Trying to decipher the Vancouver Canucks playoffs chances is a bit like unravelling the clues in a Dan Brown novel.
Vancouver's crusade to finally win a Stanley Cup won't challenge the standard religious beliefs like Brown's The Da Vinci Code, but the faith of local fans has already been shaken by the Canucks' performance down the stretch of this abbreviated NHL season.
Vancouver had nothing to prove in the last week of the season, but there still is a difference between losing games that don't matter and being beaten, badly in some cases. After playing maybe their best game of the year in a 3-1 win over the Presidents' Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks were beaten 3-1 by an Anaheim Ducks team that rested several stars and were embarrassed 7-2 by an Edmonton Oiler club that missed the playoffs.
You can place an asterisk beside the Edmonton loss. Veterans like Daniel Sedin, Alex Burrows, Alex Edler, Dan Hamhuis and Jason Garrison didn't dress. Henrik Sedin played just 22 seconds to keep his 629-game Ironman streak alive. But giving up seven goals is never good, especially when the goaltender is Roberto Luongo, who could be in net when the playoffs begin if Cory Schneider hasn't recovered from what ever his injury is.
"Not the ideal way to finish the season but we will have to put this one behind us and get ready for the playoffs," defenceman Kevin Bieksa told reporters in Edmonton.
So what can fans expect when the Canucks face the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the playoffs Wednesday night at Rogers Arena?
The Canucks, who finished the season with a 26-15-7 record and 59 points for the third seed in the Western Conference, take a different perspective into this year's Stanley Cup tournament. Players realize the sands of time are trickling out of Vancouver's hourglass.
"Obviously, the window is closing," agreed Burrows. "Maybe it feels a little bit different, we but know that our expectations in this locker-room are the same."
The Canucks had the best record in the NHL the two previous seasons. They rolled into the playoffs picked as Cup favourites. This year six other teams, three in the West, have better records than Vancouver.
"We shouldn't be afraid of any team," said Henrik Sedin. "We're confident in our group. But I think you have seven other teams that are feeling the same way."
San Jose and Vancouver have met just once before in the playoffs. The Canucks beat the Sharks in five games to advance to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
This season, the Sharks finished sixth in the West with a 25-16-7 record for 57 points but have just one win in their last four games.
Vancouver struggled against the Sharks during the regular season, managing just one point in three games. The Sharks beat the Canucks 4-1 and 3-2 in San Jose and won a 3-2 shootout at Rogers Arena. San Jose is still a better matchup up for Vancouver than the Los Angeles Kings or St. Louis Blues would have been, two very physical teams that would have tested the Canucks endurance.
To beat the Sharks, the Canucks will have to cool off San Joses hot goaltender Antti Niemi.
"He's the reason we're in the post-season," said Sharks captain Joe Thornton. "When you've got a great goaltender like that, you can ride him a long time."
The Sharks have three players who have scored 15 or more goals this shortened season: Logan Couture (21), Patrick Marleau (17) and Joe Pavelski (16). Daniel Sedin leads the Canucks with 12 goals.
The Canucks want to avoid a repeat of last year when they were beaten in the first round by the eighth-seeded Kings. A healthy Ryan Kesler has improved the Vancouver power play and added some toughness.
Vancouver will beat the Sharks, probably in six games. Whether the Canucks have the ability to win a second round of the playoffs is another story.
Canucks First Round schedule
The 2013 Stanley Cup Western Conference Quarterfinal begins 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1 at Rogers Arena where the Vancouver Canucks host the San Jose Sharks in a best-of-seven series. All games will be televised on TSN (not CBC, sorry public airwave watchers) and broadcast on the TEAM 1040.
Wednesday, May 1 7:30 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, Rogers Arena
Friday, May 3 7:00 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, Rogers Arena
Sunday, May 5 7:00 p.m. Vancouver at San Jose, H.P. Pavilion
Tuesday, May 7 7:00 p.m. Vancouver at San Jose, H.P. Pavilion
*Thursday, May 9 7:00 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver, Rogers Arena
*Saturday, May 11 TBD Vancouver at San Jose, H.P. Pavilion
*Monday, May 13 TBD San Jose at Vancouver, Rogers Arena
* If needed
Jim Morris is a veteran reporter who has covered sports for 30 years. Reach him at [email protected]
