NHL: Canucks Can Take Big Step on Saturday Night

An emotional Game 1 caused tension around Canada before the Vancouver Canucks finally claimed victory late on. Al Dannity says the Canucks must raise their game on Saturday night to ensure a 2-0 lead before the series moves to Boston.

You may now exhale
It’s been 48 hours since Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, rather aptly on a 1-0 scoreline. Here’s a reminder of how they did it.

I’m only slightly exaggerating when I say most Canucks fans are still recovering from that thriller in Game 1. There is a long road ahead yet but Raffi Torres has made it that little bit shorter for Vancouver. Much like the Miami Heat learnt in the NBA last night, one home victory is only satisfying if you follow it up with a second big win before the series hits the road.

Offense must deliver
Vancouver fans will take a victory any way they can get it and rightly so but they can’t rely on another shutout from Robert Luongo on Saturday night. I have no doubt the Canucks’ goaltender is capable of delivering another gem when the pressure is on but it will take a lot to repeat the 36 of 36 performance from Game 1. Tim Thomas had a big game for Boston but the Canucks have the talent to pressure the Bruins’ defense on Saturday night. With substantial attacking talent on both sides, Vancouver needs to deliver more than one goal to ensure victory in this match-up.

The mental edge
When two success-starved franchises meet in a finals series, especially in the Stanley Cup Finals, there are huge psychological factors in play. The Canucks have an opportunity to wreck the Bruins’ confidence on Saturday night. A big win in Game 2 would ramp up the pressure on Boston ahead of Game 3, with talk of a potential sweep bound to fill the air. For their part, the Bruins recognize that all is not lost when they take the ice on Saturday night. Splitting the first two games would leave the series tied at 1-1 but momentum would swing heavily in Boston’s favor. This promises to be a can’t miss match-up on Saturday.