NHL
Frank Doyle
May 3, 2013

Canucks' Kevin Bieksa Doesn’t Remember Low Blow on Havlat

You know it’s NHL playoff season when players start coming down with awful cases of amnesia. They might remember all of their career stats from a long and storied hockey career, but suddenly can’t recall a cheap shot he delivered just a couple of hours ago. Vancouver Canucks veteran defenceman Kevin Bieksa is just the latest NHL player to come down with a terrible case of forgetfulness.

Video evidence clearly shows Bieksa giving San Jose forward Martin Havlat a nasty shot to the groin area during Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Sharks in Game 1 of their series. However, when asked about the incident before Friday’s Game 2, amnesia struck.

“I don’t remember that,” Bieksa told reporters. “I don’t remember. I don’t know. I’ll have to watch it over again to see what you’re talking about.”

Meanwhile, the Sharks are staying just as tight-lipped with Havlat’s condition heading into Friday’s Game 2. Havlat, who left the game after the spear midway through the first period and didn’t return hasn’t met with the media since the incident. Coach Todd McLellan decided to head the issue off at the pass before reporters even had a chance to bring it up.

“It’s playoffs, guys. You know we’re not going to give you anything,” McLellan said. “I’ll save you the headache of asking.”

So that leaves everything up in the air at least until the pregame skate in Vancouver. Havlat scored just eight goals and 10 assists in 40 games in the regular season, but looked like he was finally heating up down the stretch. The veteran winger hand five points in the last four games before the postseason began.

Kevin Bieksa was huge in Game 1, scoring his 10^th career playoff goal, which moved him into first all time in franchise postseason goal scoring for defencemen. He’s now just one point away from tying Sami Salo for the franchise lead in playoff points among blue liners. Bieksa logged more than 20 minutes of ice time in Game 1 and will need to have a major impact on tonight’s game after the Sharks put 40 shots on goal. The Canucks are expected to start Roberto Luongo in goal again this evening as Cory Schneider continues to be plagued by an undisclosed injury. Vancouver is set as a -140 favourite at Sports Interaction.