VANCOUVER, B.C. — With the pressure completely on their shoulders and the momentum clearly in the Blackhawks’ corner, the Canucks will do what they hoped they wouldn’t have to do when the series moved back to Vancouver for Game 5 – play Game 6 in Chicago on Sunday.
The Canucks will board their charter Friday afternoon, bound for Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
“We got 20-something guys that do believe and that’s all that matters,” forward Daniel Sedin said. “For us we’ve been through adversity, we’re going to go through more adversity and this is when you show what kind of team you are.”
Since David Bolland’s return for Game 4, the Canucks’ big line of Daniel, Henrik and Alexandre Burrows have combined for one goal and are a collective minus-11 — and the Canucks have been outscored 12-2.
“It’s always frustrating losing,” Daniel said. “We’re the guys that are going to have to score. It’s frustrating losing, but we’re up 3-2, we have it in our own hands, we played well in Chicago the last couple years.
“This is playoffs, it’s back and forth, right now they got the momentum and we need to get it back.”
After spotting the Blackhawks a three-goal lead in the first period, Marian Hossa’s second of the game at 1:26 of the middle period sent Canucks starter Roberto Luongo to the bench in favor of backup Cory Schneider.
Luongo allowed four goals on 12 shots Thursday night after giving up six on 28 shots in Tuesday’s 7-2 loss.
“I just keep doing what I’ve been doing all year, I’ve been at the top of my game for the last five months,” said Luongo, who will be the Game 6 starter according to Alain Vigneault. “I feel good in what I’ve been doing and just make sure you apply that process in a game.
“Obviously you don’t lose something like that in a game or two. To me nothing changes, obviously the work is going to be there and I’m going to be focused.”
Vancouver’s penalty-killers surrendered two first-period goals, the defensemen pinched at untimely moments and the Canucks allowed the Blackhawks more room in their own end than they could’ve ever asked for.
Heading in to Game 5, Vigneault talked about his team needing to do a better job of gap control. Judging by the way the Canucks played Thursday night, the message did not get through.
“They’re doing a real good job right now of throwing ‘D’ up right away, using their speed and instead of being five guys tight together we’re spread out a little bit,” Vigneault said. “They’re taking advantage of that right now.”
Schneider turned aside 13 shots, allowing a goal to Duncan Keith at 4:47 of the second.
As a result of television scheduling the two teams will have an extra day between games – giving the Canucks more time to dissect the disaster that was Game 5.
“We look forward to stealing a game in Chicago,” said defenseman Kevin Bieksa confidently. “It will start with the first period next game, come out and be physical – get pucks deep and play our game. We didn’t have a good first period tonight and it hurt.”
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