Canucks vs. Boston: A Few Thoughts Before Game Five
Written by: Larry “The Nucks IceMan” Johnson
With the announcement that rookie D-man Chris Tanev would play in place of Keith Ballard, it sure throws all of the pairings out the window. I would expect the duos to be: Tanev/Andrew Albert, Kevin Bieksa/Alex Edler and Sami Salo with Christian Ehrhoff.
I can’t see Ehrhoff, who has had a wicked (as in bad -10) play-off with Bieksa.
The Canucks defense needs back-check and puck support from the forwards coming deep into the defensive zone, to help be a short escape route for the outlet pass. Roberto Luongo cannot let the first goal in, nor a soft one, and has to play the best game of these play-offs.
Coaching changes from Vigneault would sure let everyone knows that he’s not going to be out-coatched by Bruins Claude Julien. Putting Chris Higgins with the Sedins, Alex Burrows back with Ryan Kesler, Jeff Tambellini instead of Mason Raymond, who has been totally ineffective as I said he would, and Manny Malhotra back with the third line would be a start.
Fourth line personnel would be Maxim Lapierre, Victor Oreskovich and Tanner Glass. Not the they will see much ice anyways, as I would expect Vigneault to shorten his bench early along with the defense down to basically the top four.
If the Canucks can finally score a power-play goal and quit giving up short-handed goals, they should be in a good position for a win, but they MUST score the first goal.
Footnotes: Discipline will be a key component for the Canucks who cannot, and must not, fall into the Bruins physical trap and after whistle scrums. This game should dictate who will win the Stanley Cup.
It’s time to get ready for the game. GO CANUCKS GO!
Photo Credits – AP, Getty Images, Google Images and Yahoo Sports!
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