against the Sedins, but in Vancouver Trotz will be content with David Legwand head to head against the Sedins.
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