(Sports Network) - Two clubs who advanced on resilience clash tonight when the Vancouver Canucks host the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series at GM Place.
The matchup pits the league's second-highest scoring team, the Canucks, against a defensive machine in the Wild, who placed fourth in the NHL in goals-against.
Both teams rebounded from 3-1 series deficits to win their first-round set in seven games, Vancouver against St. Louis and Minnesota versus Colorado. The Wild shocked the Avs by winning three games in Denver during the course of the series.
Surprisingly, what ultimately allowed the Wild to come back was the goaltending edge they held against the Avs, who were let down by the great Patrick Roy. Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire utilized his two-headed backstop system perfectly, getting what he could out of Dwayne Roloson before turning to Manny Fernandez during Game 4. Fernandez stopped 91 of the 97 shots he faced in three starts, including a 43-save effort in the 3-2 Game 7 overtime victory.
Of course, the goaltenders wouldn't be where they are if it wasn't for the help they receive in front of them. Lemaire's sometimes tedious defensive system, which won him a Cup in New Jersey, isn't always fun to watch but it wins hockey games. Every player on the ice has his responsibility and when that mentality is adhered to, it's tough to crack.
Lemaire's crew did a very fine job limiting the effectiveness of the
Avalanche's vaunted top line in the latter part of the series. Peter
Forsberg's goal in Game 7 was the lone marker accounted for by the trio, which also includes Milan Hejduk and Alex Tanguay, in the final four games.
Minnesota will have another tall task this round, facing the high-powered Canucks unit of Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison. Center Wes Walz, who helped contain Forsberg and Co., will have the responsibility again, but the Wild do lack a beefy defenseman among their regulars to lock horns with the 235-pound Bertuzzi
Offensively, young Minnesota star Marian Gaborik awoke after struggling in the second half of the regular season. The multi-faceted winger led the team with four goals in the series, including the equalizer late in Game 7. Andrew Brunette tallied three times, including the series-clincher in OT.
The Canucks, meanwhile, scored a meager four goals in as many games to start their series with the banged-up Blues, before Naslund, Bertuzzi and Morrison got back to doing what they do best -- torment the opposition. The trio combined for six goals in the final three tilts, thus providing the spearhead of the team's attack we've become so accustomed to. Naslund led the way with
four goals -- one in each of the last four games.
Joining the team's big guns in turning around the set was goaltender Dan Cloutier, who proved doubters wrong with his first playoff series victory. Cloutier settled down after some early trouble and outplayed former Stanley Cup winner Chris Osgood in the latter part. He was by no means spectacular, but did what was needed against a team that has its share of weapons.
Back on defense, the Canucks will need a better overall series from Ed Jovanovski, who was minus-4 in the first four games against the Blues. He did rebound with a plus-3 rating the rest of the way and scored the eventual game-winner in Game 6.
Vancouver and Minnesota went 2-2-1 against each other this campaign, but haven't played since January 28. Naslund scored three goals with five assists against the Wild in the season series, while Gaborik posted five tallies and four helpers versus the Canucks.
Game 2 will be played Sunday night at GM Place.
2002-2003 Meetings
11/02 - Vancouver, 4-2 (at Min)
11/25 - Vancouver, 2-1 (at Min)
12/07 - Minnesota, 4-2 (at Van)
01/16 - Minnesota, 5-2 (at Min)
01/28 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Van)
2001-2002 Meetings
11/11 - Vancouver, 5-0 (at Min)
11/27 - Minnesota, 2-1 (at Min)
12/22 - Minnesota, 2-1 (at Van)
03/02 - Vancouver, 6-3 (at Van)
04/05 - Vancouver, 5-4 ot (at Van)
2000-2001 Meetings
11/26 - Minnesota, 4-2 (at Min)
01/30 - Vancouver, 3-2 ot (at Van)
02/26 - Vancouver, 5-2 (at Min)
03/04 - Minnesota, 4-3 ot (at Van)
03/25 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Min)
Regular Season Notes
Note - Minn is unbeaten (2-0-1) after losing the last 4 meetings.
Note - These two teams are 4-4-1 in the last nine meetings.
Note - Vancouver is 5-4-2 in the last 11 meetings.
Note - Vancouver is 7-5-2 in the last 14 meetings.
Note - Minn snapped a 2-game series home losing streak on 01/16/03.
Note - Vancouver is 4-2-1 in its last seven at Minnesota.
Note - Minn is unbeaten (1-0-1) after losing its last 2 at Vanc
Note - Minnesota is 3-2-1 in its last six at Vancouver
MIN has won the last three meetings ATS.
MIN is 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall.
The over is 6-2 in MIN's last eight overall.
VAN has won their last three overall ATS.
The over is 12-6 when VAN is on two days rest.
VAN is 16-8 ATS at home following a win.
The matchup pits the league's second-highest scoring team, the Canucks, against a defensive machine in the Wild, who placed fourth in the NHL in goals-against.
Both teams rebounded from 3-1 series deficits to win their first-round set in seven games, Vancouver against St. Louis and Minnesota versus Colorado. The Wild shocked the Avs by winning three games in Denver during the course of the series.
Surprisingly, what ultimately allowed the Wild to come back was the goaltending edge they held against the Avs, who were let down by the great Patrick Roy. Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire utilized his two-headed backstop system perfectly, getting what he could out of Dwayne Roloson before turning to Manny Fernandez during Game 4. Fernandez stopped 91 of the 97 shots he faced in three starts, including a 43-save effort in the 3-2 Game 7 overtime victory.
Of course, the goaltenders wouldn't be where they are if it wasn't for the help they receive in front of them. Lemaire's sometimes tedious defensive system, which won him a Cup in New Jersey, isn't always fun to watch but it wins hockey games. Every player on the ice has his responsibility and when that mentality is adhered to, it's tough to crack.
Lemaire's crew did a very fine job limiting the effectiveness of the
Avalanche's vaunted top line in the latter part of the series. Peter
Forsberg's goal in Game 7 was the lone marker accounted for by the trio, which also includes Milan Hejduk and Alex Tanguay, in the final four games.
Minnesota will have another tall task this round, facing the high-powered Canucks unit of Markus Naslund, Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison. Center Wes Walz, who helped contain Forsberg and Co., will have the responsibility again, but the Wild do lack a beefy defenseman among their regulars to lock horns with the 235-pound Bertuzzi
Offensively, young Minnesota star Marian Gaborik awoke after struggling in the second half of the regular season. The multi-faceted winger led the team with four goals in the series, including the equalizer late in Game 7. Andrew Brunette tallied three times, including the series-clincher in OT.
The Canucks, meanwhile, scored a meager four goals in as many games to start their series with the banged-up Blues, before Naslund, Bertuzzi and Morrison got back to doing what they do best -- torment the opposition. The trio combined for six goals in the final three tilts, thus providing the spearhead of the team's attack we've become so accustomed to. Naslund led the way with
four goals -- one in each of the last four games.
Joining the team's big guns in turning around the set was goaltender Dan Cloutier, who proved doubters wrong with his first playoff series victory. Cloutier settled down after some early trouble and outplayed former Stanley Cup winner Chris Osgood in the latter part. He was by no means spectacular, but did what was needed against a team that has its share of weapons.
Back on defense, the Canucks will need a better overall series from Ed Jovanovski, who was minus-4 in the first four games against the Blues. He did rebound with a plus-3 rating the rest of the way and scored the eventual game-winner in Game 6.
Vancouver and Minnesota went 2-2-1 against each other this campaign, but haven't played since January 28. Naslund scored three goals with five assists against the Wild in the season series, while Gaborik posted five tallies and four helpers versus the Canucks.
Game 2 will be played Sunday night at GM Place.
2002-2003 Meetings
11/02 - Vancouver, 4-2 (at Min)
11/25 - Vancouver, 2-1 (at Min)
12/07 - Minnesota, 4-2 (at Van)
01/16 - Minnesota, 5-2 (at Min)
01/28 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Van)
2001-2002 Meetings
11/11 - Vancouver, 5-0 (at Min)
11/27 - Minnesota, 2-1 (at Min)
12/22 - Minnesota, 2-1 (at Van)
03/02 - Vancouver, 6-3 (at Van)
04/05 - Vancouver, 5-4 ot (at Van)
2000-2001 Meetings
11/26 - Minnesota, 4-2 (at Min)
01/30 - Vancouver, 3-2 ot (at Van)
02/26 - Vancouver, 5-2 (at Min)
03/04 - Minnesota, 4-3 ot (at Van)
03/25 - Tied, 2-2 ot (at Min)
Regular Season Notes
Note - Minn is unbeaten (2-0-1) after losing the last 4 meetings.
Note - These two teams are 4-4-1 in the last nine meetings.
Note - Vancouver is 5-4-2 in the last 11 meetings.
Note - Vancouver is 7-5-2 in the last 14 meetings.
Note - Minn snapped a 2-game series home losing streak on 01/16/03.
Note - Vancouver is 4-2-1 in its last seven at Minnesota.
Note - Minn is unbeaten (1-0-1) after losing its last 2 at Vanc
Note - Minnesota is 3-2-1 in its last six at Vancouver
MIN has won the last three meetings ATS.
MIN is 6-2 ATS in their last eight overall.
The over is 6-2 in MIN's last eight overall.
VAN has won their last three overall ATS.
The over is 12-6 when VAN is on two days rest.
VAN is 16-8 ATS at home following a win.
