BY MARK SPECTOR
sportsnet.ca
VANCOUVER -- Any decent playoff run constitutes a long road on which several lessons are learned. The plan for the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night is not to make the same mistake in Round 2 against Nashville that they made with the Chicago Blackhawks in Round 1.
You'll recall that Vancouver led Chicago 3-0 in games, then were blown out 7-2 in Game 4 at Chicago and 5-0 at home in Game 5. Suddenly, an OT goal by Ben Smith in Game 6, a late shorthanded marker by Jonathan Toews in Game 7, and the Canucks' Stanley Cup run was hanging by a thread just one round in.
"It's so recent, it's hard to forget what happened," winger Mikael Samuelsson said. "We're not just expecting to win. If we do ... we know we have to play our best. That's what we lacked against Chicago.
"There is no reason for what happened in the Chicago series -- 5-0, 7-2. That's not (supposed) to happen in the playoffs. You can lose games, but not like that.
"We thought, 'If we lose this one, we'll win the next one.' You can't have that."
So the Canucks talked about it at the end of their morning skate Saturday. They'll address the battle level again at their pre-game meetings. And when the coaches leave the room, head coach Alain Vigneault expects his leaders will address the subject one more time.
"If there was one lesson to be learned in Game 4 and Game 5 (against Chicago), you've got to make sure you put your work boots on and you put your best game on the ice," Vigneault said. "It's going to happen sometimes -- like it did in Game 6 -- when you play better than the other team and you lose. But as long as you go out, work hard, and give yourself a chance to win, then the chips will fall where they will fall."
With San Jose heading home with a chance to wrap up a five-game series against the Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver would be wise to wrap up their own series tonight.
"We don't want to make another five-hour flight to Nashville," Kevin Bieksa said.
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THE LINEUPS
Jerred Smithson didn't make the trip with Nashville after taking a harmless-looking Ryan Kesler elbow in the snout while the two were pursuing a puck in Game 4. Hockey players don't miss playoff games with broken noses, and though the Predators are listing Smithson with an "upper body" injury, we're guessing concussion. Likely J.P. Dumont will draw in for Smithson.
As for Vancouver, no lineup changes are imminent. As usual, Vigneault wasn't helpful on that front.
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LEARNING CURVE
You can argue whether Cody Hodgson would be better off playing first-line centre minutes for the Manitoba Moose, who trail Hamilton 3-2 in Round 2 of the American League playoffs, or playing eight minutes a night as a fourth-line centre here in Vancouver.
In the end though, it's a moot point.
"We needed him, at the end of the day," Vigneault said. "Manny (Malhotra) went down at the end of the season (and) we thought that (Hodgson) would be one of our Top 12 forwards, so we called him up. It's that simple."
From a developmental standpoint, you certainly can't make the argument that there is nothing left for Hodgson to accomplish in Manitoba. He played his only (mostly) full season there this season, and totalled 17-13-30 in 52 games.
As a former first-round pick, he's playing 8:01 a night in six of 11 Canucks playoff games, watching the rest from the press box. He's got one assist and is minus-3.
"I think there are some benefits to playing in the American League and playing big minutes in those pressure situations," Vigneault allowed, "as I think there are benefits to being here and getting used to the surroundings, the attention."
Of course, Hodgson knows where he'd rather be.
"It doesn't mater how much ice time you get, it's being part of the team. Helping whatever way possible," he said of playing on a line with Tanner Glass and, lately, Samuelsson on the right side. "I'm trying to fit in, and do my role.
"Just seeing how these guys work every day. Every day's a big day, and you look around the room and different guys are stepping up and helping the team win."
Mark Spector is the lead columnist for sportsnet.ca
Follow me on Twitter.com @SportsnetSpec
