JONATHAN HAYWARD
The Vancouver Canucks should be solely focused on the Nashville Predators these days, because their second-round opponent is accustomed to being overlooked and thrive on the underdog role.
So let's look forward for them...
The Canucks made their third trip to the American Midwest Sunday, and they could have a fourth in store should this series get to six games. They played unnecessary game - be it two, three or four, take your pick - to eliminate the Chicago Blackhawks, and they've played three overtime games.
So they've played nine playoff games, 10 if you add the overtime periods up, while travelling from the Pacific Northwest. No West Coast team, outside of the 2007 Anaheim Ducks, has won the Stanley Cup, and no team that took seven games to eliminate its first-round opponent has won a championship since the 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Not only is that history working against the Canucks, but so is the other Western Conference semi-final. The San Jose Sharks have a 2-0 series lead over the Detroit Red Wings, and are making their first foray outside of the state of California for Game 3 in Motown.
Safe to say that the Canucks are now Red Wings fans, hoping that Detroit can extend the series as long as possible, and turn it into a battle of attrition.