Roberto Luongo gets the start for Vancouver in Game 1. Of course he does. Just another twist in what has been a crazy story involving Vancouver’s goalies over the past two seasons.
As all of you know, Luongo’s last appearance wasn’t pretty as he was shelled for five quick goals in the third period of Saturday’s loss in Edmonton.
Luongo was so hot after the game that he declined to speak to the media — which never happens. On Monday, Luongo said he was embarrassed and angry at himself. Many Canucks fans feel he was pissed at head coach Alain Vigneault for not getting him out of there.
One thing we do know is that Luongo is 9-2 in series-opening games, his only losses coming against Anaheim in 2007 and Los Angeles last year.
SCHNEIDER HURT?
Over the past week I said time and time again that there was nothing “funky” going on with the Canucks assertion that Cory Schneider was hurt.
Somehow many felt the Canucks were just giving him some rest while allowing Luongo the farewell starts he deserved (especially in front of the home fans).
Really? You’re going to take practice time away from your No. 1 goalie if he isn’t hurt. Not a chance.
There are a lot of folks revising their theory on what has been going on the last 10 days now.
BOTHERSOME JOE
Over the past couple of years Joe Thornton has shed the label that he disappears come playoff time.
He’s beefed up his defensive game without throwing too much of that scary offensive talent out the window. Vancouver fans also know he’ll be doing his best to try and get under the skin of the Canucks’ top centremen.
He once tried to get Ryan Kesler to fight at the opening puck drop of a playoff game and of course he has “accidently on purpose” poked his fingers in Henrik Sedin’s face while talking with a ref.
Henrik doesn’t think Thornton will back off that tactic in this series and expects San Jose’s captain to be a pain in the rear once again.
“He’s one of the guys who likes to challenge us to different things and so far we haven’t bit on it so we’ll see what happens,” he said.
LESSONS FROM 2012
You don’t often hear players admit to looking past teams, especially in a playoff series, but a few Canucks have mentioned that was the fatal flaw in last year’s early exit to the Kings.
“Maybe we looked a little too far ahead. Not that we were taking them lightly but we were certainly conscious about what was happening past them and what we were going to look at in the second round,” said defenceman Kevin Bieksa. “I think we weren’t totally focused on LA and we’re not going to make that mistake again.”
“You know we were preparing, a month before the playoffs, for a long run and I don’t think we can do that,” Dale Weise explained. “We have to just focus on the first series. I think last year was a good learning tool for us. We’re not looking anywhere past San Jose, they are a good hockey club.”
PROJECTED LINE-UP:
Daniel-Henrik-Burrows
Higgins-Kesler-Kassian
Raymond-Roy-Hansen
Ebbett-Lapierre-Weise
Hamhuis-Garrison
Edler-Bieksa
Alberts-Corrado
Luongo