Get the scalpel out and let the autopsy begin.

Where to begin? Well let’s start with the Sedins. (-7 combined) Even if I didn’t watch the game I see those numbers and know that there was not a lot of back checking and there was a lot of coasting. I find it hard to believe that one guy, Bolland, can have such an effect on two Sedins. I guess I am wrong.

Kesler and Burrows were almost invisible. At least they didn’t lead the march to the penalty box. The fourth line did. 59 minutes total. I have to give the refs some credit, they ran a tight ship in the third period. But we now also see the side effect of Torres’s hit on Seabrook. Vancouver can no longer be the hard hitting team as they will get penalized for the extra step hit. That does change a team’s mentality.

Bieksa got burned on the first goal. Edler got beaten to the puck on the third. I don’t know where Ehrhoff was for the fourth goal. There were no defensemen back on the fifth goal.

Good points:

I thought Luongo played ok. Bieksa did the right thing and beat down Stalberg. Kesler, Burrows and Bieksa kept their tempers in check for the most part.

Am I surprised by this game? Yes and no. I didn’t think the Canucks defensive style could collapse so quickly, but Toews was right when he said the Canucks have weak points. I suspect AV will point out all of the fuck ups ASAP.

What I expect to see next game:

1) Less Canuck D pinching in and more forwards coming back to help. When the Hawks can skate east-west in the offensive end it can only lead to bad things. Good back-checking leads to goals like the one Hansen scored in Game 1.

2) Hodgson. I like Torres, but he didn’t really do anything tonight.

3) More quick penalties by the refs.

4) Better forecheck as well by the Nucks. It took tonight off.

Now let's all take a breath, have a beer or twelve and get ready for Thursday.