today at 5:00 p.m. CBC from chicago
For the Canucks…
The mark of a playoff warrior is found in his ability to step up his game in crucial times when called upon and Mason Raymond definitely found a way to step it up during Game 3. Promoted to the second line alongside Ryan Kesler and Mats Sundin in place of the injured Pavol Demitra, the 23-year old picked a perfect time to record his first career playoff tally with the opening goal of the game at 15:34 of the first period. For the 6’0”, 182 lbs. left winger, the goal was the first in 11 games. It also gave the former UMD Bulldog points in two of the last three games after he began the playoffs with four consecutive outings without a point.
For the Calgary, Alberta native, his goal on Tuesday also marked the first professional playoff goal of his career. While he is making his NHL playoff debut this year, he has had previous professional playoff experience at the American Hockey League level back in 2006.07 when he suited up 13 playoff games with the Manitoba Moose netting one assists and no penalty minutes.
For the Blackhawks…
Chicago is known as the City of Big Shoulders, but the only shoulder that Blackhawks fans have been talking about in recent weeks is the one belonging to Jonathan Toews. Despite the 21-year old’s assurances to the inquiring media that his recent struggles have had more to do with the flu than to an undisclosed upper body injury, his diminished ice-time and lack of point production would appear to suggest otherwise. However, the 6’2”, 209 lbs. centre did alleviate some of the concern on Tuesday night when he had arguably his strongest outing of the series in a losing effort suiting up in a series-high 16:26 of ice-time and going 10-for-14 in the faceoff dot.
With much of the Blackhawks’ playoff hopes riding on those same shoulders of Toews, the Winnipeg, Manitoba native can take another big step towards ensuring everybody of his health and simultaneously getting the ‘Hawks back into the series by snapping out of his goal drought. The Blackhawks’ leading goal scorer in the regular season with 34, Toews has not found the back of the net since his two-goal outing back in Game 2 against the Flames. His current seven-game goal-less slump marks his longest goal drought since he opened the regular season without a goal in his first 12 games played. So far in the 2009 playoffs after nine games played, Toews has notched seven points (2-5-7) and 24 penalty minutes.
This game will or won't set the tone for the rest of this series. Of course if
Canucks win, they will be in control, but we are a long way from that point,
as this is almost do or die for chicago, and don't think they won't find a way
to win, as, if they don't they are in deep trouble. They didn't play particularly
well last game, but canucks play had a lot to do with that, perhaps tonight
they will choose to play or more 'two way' game'. like vancouver, and wait for
their chances, as fast as they are, and as talented as they are, they have no
veterans on the team, and do play a high risk game at times, they need older
players on the team to settle them down once in awhile, and they do not have
that, not sure if Campbell is even 30 yet, don't think so, and havlat isn't 30 yet,
the goalie is nearing 40.
The first goal is crucial.
Sami Salo will not play, he did fly to chicago, but didn't even practice, so it
is obvious that the 'lower body injury' he suffered, is no where near healed.
I'm glad to see that the 2nd line with raymond/kesler/sundin will be together,
I see lots of light at the end of the tunnel for that line, and with the sedin
line up in front of them, it gives chicago two dangerous lines to worry about,
and our third line could get going again tonight, they didn't do much in the
last two games, but didn't hurt us either.
GO CANUCKS GO