Cars honking, stereos blaring, smiles all around, some mischief in the air, and plenty of euphoria. That was the scene after the Vancouver Canucks swept the St. Louis Blues in the first round. Now it's the scene in Chicago as the Blackhawks head to their first Western Conference Final in 14 years.
After the Canucks won in the first round everybody jumped onto the bandwagon and believed this was the year the Canucks would make it all the way and the Blackhawks would be no challenge, everyone except for me that is. I didn't believe in the Canucks to start the season and I didn't believe in them during the season and I didn't believe in them in the playoffs either. Why? because the Canucks to me are a C- team with an A+ goaltender and although goalies are supposed to be the difference makers in the playoffs the team has to play well too, oh and they let Nazzy (my favourite Canuck) go retire with the Rangers. I had seen plenty of Blackhawks game's via the internet to know they would be the Canucks worst nightmare in the playoffs. The 'Hawks are a B- team with an A- goaltender, but guess what the 'Hawks have that nobody other than the Washington Capitals really has and that the Canucks definitely don't have. I'll tell you, it's called speed and in the "fastest game on earth" it is the biggest weapon one can have. The 'Hawks are the fastest team up and down in the Western Conference; they play purely on the offensive side and utilize their biggest playmakers, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Whereas the Canucks are a slow team that doesn't have any playmakers and relies too heavily on their goaltender.
In what was the final game, it was Chicago's two stars that dominated the game and exposed the weaknesses in Vancouver's game. Kane and Toews combined for 5 goals (3 & 2 respectively) and 2 assists (1 each) in game 6 and were the reason the 'Hawks are moving on. The only way the Canucks could have beat the 'Hawks was if they were physical but that has never been Vancouver's game and every time they do try they take senseless penalties and with a fast offensive team like Chicago the last thing you want to do is play one man down. Chicago has a realistic chance to make the Cup final but they will be matched up against either the Ducks or the Red Wings and both those teams are experienced and very physical. Chicago will have to be much more poised to win against either of those teams to advance but as Vancouver has learned don't count them out.
As for Vancouver many people are disappointed and will probably jump off the bandwagon and berate the Canucks' performance, but honestly this was a team that shouldn't have made it past the first round of the playoffs. They need some serious offensive upgrades and a playmaker. The Sedin twins will probably be back but the Canucks need a guy who can create for himself and they haven't had anyone like that since Pavel Bure really.
Peace and Much Love To Ya :)
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