Stop.
Stop panicking.
Like you, I’m disappointed that the Canucks lost game one against the Kings on Wednesday, and I wasn’t impressed with how they played, beyond the performance of Roberto Luongo. But I’m not panicking and neither should you.
There are a couple big reasons. For instance, there is no possible way the Canucks will give the Kings more than twelve-and-a-half minutes on the powerplay including two 5-on-3s and a 5-minute major again. The Kings were certainly the better team in game one, but they won on the powerplay, scoring one goal with a two-man advantage and another during Bitz’s 5-minute major.
But here’s something else to consider: last year, three higher-ranked teams lost the first game of their round one playoff series. Two of those three went on to win the series; the other was the fourth ranked Ducks versus the fifth ranked Predators, so it was hardly an upset.
One of those teams was the Boston Bruins, who were shutout 2-0 in their first game of the 2011 playoffs. They actually lost their first two games against the Montreal Canadiens and had to go to overtime in game seven to win the series. In case you don’t recall, things turned out pretty well for the Bruins.
In 2010, the second place Chicago Blackhawks faced the seventh ranked Nashville Predators in the first round, and lost 4-1 in game one, albeit with 2 empty net goals. The Blackhawks went on to win the series in 6 games, then went on to win the Stanley Cup.
That’s right: the last two Stanley Cup winners lost game one of the first round.
That doesn’t mean too much at this point, considering 8 teams will lose game one, but it should give you a reason to calm down and unflip your pool. After all, the weather’s getting warmer and you’ll need that pool soon for swimming.
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peanutflower
April 13, 2012Well said! I’m not panicking myself. I’m taking more the zen approach. Plus, I don’t have a pool so no flipping in this house. Just some rearranging of “lucky stuff”
JS Topher
April 13, 2012I stopped panicking when I learned that my bathtub is not a suitable substitute for flipping.
Chako Mika
April 13, 2012I tried flipping my pool table, but it wasn’t a great substitute either…
DanD
April 13, 2012What we need is some kind of Swimming Pool Table. That would be ideal for flipping!
sarah
April 13, 2012I do not care for your words of reason. I have not been exercising my pool flipping forearms since the middle of January for naught.
Jokes. Great article as usual.
JustSayin'
April 13, 2012Good article!
jim
April 13, 2012Also, consider the fact that the Canucks have *never*won a cup when they won game 1 of any series! THIS IS A GREAT SIGN GUYS.
Rie
April 13, 2012I thought about that…and wondered if I were the only one thinking about it.
Looks like there are others on the same page…I hope it is the difference
that will push the team forward to the Cup.
Warpstone
April 13, 2012Awesome. Thank you Daniel.
The playoffs are a yo-yo. Worry if you’re facing elimination. Otherwise, look on the bright side that no matter how badly you lose a game, that single score doesn’t spill over into the next game like a two-legged playoff in soccer.
hockeyispretty
April 13, 2012The voice of reason speaks! The good news: a few people may calm down now. The bad news: you’ll be first against the wall when the revolution comes.
Chris the Curmudgeon
April 13, 2012Still trying to determine the right combination of shaving/not-shaving, lucky Canucks hat wearing/not wearing that will not jinx team. Last year’s combo of shaving and wearing the hat every game day was quite successful (did not wear it games 4-6 against Chicago, or game 5 against San Jose, and all were losses). However, the hat’s luck seemed to run out in the Finals, so I’m experimenting with not wearing it right now, though a game 2 loss and it’s coming back out, though as a Bay Area resident, it’s not really a hit with Sharks fans.
Incidentally, this was the Canucks’ first game 1 loss (in any playoff series), since round 2 vs the Ducks in 2007, bracketing 8 consecutive game 1 wins, and only the third loss in a game 1 since the 90′s (a span of 16 series). Feels weird.
hold_the_stats
April 13, 2012Please, hold the stats! I hated the, “with the Canucks up 3-0 in the Blackhawks series, we have a 98.2% chance of winning the series” last year. When you hear, “statistically, air travel is the safest form of travel” it usually is made by someone on the ground. It doesn’t mean anything to someone experiencing brain-numbing turbulence at 30 thousand feet.
Don’t talk about the series. That’s looking too far ahead. We have one game tonight. Based on Wednesday night, the other team is arguably just as playoff ready as us. For this one game there is then a roughly 50-50 chance of winning. This stat is just as valid as any of yours.
You can talk about intangibles, but that is usually done after the what has happened has happened. Sit back and enjoy the ride because there is no guarantee of the destination you were expecting – a good lesson for life too.
Chicky
April 13, 2012Damnit! *puts down kiddie pool*
Honestly, I’m cool still. It’s all good. They know that they have to show up and be clean tonight. Just no more barrell rolls from Kesler please. That was NOT a pretty thing to watch on ice. That’s pretty to watch on Wipe Out only.
DaNucklehead
April 13, 2012While I am not panicing because they lost game (Big deal, you can’t win the cup in the first game), I am very frustrated by how much less prepared they seemed to be for the Kings than they should have. Kopitar’s line dominated Pahlsson’s line. Richards made Kesler look silly on the ice all night long (and it wasn’t the end over end somersault – but in their play)
The Canucks looked unprepared to me.
Brent
April 13, 2012I would say that, possibly, panicking is a strong word for what I am feeling, but I am definitely very concerned. I was worried when LA lost their last game in OT and I knew we were facing them. I got really really concerned when I read Thomas Drance’s numbers on the LA kings since it validated my previous concern. Then after the first two periods of game 1 I actually became somewhat depressed, followed by cautious optimism in the third, which was subsequently crushed with 3 minutes left. This was followed by somewhat of a panic attack, that was moderated somewhat by reading the IWTG the next day. I suspect my wife is likely considering having me medicated. A lot hinges on tonight as to my mental health over the next week. But no stress canucks, no stress.
Brent
April 14, 2012OK I am panicing now. Time to self medicate!
Some bad turnovers cost us this game, the effort was there.
Nee
April 13, 2012It’s game 1…no freaking out here! (yet)
Trumanimal
April 13, 2012We won the first game of the playoffs last year, and we lost the last. This year, I’ll gladly trade a loss in the first game for a win in the last.
Just sayin’…
Thomas
April 13, 2012One thing to note is that it was 4-2, essentially 3-2 without the empty netter, thus still a really close game in terms of scoring. That is definitely something to keep in mind when we consider this: the Canucks playing sub-par, the Canucks giving up the puck too much, the huge amount of time spent on the PK, Hank getting only around 10-11 minutes of ice time, Canucks going 0 – 5 on the PP, and Richards and the Kopitar line attacking the way they did. It went like that and it was still a one goal game up until late in regulation. What I’m excited about is what it’ll look like when the Canucks play like they know they should. Go Canucks!
starfish
April 13, 2012That reminds me of game 1 when I had some friends over. They included a young woman who I have been advised should be referred to as a “puckbunny”. Qualifications for this dubious title included her comment as the game ended “does that mean that Canucks are out of the playoffs?”
Cathylu
April 13, 2012Thanks I needed that! God, we’re a needy bunch!
peanutflower
April 13, 2012On a different topic slightly, news is Cory Schneider apologized for slagging the Oilers. I”m sad about that. He made an intelligent slag. I guess we can’t ask for apologies from LAKings twitter (and who asked for an apology, BTW? ) if our own team is dishing the dirt. Still, I thought it was good to hear one Canuck with a little push back. I’d prefer push back off the ice by probably the smartest guy on the team than ill considered push back on the ice, right?
peter
April 13, 2012Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Alain Vigneault goodbye.
Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Alain Vigneault goodbye.
Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Alain Vigneault goodbye.
peter
April 13, 2012How about if they lose the second game!
Daniel Wagner
April 13, 2012Again, the Bruins lost both games at home in the first round last year. Just saying.
Brent
April 14, 2012Did they lose two games at home?
I guess the positives are that 5 on 5 the canucks played great. So can we refuse power plays?
Daniel Wagner
April 14, 2012Yes they did.
Brent
April 14, 2012You know I really want to start panicking, but you keep hitting me with this logic stuff.
So are you working on the IWTG or should I just go to bed? I guess I could continue to self medicate and do some work.
hockeyispretty
April 14, 2012Plus we won the first three against the Blackhawks, then just scraped a win in game 7 OT. It can always jump either way.
Hockey mom
April 13, 2012Lost game 2. Can we panic now?
gumby
April 14, 2012Yes! Why, it’s a perfect time to panic!
Hey Edler –
What…
The…
F*ck.
Stop with the drop passes and turnovers already.
SteveB
April 15, 2012Instead of having the offending player sit in the box for 2 minutes, could we take 10 yards or force them to punt, like in CFL football?
peter
April 13, 2012Bostons head coach was good with adverstiy and was very good at improvisation.
Canucks head coach is to get advise from the media and vey good at keep to his game plan and they will win .
what a joke. with out the players, Canucks head coach would be just another coach
One person that do not get enough credit is Mike Gills.
GoKings
April 14, 2012Are you sure you guys don’t want to start panicking now? 2-0 Series now. Is it still luck? Be happy with your President’s trophy. That’s all you’re getting.
Daniel Wagner
April 14, 2012Who said it was luck? You’re arguing against a straw man.