Hello Canuck fans. I have something tragic and not that shocking to tell you. Barring the most miracle of miracle comebacks, 2013 will be just another year where the Canucks don’t win the cup.

The problem is that, if 2012 was supposed to be an aberration and the Canucks were still the team that won 15 playoff games in 2011, then 2013 is the year you remembered that line was essentially what Calgary and Edmonton were saying the year after their cup runs.

For the third straight year, it’s going to be another long summer with some very tough questions.

Love ‘Em

We’re going to move on

The Roberto Luongo/Sedin/AV era has been here for awhile. It carries with it the emotional baggage of those series against Chicago and that one against Boston. Perhaps a new direction, a new chapter, is the reset this team needs.

The series is all but over, Canuck fans. (AP/The Province)

If this was Hollywood, they would reboot the franchise with younger talent and pretend the previous incarnations never existed. At least a loss this embarrassing can spark those changes so the team, again, doesn’t slide into Calgary territory and watch their window bleed out for years and years.

It’s not as bad as it looks

There is talent here and there are opportunities to fix whatever is holding it back. Trade Luongo for assets and hopefully some cap space that can buy a winger or two and let Mike Gillis bring in a new coach. It isn’t necessary to throw a grenade into the middle of the roster, but there’s a lot of half-finished plans and ideas that are holding this team back. Fix the goaltending situation, shuffle the coaching staff, and hope Kassian is ready to break out.

The weather is really nice out

No really, it is. So get out there and enjoy it.

Hate ‘Em

The song remains the same

I wish I could say this has all been surprising. The problems that have sunk the Canucks are the same that have persisted since the Luongo trade really. Playoff meltdowns and scoring droughts and body language and everything that we’ve seen over and over and never gets fixed outside of outlier games like the one against Chicago a few weeks back.

It’s Stockholm Syndrome. It’s a boyfriend that you keep coming back to that never changes.

There’s a jaded apathy brewing in this town that could put the Canucks sellout streak in jeopardy. Why would you pay hundreds of dollars to watch this?

GoaLOLtending

One year ago, Schneider replaced Luongo in net against LA after the Canucks fell behind the series despite the fact that Luongo was playing better than the eighteen skaters in front of him. This year it happened again and there’s still no clear consensus on just who the starter is, a distraction and misuse of cap space that certainly did the Canucks few favours this year.

It needs to get resolved.

A year of Corrado

Meanwhile, Keith Ballard is scratched in favour of rookie Frankie Corrado, officially burning a year of Corrado’s ELC.

Seems like poor asset management compounded by a coach in desperation mode to save his job. But as AV dropped last night post-game “It is what it is.”

It is what it is.

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If the panic after game one was any indication Vancouver Canucks is keen to avoid having this series resemble the one against the Kings last year. To do that, they’ll need to win game two and erase the hole they find themselves in.

If not, oh boy.

Game notes

The Sharks find themselves in the driver’s seat early in the series after capitalizing on their period chances to shock a Canucks team that has now lost five straight home playoff games and have won just one of their last eight playoff games stretching back to 2011.

Considering the circumstances and the Sharks stellar home record this year, the Canucks find themselves in a must-win situation already.

The Sharks find themselves in the driver’s seat

What to watch: San Jose

The Sharks will roll without winger Martin Havlat, who was hurt in Game One. Otherwise, they’ll be content to roll out the same line-up that proved to be a winning combination Wednesday night.

The Sharks will also hope for another dominant performance in the faceoff dot.

They won 40 to the Canucks 30 in the opener, which went a long way towards the puck possession style that found them success.

What to watch: Vancouver

The goaltending saga continues as Roberto Luongo starts again and is preparing like he’ll start them all. There’s still no word on Cory Schneider‘s condition in the most bizarre twist of this year-long soap opera.

The Canucks meanwhile will load up Derek Roy and Ryan Kesler on the second line with Chris Higgins in an attempt to find some scoring punch from a line-up that could score just once in the opener when Raffi Torres guided the puck into his own net.

Injuries

The Canucks are without Schneider and have no public timetable for his return.

Chris Tanev is still wearing a walking cast and likely not back anytime soon. The Sharks were without Scott Gomez for game one, and will likely miss him tonight as well. He’ll join Jason Demers and Martin Havlat in the pressbox.

Prediction

Just win. 4-2 Canucks.

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Gameday Tweets

Roberto Luongo will start in net for the #Canucks in Game 2 Friday.

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) May 2, 2013

Missed the brand new opening video? Check out the pre-game presentation from @rogersarena here: v.canucks.com/YssrJn

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) May 3, 2013

We know who will be in goal for Vancouver, who will be scoring them for the #Canucks remains to be seen. bit.ly/1080X5R

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) May 3, 2013

New Post Up! ICYMI…Here we g…- #Vancouver #Canucks nwsportsbeat.com/canucks/sharks…

— Northwest SportsBeat (@NWSportsBeat) May 2, 2013

To those who’ve told me to lay off #Canucks goaltending & focus on goal-scoring, I have. But warning: it’s not pretty teamradio.ca/canucks-report…

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) May 3, 2013

Frustrating. That’s the word that best describes last night’s Vancouver Canucks game.

It was too typical of the post-2011 efforts we’ve seen time and time again. Throwing the puck at the night with little success only to see a defensive breakdown at the other end result in a timely and opportunistic goal against.

If this is the best the Canucks have, it could be 2012 all over again.

Thing is, they’ve teased us with performances like the one against Chicago that prove they have another gear.

It’s just very rare.

Love ‘em

1. Roberto

He’ll take the loss, and allowed two third period goals, but Roberto Luongo was brilliant in his unlikely start. His best saves came early, when the Sharks initially outshot the Canucks 7-1, but on a night when he needed to be perfect to win with one goal of support, he couldn’t achieve the impossible.

If history is indication, that will his fault and not on his eighteen other teammates.

2. That’s our Roy

He didn’t score, but Derek Roy looked dangerous all night long on a team that needs some offensive spark. It’s unfortunate he couldn’t convert a chance in a game that needed a break to go the Canucks way.

The idea of putting the wear and tear on the Sharks early in the series could pay off…could.

Look for him to be flying again in Game 2.

3. Top hits

The Canucks hit the Sharks more often than they have any opponent this season, proving they were ready to amp up their intensity for the playoffs.

Hit counts are a double-edged sword, considering in order to hit someone you have to not have the puck, but the idea of putting the wear and tear on the Sharks early in the series could pay off in later games.

Hate ‘em

1. Puck luck

Is it puck luck that demands the Canucks need be perfect to put the puck in the net but their opponents can score at will with any half-decent chance?

Again, supremely frustrating and one of those things that makes you feel absolutely helpless as a fan.

2. Ryan Kesler is quite ill

Or I’m hoping it’s the flu and not yet another ailment from a player who may never fully recover from 2011. The Canucks need Ryan Kesler to be Kesler, especially with Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin having officially lost a step.

Get well soon, buddy.

3. What’s up with Daniel?

Multiple times in this game Daniel Sedin had a perfect opportunity to shoot the puck and either hesitated or passed off.

You can’t do that when you’re the only “sniper” this team has. You can’t do that when the only goal your team scores is a net-crasher.

The Canucks need goals and you are a goalscorer.

Shoot the puck.

Stars

• 1. L. Couture
• 2. R. Luongo
• 3. D. Boyle

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The 2013 playoffs are finally here in Vancouver.

It’s been a year since the Los Angeles Kings knocked them off in the first round en route to the cup, and two years since the Boston Bruins scarred Canucks fans for life.

It truly is cup-or-bust time for a team that has rattled off a series of playoff appearances over the last decade but has advanced past the second round just once.

Is this the team that can top 2011, 1994 and 1982?

The long answer begins with San Jose, who the Canucks defeated easily in the Western Conference Finals two years ago.

In the final week of the season, it was split evenly between the Sharks, Blues and Kings as the Canucks’ playoff opponent.

On paper, it looks as though they got the most favourable result of the three. San Jose is good, but they’re not the defending champions nor a team that would fight you in the trenches and tear you apart.

But can we win?

The Canucks, for their part, believe that a team that is the healthiest since their last series with San Jose and a key addition in Derek Roy can replicate, and perhaps better, the success of the 2011 team.

The core is essentially the same, with some new faces such as Jason Garrison and Cory Schneider switched in for Christian Ehrhoff and Roberto Luongo.

While the Sedins may be older and perhaps lost a step this year, Ryan Kesler’s body is finally ready to be sacrificed again.

Lack of national backing could fuel the fire

The Cup run begins against the San Jose Sharks. (Photo: canucks.com)

There are no Presidents’ Trophies this year and there is less of a target on the Canucks’ back. Perhaps it will allow them to fly under the radar a bit.

They weren’t even selected by the CBC for broadcast, opting to go with the Leafs and the two other Eastern Canadian teams.

If there is a debate over the merits of being Canada’s team this spring, it will likely involve the Leafs and not the Canucks.

The Alberta attention will still be present, but at the least the east coast is distracted this year.

The first round on TSN will mean no Jim Hughson, but also no Ron McLean and his strange vendettas against the Canucks.

Instead, the veterans Chris Cuthbert and Ray Ferraro will soundtrack the series aided in studio by Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger’s strange vendettas against the Canucks. It will be different at the least.

The lucky bounces will have to fall the Canucks way

The Vancouver Canucks, like half the teams in this tournament, have enough skill to win the cup if everything breaks right.

Those breaks are largely out of their control but will involve some form of goaltending, the powerplay, injuries and surprise heroes.

How does Cory Schneider react to his first playoffs as a starting goaltender? Does Zack Kassian sink or swim? When is Chris Tanev back? What can Ryan Kesler do?

All we can do is wait and see how it all shakes out.

My expectations are tempered not because I don’t believe the Canucks are good enough to hoist the cup, but rather that half a dozen contenders will be left in the dust come June.

The Canucks aren’t guaranteed anything, as we’ve painfully seen the last two years. I’m just excited for another chance to see if this year is finally the year.

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After the second period of Thursday’s Vancouver Canucks game, I went on a grocery run.  I ran late getting back and checked the score on my phone in line to pay. The scoreline had jumped to 4-1 Dallas and my immediate thought was that I had loaded some old score from months ago.

It was impossible that the Stars had put up three goals so fast.

Well, about that…

Love ‘Em

1. Derek Roy is good

He’s not being used exactly right, but so far he’s above Bryan Smolinski on the trade deadline bell curve.

The problem is that putting Roy with Ryan Kesler means that one of Andrew Ebbett or Max Lapierre is your third line centre, which is exactly the depth problem Roy was supposed to fix.

Still.

2. Kevin Bieksa is good

Right?

The Canucks are horrible without him, so rest assured that Bieksa is pretty much a franchise defenseman.

That third period was bad. Victoria boy Jamie Benn was good.

Is it hyperbole to say when Bieksa comes back the Canucks will never lose? (Probably.)

3. Dan Hamhuis is good

Guy never gets enough credit for being the rock that he is.

So on a night where very few is to be loved, hail to thee Dan Hamhuis. May you never hip check anyone these playoffs and sink our cup chances.

Hate ‘Em

1. Cam Barker is bad

Barker, worst of the awful Oilers blueliners, was put into a top-four role last night and somehow, shockingly, failed to meet the challenge.

Will the downfall of the Canucks in 2013 be their ability to boost their defensive depth at the deadline?

Only time will tell! (Unfortunately.)

2. That third period was bad

Right?

So, let’s not talk about it.

Let’s goooo cognitive dissonance.

3. AV’s face is bad

What’s going on there?

First noticed it Monday, and no explanation yet.

Did he walk into a door? Is it his own clumsy fault?

Did Keith Ballard finally lash back?

Did Aaron Rome even recognize the face that once fell in love with him?

Stars

• 1. C. Eakin
• 2. V. Fiddler
• 3. K. Lehtonen

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op·po·nent - Someone who competes against or fights another in a contest, game, or argument.

It’s mid-April and the weather is nice. Usually this means the playoffs have started. (The Vancouver Canucks actually are in a weird position this year where their regular season will end later in April than their playoff run did last year).

Thanks to the lockout, we’re not quite there yet but someone maybe forgot to tell the Canucks. After a chippy game against Nashville the night prior, Vancouver and St Louis engaged in an all-out bloodbath that a bit of hockey thrown in.

Considering we could very well see these two teams tangle in the first round, it’s a candidate for game of the year.

Love ‘Em

1. That Schneider kid is pretty good

It’s not shocking, but the Canucks success in the playoffs this year entirely depends on Cory Schneider. If they’re gonna win the cup, he’s winning the Conn Smythe.

Last night was just another day at the office for the redhead, keeping the Canucks alive and coming within a late Jay Bouwmeester goal of stealing the game outright.

Save us ginger Jesus.

2. Steady Eddie

Alex Edler‘s powerplay goal with 13 seconds left in the second was huge, both for him and the powerplay.

Vancouver and St Louis engaged in an all-out bloodbath

Edler’s been sleepwalking through the season, not even noticing when Phoenix goaltenders are in his path. Quite like Schneider, he holds the Canucks fortunes in his playoff ceiling.

3. Kassian’s hairline

My father pointed out Zack Kassian‘s receding hairline in the Nashville game after he had mugged Pekka Rinne, which led me to finding this photo yesterday before the game.

Turns out either David Backes is my father, or my father’s friend, or inside my head or something, as the Blues captain mocked Kassian about going bald after a scrum last night.

You’re late to the party Backes, but your wife is still a great gal.

Hate ‘Em

1. Goooooals

To win a hockey game, you need to score goals. Preferably more than one.

This has been the Canucks’ achilles heel this season, who somehow prefer to see how few goals both teams can score.

Can’t rely on your goaltender to be perfect and then throw him under the bus when he’s not (again).

2. A shootout?

This was a playoff game, and by rights it should have been settled in 5-on-5 overtime.

That a skills competition could decide who rightly won that rugby scrum is as relevant as flipping a coin, drawing straws or playing potatoes.

Yeesh.

3. No more Ebbett

This whole Roy/Kesler on the wing thing is fine enough, but the failing of the experiment comes when Andrew Ebbett becomes the third line centre. Especially in this game with playoff intensity, he faltered. He was miserable.

The Canucks need Derek Roy to anchor a third line that can tear up opponent’s third pairing come playoff time.

Ebbett can’t even tread water at this point.

Stars

• 1. D. Backes
• 2. J. Bouwmeester
• 3. B. Elliott

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As we drive towards the playoffs, the St Louis Blues are one point behind the Minnesota Wild for sixth place in the Western Conference, aka the spot that would mean they face the Vancouver Canucks in the first round.

So tonight is a possible playoff preview between two teams that have always played each other close. The teams have split the previous two meetings this year, and the Blues will be the team in desperate need of two points to keep on the right side of eighth place.

Matchup: Vancouver Canucks (24– 12– 6) v St Louis Blues (23– 16–2)
Venue: Scottrade Center
Time: 5:00 pm PT
TV/Radio: Sportsnet, Team 1040

Game Notes

Despite Jake Allen’s efforts against Vancouver this year, the Blues will most likely trot out Brian Elliott, who’s coming off a shutout streak that lasted over 200 minutes. Seems like even I could rack up a bit of a streak between the pipes of Hitchcock’s system.

What to watch: St Louis

With seven games left in the season, the Blues still have yet to set their destiny. They sit in seventh place, one behind Minnesota, but also just one ahead of Dallas and Columbus. One of those teams won’t make the playoffs and one of those teams will have to face Chicago in the first round. The Blues are hoping neither of those will be them.

It starts with scoring goals. The Blues have just five in their last five and leading goal scorer Chris Stewart has one in his last eleven.

If the Blues can’t finish the season strong, they’ll have nothing to show for it.

Ryan Kesler and the powerplay. Good Times. (Photo – Andy Clark/REUTERS)

Line-up

• David Perron-David Backes-Alex Steen
• Andy McDonald-Vladimir Sobotka-Chris Stewart
• Adam Cracknell-Patrik Berglund-Ryan Reaves
• Dmitrij Jaskin-Chris Porter-Vladimir Taransenko
• Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo
• Jordan Leopold-Kevin Shattenkirk
• Barrett Jackman-Roman Polak
• Brian Elliott

What to watch: Vancouver

Ryan Kesler and the powerplay. Both made triumphant returns last night against Nashville, putting the Canucks five points up in the Minnesota Wild with six games remaining. Barring disaster, it seems another Northwest title is in the cards.

Interestingly, the Canucks are only five points behind the Anaheim Ducks for second in the conference. With a game between the two scheduled for Thursday of next week, can the Canucks close the gap enough to put second place on the line when the two teams meet?

After Luongo’s brilliant game last night, Boston native Cory Schneider will make his most emotional start of the season. Go get them, dude.

Line-up

• Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Alex Burrows
• Jannik Hansen-Ryan Kesler-Derek Roy
• Mason Raymond-Andrew Ebbett-Zack Kassian
• Dale Weise-Maxim Lapierre-Steve Pinizzotto
• Dan Hamhuis-Jason Garrison
• Alex Edler-Kevin Bieksa
• Keith Ballard-Andrew Alberts
• Cory Schneider

Injuries

For the Canucks, the Chris’ squared.

For the Blues, TJ Oshie will miss this game, meaning Dmitrij Jaskin will make his NHL debut.

Prediction

3-2 Canucks in a shootout, and we start wondering if a first round match-up between the two could possibly go any less than seven games.

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Despite an absolutely horrible second period, the Vancouver Canucks put the lean on Nashville Monday night and escaped Music City with a comfortable 5-2 win. It was a game where the Canucks took an injury-depleted 13th place team and rightfully smacked them around.

With a few weeks left before the big dance, a game with no surprises is exactly what the collective blood pressure needs.

Love ‘Em

1. Kessassian

We’ve missed you Ryan Kesler. The pivot’s return has revitalized the team and the powerplay as the Canucks are really starting to look like the 2011 version.

Kesler had two goals and almost had a hat trick but his wrist shot off the rush, his bread and butter a few years ago, pinged off the crossbar.

Still, he’s looking healthy for the first time since 2011, and that really really gets me excited.

2. Garrissassion

Jason Garrison has simply gotten better week by week this season as he acclimatizes to the Canucks’ system.

Jason Garrison has simply gotten better week by week

His powerplay goal six seconds into the advantage was the game winner late in the second and makes you wonder why he’s not getting time on the first unit.

3. Kassassin

Zack Kassian has been the ultimate enigma this year, but his confrontation with Pekka Rinne late in the game was the kind of destructive force the Canucks need for the playoffs.

There were a number of encounters throughout the match that made the game take on a chippy atmosphere, and Kassian’s somewhat-measured response was the perfect deterrent to another Duncan Keith on Daniel Sedin incident that would have repercussions in the playoffs.

Hate ‘Em

1. No Roy!

Somehow when Derek Roy crumpled to the ice after an errant highstick and started bleeding, it ended with no call whatsoever nevermind the four minutes it probably deserved.

With the speed at which Roy hit the ice, it looked as though you could almost see the Canucks chances of coming out of the West crumple.

Thankfully he returned and set up Kesler’s last goal, but you have to call those plays.

2. That second period

Needs to be called out. The Canucks were absolutely miserable against a team that has struggled offensively so badly that their second goal of the game almost got a standing ovation.

The Garrison goal shut everybody up, but come on guys.

3. Bad Bieksa

After a great start to the season, the inconsistency has been slipping back into Kevin Bieksa‘s game. Between the nonchalant play and the sloppy turnovers, it’s clear Bieksa’s classically bi-polar play had dipped back to frustrating.

Stars

• 1. R. Kesler
• 2. D. Roy
• 3. D. Sedin

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The stretch run to the playoffs begins tonight with a road game against the struggling Nashville Predators, losers of six straight and dropping like flies to injuries.

The Vancouver Canucks meanwhile, are looking to wrap up the division and the third seed with a comfortable enough lead in the Northwest over Minnesota.

Matchup: Vancouver Canucks (23– 12– 6) v Nashville Predators (15– 20–8)
Venue: Bridgestone Arena
Time: 5:00 pm PT
TV/Radio: Sportsnet, Team 1040

Game Notes

Nashville and Vancouver games usually go one of two ways; insane 6-5 goalfests or 1-0 games that you question why you even watch hockey. Considering the Preds have been shutout in three of their last six games, bet on the latter.

This team is in a tailspin and closer to a lottery pick than a playoff spot.

What to watch: Nashville

You won’t recognize many of them, considering Nashville’s troubles can be directly tied to ongoing rash of injuries. You may recognize rookie Filip Forsberg, traded for Martin Erat at the deadline and who made his NHL debut Sunday by virtue of being a warm healthy body.

Poor Pekka Rinne, whose GAA over the last eight games is 1.87 yet his record is 1-5-2.

The Canucks will try to push forward after the gut punch loss to the Avs on Saturday

Line-up

• Sergei Kostitsyn-Nick Spaling-Matt Halischuck
• Taylor Beck-David Legwand-Filip Forsberg
• Richard Clune-Austin Watson-Craig Smith
• Daniel Bang-Chris Mueller-Bobby Butler
• Roman Josi-Shea Weber
• Victor Bartly-Jonathon Blum
• Hal Gill-Mattias Ekholm
• Pekka Rinne

What to watch: Vancouver

It’s experimentation time as the Canucks will debut a line tonight of Alex Burrows, Derek Roy and Ryan Kesler on the wing for the first time since the Mats Sundin era.

It does unfortunately mean that Andrew Ebbett is the de facto third-line centre, raising the question that if the Kesler on wing experimental is successful, is a Jordan Schroeder call-up far behind?

The Canucks will try to push forward after the gut punch loss to the Avs on Saturday, and will do so with Roberto Luongo between the pipes, leaving their starter for the much better St Louis Blues tomorrow night.

Line-up

• Daniel Sedin-Henrik Sedin-Jannik Hansen
• Alex Burrows-Derek Roy-Ryan Kesler
• Mason Raymond-Andrew Ebbett-Zack Kassian
• Steve Pinizzotto-Maxim Lapierre-Dale Weise
• Dan Hamhuis-Jason Garrison
• Alex Edler-Kevin Bieksa
• Keith Ballard-Andrew Alberts
• Roberto Luongo

Injuries

For Nashville…ok here we go. Kevin Klein, Colin Wilson, Paul Gaustad, Gabriel Bourque, Patric Hornqvist, Brandon Yip and Mike Fisher.

The Canucks will continue to miss Chris Higgins and Chris Tanev.

Prediction

1-0 Canucks, allowing Rinne the most ideal stat line and preserving my withering lead in my work hockey pool.

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Hockey against Calgary isn’t pretty these days is it Vancouver Canucks fans? This game had all the hallmarks of a team desperate for the end of the season to finally come, playing out as an exercise of two teams on very opposite ends of the spectrum.

Love ‘Em

1. Oh Lu

Roberto Luongo was the surprise starter thanks to Cory Schneider‘s flu, and his first game in a long while was pretty damn good.

Luongo was a save machine, denying the Flames time and time again like the rest of the league rebuking Mike Gillis’ trade offers.

It probably won’t be Luongo’s last game as a Canuck, but it could have been the penultimate one.

2. Burrrrrows

Put my vote down for the unsung hero of the award to Alex Burrows, who has been sailing smoothly through the year doing all the little things to make sure the Canucks win.

Last night was no different as Burrows willed the puck through the force of his body and Dennis Wideman’s stick.

He’s the hardest working Canuck most every night.

Can he flip the switch by the end of the month?

3. Maxim Power

It was a night for the franchophones, as Max Lapierre scored his first goal in quite a while by jamming home an Andrew Ebbett pass.

It was the type of goal that for some reason reminded me of the big goals he scored during the 2011 cup run. It’s the type of goal the Canucks wouldn’t mind seeing come May.

 Hate ‘Em

1. It just feels so hollow

About a decade ago, Flames/Canucks was a rivalry that made for appointment viewing. There were divisional clashes, the opening round series that saw Matt Cooke tie Game 7 with seconds left only for Martin Gelinias to end overtime almost instantly.

As the Flames declined the rivalry waned, and now that Jarome Iginla is off to Pittsburgh the games have officially lost all meaning.

Bring on Edmonton as the Alberta enemy number one.

2. Poor Butler

Despite the coaching staff attempting to get backup-for-a-day Dustin Butler in the game late with the score 4-1, no whistle meant no chance.

Too bad for the kid.

3. Kassian’s ghost

Zack’s drop-off has been amazing this year and unfortunately he’s showing no signs of turning it around heading into the playoffs.

Can he flip the switch by the end of the month?

Stars

• 1. R. Luongo
• 2. T. Brodie
• 3. A. Burrows

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