Redemption On the Coast: How the Vancouver Canucks Finally Got the Hawk Off Their Back

(Photo via canucks.nhl.com)

Hockey has been a nightly ritual in the Paqman household for the past few weeks. I've found pleasure in other team's joy and pain with the absence of my beloved Sens. None was more epic than last night's tilt between the Canucks and Blackhawks. It embodied everything that is so right about the NHL Playoffs: anticipation, frustration and elation.

The Canucks jumped to a 3-0 lead to start the series, seizing control for an eventual 2nd round birth. The turning point in this series was Hawks "Captain Serious" Jonathan Toews' post game comments after game 3 where he claimed that Vancouver is getting too much credit outside of Chicago's dressing room and that the Canucks can be beat. Toews and Co. won 3 games in a row in impressive fashion to force a game 7 in Vancity.

The city, I'm assuming, was on pins and needles all day leading up to the deciding game. Will Luongo finally break free of the Hawks Vulcan mind meld? Can the Sedins bring it home and be dominant offensively in the clutch? Who will be the goat and hero in this pivotal match? Strangely, Canucks forward Alex Burrows was both.

He opened the scoring in the early stages of the first period, emphatically dropping to one knee while dragging his glove on the ice. Scoring first in the playoffs is a massive advantage and the 'Nucks started on the right skate. The score remained the same through the first and second, leading to a dramatic final frame. Corey Crawford, the rookie goalie from La Belle Province, was absolutely lights out incredible. He was the reason why this game stayed within striking distance. Our hero/goat Burrows was rewarded a penalty shot after out-hustling the dynamic Duncan Keith on a breakaway. Crawford stopped the attempt without breaking a drop of Gatorade. His most amazing save of the night was on snake bitten Kesler. The 40 goal man has not scored in 13 straight playoffs games versus Chicago. That trend continued. After making 2 close range saves, Crawford trickled a rebound to his left to a waiting Kesler. Kesler was thinking insurance. Crawford was in full survival mode. He made the save of the night. Enter Toews and the game tying short handed goal, thanks to a neutral zone turnover by Burrows.

Within minutes of the first overtime period, guess who takes a penalty? Burrows is booked for holding on Keith. The city literally stood still for 2 minutes as the PK did its work.

Then it happened. Campoli, acquired by Chicago at the trade deadline from Ottawa, broke a cardinal rule with his clearing attempt out of the defensive zone: never try to make a play down the middle if you don't have a solid passing option. Use the glass or peel back and wait for option 2. Who else but Burrows would catch the puck, rush in with a head full of steam and crank a knuckleball shot past the wall that is Crawford? OT is over and a city exhales in harmony....and this is only the first round!

Once the series ending handshake was complete, Luongo said that this win was comparable to winning Olympic gold with Team Canada in the same building, and continued by saying that it might be even better. This statement shows you how important this series was for the Canucks, and not a dismissal of his love for his country. Burrows and Luongo can enjoy this for a quick minute, but there are 12 more wins to go before the real celebration.

-Paqman