1 – There has been a lot of talk about Vancouver’s killer instinct – or lack thereof – in the first and second round of these playoffs. And that’s fair considering the Canucks are just 2-4 in elimination games so far.
However we should also trumpet the club’s resiliency versus the Blackhawks and Predators. After losing games four, five and six against Chicago and then giving up the late shorthanded goal in game seven, the Canucks could easily have folded up the tent but they didn’t.
It couldn’t have been easy on the old brain to lose game five to the Predators and then have to fly all the way to Nashville for a game six.
Still the Canucks clutched up on the road and took care of a pesky Nashville team to close out the series. Yes the Canucks could have made it easier on themselves by winning game four in the first round and game five of the second round, but they didn’t.
You have to believe they are mentally stronger because of it.
2 – I can’t say enough about the crowds in Nashville. They were loud, proud, innovative with their chants and very involved in the game. It’s clearly a college basketball atmosphere at Bridgestone Arena and it works.
In game six the crowd started with an early "Kesler is a sissy" chant and then turned it’s attention to Luongo after the Legwand goal yelling, "it’s all your fault" at Vancouver’s number one goalie.
The most impressive thing though was the impromptu three-minute standing ovation the club gave the team through a TV timeout and beyond with no prompting from the scoreboard.
It’s clearly a southern market with a future, sure they’ve had some problems in the past but ever since new ownership came in, things have been on the rise in Music City.
3 – You have to feel good for Jeff Tambellini after he finally got into a playoff game on Monday. Tambellini, who has sat in favour of Aaron Rome at forward in this postseason, clearly is well down the depth chart.
I can guarantee you he hasn’t been a happy fellow the past month or so, although he’d never let you know that.
Tambellini saw fourth line duty in game six and wouldn’t you know it, his signature moment wasn’t an offensive one. With the score 2-1 Canucks, Predators forwrad Martin Erat looked to have a clear breakaway after a turnover from Henrik Sedin.
Tambellini would have none of it.
Tambellini closed in on Erat quickly knocking him off the puck with a clean shoulder to shoulder hit and squashed a very good Predators scoring chance.
"It’s something I always talk about with my trainer when we are doing bike rides in the summer," Tambellini told the Vancouver Province. "Think how this will help you back check in the playoffs.’
Canuck fans are just happy he got that chance.
4 – When you cover sports for a living you get to know – or get a good feel – for certain athletes.
I’ve always talked about my "Easy to Cheer For" list which includes the likes of Steve Nash, Simon Whitfield, Jarome Iginla, and Dirk Nowitzki.
Guys that even if they aren’t on the team you cheer for are still easy guys to cheer for.
Does that make sense?
Anyway you can add Joel Ward and Shea Weber to that list. Both handled themselves very well with the media, were very cordial and thoughtful and always had time for everyone.
Both seemed like very solid individuals.
5 – Finally, The Canucks will no doubt call up a few members of the Manitoba Moose for the remainder of their playoff run, now that the Moose are done.
In fact, Alain Vigneault already said that goalie Eddie Lack would be one of those players and that makes sense considering teams like to have three goalies at this time of year. If the starter takes an optional day off, the club will still have two goalies for practice.
If I was the one making the decision, I think the other players I would call up would be Sergei Shirokov on the strength of his season, Chris Tanev because he was a solid contributor to the big club, Jordan Schroeder who didn’t have a great regular season but turned it up a bit in the playoffs, as well as forwards Billy Sweatt and Aaron Volpatti.
What a great opportunity for some young guys to soak up the experience, just ask Aaron Rome, who was a black ace with the Ducks in 2007.