Rich Lam
For every other team in the Stanley Cup playoffs, winning Game 1 was a luxury.
For the Vancouver Canucks, it was a necessity.
The here-we-go-again mindset was one defeat away, and thanks to a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday, the Canucks have some breathing room.
Some impressions on Game 1...
Vancouver
- Depth
It was the difference. The Canucks got goals from the second and third lines, and effective shifts from the fourth line.
- Offensive A-game
That wasn't it. That wasn't close to it. Yet they still won. The Blackhawks are in tough if the offence shows up in Game 2.
Chicago
- Traffic
Dustin Byfuglien where art thou? The lack of a net-front presence was the biggest difference between Game 1 and every other Canucks-Hawks playoff game.
- Corey Crawford
He was mighty shaky in the beginning, but settled down as the game wore on. Have the nerves settled, or is he still vulnerable?