A couple stories just to get us all in the mood. A Canucks/Blues aphrodisiac if you will...
Cancuks sit on the brink
The Canucks will need another huge performance from the big three. During the regular season Vancouver's top line generated 119 goals but had managed just one during the first four games of the series.
(posted Apr. 20, 11:54AM EDT)
VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks look different although nothing has really changed as they head into Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues which will either end Vancouver's playoffs or give them one more lease on life.
Fan forum: Predictions for this crucial Game 6?
"Our backs are against the wall," said Canucks forward Jarkko Ruutu.
"Nothing has changed. We have to win this game and win the next one too. That's the bottom line."
After the Canucks' 5-3 win on Friday, the Blues remain ahead in their best-of-seven Western Conference quarter-final with a 3-2 lead. The Canucks must win Sunday's match in St. Louis if they hope to force a seventh and deciding game in Vancouver on Tuesday.
What was different about Vancouver's exciting, must-win Friday night was the Canucks showed flashes of their old offensive brilliance, received some clutch goaltending from Dan Cloutier and finely got some timely goals from their big line of Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison.
"We have to keep building," said the workhorse Bertuzzi, who scored his first goal of the series and broke a 10-game goal drought.
"It's nice to see the guys in here really believing in themselves and really confident. I know it will take a harder effort to get the one in St. Louis."
During the regular season Vancouver's top line generated 119 goals but had managed just one during the first four games of the series. Naslund, who had a career-high 48 goals in the regular season, scored his second of the playoffs Friday while Morrison collected his first point in 10 games with a second-period goal.
"Our line has been under a lot of scrutiny," said Morrison. "We haven't been scoring a lot of goals. It was nice to contribute and we expect to continue to do that."
The Blues' line of Dallas Drake, Doug Weight and Martin Rucinsky has gnawed and clawed at Vancouver's top trio like a dog with a bone.
The battles in front of the net between Bertuzzi and Blues rookie defenceman Barrett Jackman could be a story line for the next Wrestlemania.
St. Louis forward Tyson Nash said the Blues can't let the seed of confidence that has sprouted in Vancouver's top line grow.
"It's been key all series to shut those guys down," he said. "We gave them a little bit of life. They're feeling pretty good about themselves but we're back at home and we're all right with that." For the first time in the series the Canucks also seemed to rattle Blues goaltender Chris Osgood.
They peppered him with 35 shots and he allowed more goals than he had in the previous four games combined.
"He had to make a lot of saves, that's taxing for a defence and that's taxing for an opposition goaltender," said Canucks coach Marc Crawford. "We have to keep doing that. We have to build on that."
Keith Tkachuk said the Blues remain confident in Osgood, obtained from the New York Islanders at the trade deadline.
"He's kept us in a lot of games since we traded for him," said Tkachuk. "He's the guy back there. He's won us three games in the series. We've got to stick up for him."
Bad blood is also building between the teams. Vancouver forward Trent Klatt accused Osgood of head-butting him. Drake received a major for hitting from behind and a misconduct after driving Ruutu into the boards in the third period.
"I go out there and hit and if they retaliate, good," said Ruutu, who chafes the Blues like sandpaper. "It's playoffs. You're trying to do everything you can."
Several of the Blues are battling the flu and Osgood appeared to hurt his groin Friday, but no one is looking for excuses.
"The ball is in our court," said Nash. "We play great in front of our own fans and hopefully we're going to end it. We feel pretty confident."
Naslund said the challenge only keeps building for the Canucks.
"It's going to be a totally new game," he said.
"It's not going to be easy. It's going to be tough and probably a different type of game again. I know we have the group that can beat them."