NHL Playoff Preview: Vancouver Canucks to Battle Anaheim Ducks

Roberto Luongo gives the Vancouver Canucks a chance in the NHL playoffs (AP Images)

The Vancouver Canucks held on to defeat the Dallas Stars in seven games after nearly blowing a 3-1 first-round series lead.

Meanwhile, Anaheim had little trouble dispatching Minnesota in five games and has enjoyed almost a week to rest up for Vancouver.

Like the two teams’ first-round series, this one should be a low-scoring affair. Anaheim averaged just 2.6 goals per game despite winning four out of five over the Wild. Not to be outdone, Vancouver was shutout in all three of its losses to Dallas. The Sedins (Henrik and Daniel) and Co. averaged just 1.9 goals over the seven-game defensive struggle. Combined, Vancouver and Anaheim went 3-7-2 over/under in the first round.

For Anaheim, Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov form one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL. The Ducks boasted a 2.42 goals-against-average in the regular season, seventh best in the NHL. Having Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer manning the blueline didn’t hurt the cause.

Granted, the Canucks can keep the puck out of the net, too. Goalie Roberto Luongo, an MVP candidate, helped Vancouver to a 2.40 GAA in the regular season, fifth in the NHL. Strong defenders Willie Mitchell, Sami Salo, Kevin Bieksa, and Mattias Ohlund also played big roles defensively.

So how is anyone going to score? Most likely through special teams.

Anaheim was the most-penalized team in the regular season, drawing an average of 17.8 minutes per game. If the offensively challenged Canucks can capitalize on the power play - which is a big “if” after going 4-for-27 against Dallas - Vancouver might be able to steal a few games and perhaps the series.

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