Western Conference Quarterfinal

 

Season Series (Vancouver 5-3-0)

 

Leading Scorers
  • RW Milan Hejduk (80 GP, 33 G, 59 A, 92 PTS)
  • C Brendan Morrison (81 GP, 42 G, 47 A, 89 PTS)
  • LW Brenden Morrow (81 GP, 26 G, 52 A, 78 PTS)
  • RW Shane Doan (82 GP, 29 G, 45 A, 74 PTS)
  • C Doug Weight (74 GP, 20 G, 45 A, 65 PTS)
  • C Sidney Crosby (78 GP, 43 G, 43 A, 86 PTS)
  • LW Alex Tanguay (82 GP, 33 G, 51 A, 84 PTS)
  • C Scott Gomez (82 GP, 24 G, 60 A, 84 PTS)
  • LW Peter Forsberg (78 GP, 27 G, 45 A, 72 PTS)
  • RW Petr Prucha (79 GP, 29 G, 36 A, 65 PTS)

 

Special Teams
  • Power Play - 16.8 % (6th in NsHL)
  • Penalty Kill - 85.5 % (10th in NsHL)
  • Power Play - 13.2 % (t-23rd in NsHL)
  • Penalty Kill - 79.0 % (30th in NsHL)

 

Keys to the Series

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

  • Rick DiPietro. The Canucks do just about everything well. DiPi is the only reason this team finished behind Los Angeles. His inconsistant play this year has been maddening for Canuck fans and front office. The Avs are loaded with players who can create and score. Now is not the time for DiPietro to be off his game.
  • Physical play. The Canucks did lead the league in hits this season, but the Avs weren't far behind. Vancouver has to initiate contact in this series, and they have to do it all series long. If they don't keep on the body, Colorado will likely advance.
  • Martin Skoula. It may not be fair to single out a player, but he is an important one to watch in this series. Colorado has tremendous depth up front, and all the Vancouver defensemen will need to play well. That said, Skoula needs to pick up his play in a hurry. He has been much like DiPietro this season, and if that continues the Canucks are in trouble.

COLORADO AVALANCHE

  • Dwayne Roloson. With all the talent the Avs have come scoring chances the other way, and Vancouver isn't hurting for scoring touch. Roloson is going to face a lot of quality chances against, and he will have to be up to the challenge. Goaltending has been the Avs biggest problem, and he was acquired for that reason.
  • Persistence. Vancouver doesn't allow many scoring chances against and that can be very frustrating. The Avs are going to have to battle for every chance they get, and they have to keep their intensity up all series long.
  • Special teams. Colorado hasn't been very good this year when one of the teams on the ice has another player than the other. If they want to move on, they are going to have to be much better at both specialties. They are also going to have to work to draw penalties against a very disciplined Vancouver group.

 

And the winner is...

This is the most exciting series of the opening round. The amount of talent these two teams can ice is amazing. Both teams can skate, hit and score. Both teams have been plagued with inconsistancy in net. Both teams are built for playoff success. In another series we expect to go the distance...

Canucks in seven games.