A better penalty kill, refreshed approach, and Willie Desjardins’ gamble on Ryan Miller paid off as the Canucks topped the Flames 2-1 to stave off elimination and force Game 6 for Saturday in Calgary. Here’s a look at what we learned in Game 5.
House Rules
The Vancouver Canucks outscored and outshot the Calgary Flames two-to-one in a do-or-die elimination game at Rogers Arena on Thursday night.
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With their convincing if narrow Game 5 victory, the Canucks demonstrated once again that in this series home-ice advantage is everything. It has shaped this series.
Game 5 in Vancouver looked nothing like the previous two contests in Calgary.
At the Scotiabank Saddledome the Flames’ forecheck pounded the Canucks, neutering their breakout entirely. The Canucks spent what seemed like the entirety of Game 5 in Calgary’s end of the rink, propelled there by a run of crisp zone exits.
The Flames won’t admit to feeling any additional urgency about finishing Vancouver off at home, but let’s get real, there’s no way they want to make the return trip to the coast to play a deciding game.
Of course, if Game 6 is similar in feel and appearance to what the Flames’ pummelling performances in Games 3 and 4 looked like, then Flames center Mikael Backlund’s confident, understated guarantee will likely be reality.
“There’s no way we’re losing at home,” Backlund told reporters in a steely, self-possessed tone on Thursday night.
“We’re up 3-2 and going home, loudest building now that Winnipeg is out in the NHL, so we’re going to take energy from that.”
Desjardins’ Adjustments
Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins tried a new trick or two on Thursday, though he downplayed his adjustments following his club’s Game 5 victory.
“Maybe (our game plan was) a little bit different, but not much,” Desjardins said. “At this time of the year you’re not going to do anything that you haven’t done all year. You might make a few adjustments, but not a lot.”
It looked like a lot in comparison with how the first few games of this series played out.
In Games 1 and 2 at home, Desjardins rolled his lines in order: first line, second line, third line, fourth line. Sedin, Bonino, Richardson, Horvat.
As the Canucks dug themselves a hole, Desjardins’ lines rolled on reliably and predictably.
In Game 5 Desjardins added a wrinkle or two. Vancouver’s forward lines were deployed in a way that was reactive to situations, both matchup and territorial. In the third period, Desjardins even shortened his bench.
“It wasn’t anything we haven’t done,” Desjardins insisted. “We just decided to do it a little earlier today.”
In the third period Desjardins started the frame with the Sedin twins, then went to the Horvat line. Nick Bonino’s line took a quick shift that resulted in an icing and instantly Daniel and Henrik Sedin hopped back over the boards.
Following that draw, it took only four seconds for Daniel to put the Canucks up for good.
For what it’s worth Desjardins’ best players seemed to notice a difference. The effect was dramatic, overall.
“It’s easy to play when you get into some rhythm,” Henrik told reporters after the game, “when you get more offensive zone face-offs.
“For us to produce, it’s easier.”
“Lets go Schlemko!”
David Schlemko passed through waivers unclaimed this season. In the first game of this series, he logged only a hair more than 10 minutes of ice.
Of late the Flames have used Schlemko more frequently. In Game 5 he was occasionally paired with T.J. Brodie, particularly following offensive zone faceoffs.
“It’s an unbelievable acquisition,” Flames coach Bob Hartley said of Schlemko. “With Mark Giordano’s injury, with Raphael Diaz’s injury, this guy has [been in an increased role] and he’s really doing very well.”
The 27-year-old defender has given the Flames – who have seemed reluctant to play any blue liner outside of their usual top-four for any length of time – crucial minutes. He’s even heard his name chanted at the Saddledome, and unironically too.
That Hartley has found a fifth blue liner whom he trusts to take a regular shift could become crucial as this series heads to a sixth (and possibly seventh) game.
Killer Instinct
Vancouver’s elite penalty kill has been lit up in this series, but it came up big on Thursday night. In six minutes of 4-on-5 time in Game 5, the Canucks gave up a single shot on goal.
To hear Vancouver’s players tell it, the penalty kill has been fine all along but the results just haven’t been there.
“We’ve given up maybe five good chances in five games and three went in,” said Bonino, who led all Canucks penalty killers in ice-time and won three of four faceoffs in 4-on-5 situations.
“We’re happy with our PK, it got us to where we are, and tonight when we needed it most guys stepped up and made big clears.”
My Name is Jonas
Flames netminder Jonas Hiller has been impenetrable in this series.
Though he’s dropped loose change into the slot like there’s a hole in his pocket, at least he’s been quick to smother the puck.
Hiller was a bit fortunate on Thursday, with the Canucks hitting multiple posts. You also have to credit the Flames, who played some typically excellent defence in front of him.
Still, Hiller made 41 stops on 43 shots faced. He was phenomenal yet again.
“Hiller stood on his head for us,” said Joe Colborne.
“As a veteran I think he understands the importance of big games and he’s dialed in right now,” added Hartley.
Goals have been hard for the Canucks to come by, and Hiller has been a major reason why. If the Canucks can’t find a way to make him pay for some of those rebounds in Game 6, then this series will be over.
Because you know Hiller won’t be giving up any easy ones.
