Key Factors for the Playoffs Round 2

1. Penalties

The Canucks were the third  most penalized (PIM) team in the regular season, and it carried over into the 1st round playoffs. The head coach and the players all talked about "staying out of the box" before the series and between the games, but they failed to execute during the games.

Fortunately for the Canucks, the Blues power play couldn't take advantage. The series turned into a "rope-a-dope" play where the Blues were thwarted again and again on their power plays and the Canucks were able to seize their scoring chances and win the series.

2. Speed and Skill

The Canucks' failure to reduce penalties, to me, suggests perhaps that they were trying to compensate for their lack of speed and/or skill. This worries me more than the penalties. The Hawks have many players who have both speed and skills, and can play the puck well. Their offense has more depth, and their power play is also better in the playoffs than the Blues. They'll make the Canucks pay for their mistakes.

3. Secondary Scoring

Needless to say, Mike Gillis signed Mats Sundin to boost their offense in the playoffs. The team definitely needs him and his linemates to step up and produce. Their line only scored one goal in the 1st round. Ryan Keslar looked extremely frustrated, having 13 shots with no goal. Hopefully they will play much better in the 2nd round. All three, even four, lines and the defense need to chip in on scoring.

4. Grit and Determination

The Canucks proud themselves on being a team of character. They showed it in the 1st round, outworking the Blues team and "battling for every inch on the ice". Goaltending and defense are the strengths of the team. They'll need to prove it again in the 2nd round, facing waves of offense from the Hawks, and not lose their composure when under-siege or letup when they are ahead.