The Vancouver Canucks have a formidable task at hand heading into Nashville for game six of their first-round playoff series on Friday.
Winning three games in another team91裸聊视频檚 building in a series isn91裸聊视频檛 easy but that91裸聊视频檚 what the Canucks are looking to do as they try to clinch their first playoff series win since 2011.
They return knowing that despite not playing well in games three and four, they still managed to come out with a pair of victories.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been a pretty good road team (27-9-5) all year, so I think we are comfortable playing outside our building. Sometimes we actually play better on the road,91裸聊视频� said Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet. 91裸聊视频淭his is a tough building. We know that there were a couple of games there that maybe we didn91裸聊视频檛 deserve (to win) - just like game five (which) we thought we deserved. It91裸聊视频檚 one of those series that it really doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter (who plays better), it91裸聊视频檚 who wins the game.91裸聊视频�
Tocchet makes a great point in the sense that the team playing the better game hasn91裸聊视频檛 necessarily been rewarded in this series.
Coaches talk about following the process and that the results eventually will be there. But that91裸聊视频檚 also over the course of an 82-game season. In a small sample size such as a best-of-seven game series, sometimes it doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter if you did follow the process and played well, your season could be over.
The Canucks just hope that they are on the right side of the equation when it all adds up.
To eliminate Nashville, the Canucks will have to walk a fine line.
You have to match the intensity of your opponent, yet at the same time, you can91裸聊视频檛 get out of your own game according to Tocchet.
91裸聊视频淭he desperation of the other team is a big one. I think you have to match it and you have to be comfortable in a tight game. I think that is really important. If it91裸聊视频檚 0-0 late in the game 91裸聊视频� even if it91裸聊视频檚 1-0 going into the third 91裸聊视频� you have to be very comfortable playing in that (type of game). You have to buy your time for your chances,91裸聊视频� he explained.
91裸聊视频淪ometimes I think when you want to close out, you push the envelope too much. The next thing you know you91裸聊视频檙e giving up odd-man rushes, power plays and things like that.91裸聊视频�
Desperation is one thing that Nashville head coach Andrew Brunette liked about his team after game five in Vancouver.
91裸聊视频淚 think we could be better in all kinds of different areas. The one area we did bring an A+ was desperation. We had guys blocking shots. We had guys diving in front of shots. I thought we lived up to our billing of being relentless. Going down one, we kept pushing back and the belief in the group was there. It was a game of margins again and it91裸聊视频檚 been like that in every game this series,91裸聊视频� said Brunette.
The Canucks also see some areas in which they can be better in according to Nikita Zadorov.
91裸聊视频淥bviously it sucks to lose but it91裸聊视频檚 part of the game. Nobody said it91裸聊视频檚 going to be easy. Nobody said it was going to be (over in) four or five games. It could take seven games to win the series, so we91裸聊视频檙e taking it day-by-day. We watched some video and there are some things we can improve on for sure,91裸聊视频� noted the Canuck defenseman.
The winner of the series will face the Edmonton Oilers in the second round. The Oilers eliminated the Los Angeles Kings four-games-to-one by virtue of Wednesday91裸聊视频檚 4-3 victory.
OVERTIME:
* Tocchet refused to name a starter in goal for game six simply stating that the club 91裸聊视频渋s still working through that91裸聊视频� during his media availability session in Nashville but also added that he will have made a decision as of Thursday night.
* The Canucks were a loose group during their Thursday practice in Nashville. J.T. Miller hit the ice wearing goaltender Arturs Silovs dress shirt, which we will describe as peachy. 91裸聊视频淗e (Silovs) has got to know better. He has to know he91裸聊视频檚 not in a nightclub in Riga, Latvia,91裸聊视频� chuckled Zadorov.
* Rogers Arena will host another viewing party for game six. 91裸聊视频淭he response and reaction from fans who attended the first Rogers Away Game Viewing Party showed us that Canucks fans are so excited for every minute of playoff action. It91裸聊视频檚 time to fill Rogers Arena, welcome everyone in, and wave those towels.91裸聊视频� said Michael Doyle, President of Canucks Sports & Entertainment in a prepared statement.
* The Abbotsford Canucks lost game one of their AHL Pacific Division semi-final to the Ontario Reign by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday in California. Game two goes Sunday in Ontario with the series shifting to Abbotsford on Wednesday, May 8 and Friday, May 10 (if necessary).
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 91裸聊视频渢he Moj91裸聊视频� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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