Emotions heating up for Wild, Canucks
The Canadian Press
4/28/2003
VANCOUVER (CP) - The Vancouver Canucks can't let the bad blood simmering between them and Minnesota Wild cloud their reasoning when the teams clash in Game 3 of their NHL Western Conference semifinal series.
Several scuffles broke out at the end of Sunday's nail-biting 3-2 Wild win, fanning the flames of dislike the teams have for each other and possibly turning up the heat for in Game 3 on Tuesday (CBC, 8 p.m. EDT).
"We had some emotions at the end of the game they're the guys that started it," Canucks defenceman Ed Jovanovski said before the team departed St. Paul, Minn. "We're a team that's emotional and have that passion and that's going to go a long way for us."
Right-winger Sergei Zholtok said the Wild are not intimidated by the bigger Canucks.
"Nobody is going to bluff anybody," he said. "Nobody is going to give an inch to anybody. If the Canucks think they're going to back us off I don't think it's going to happen. It's just a battle and a lot of emotions."
The Wild are happy to be home with the best-of-seven series tied 1-1. Game 4 is Friday.
The Canucks have to be concerned that even though the opening two games were close, Minnesota has managed to dictate the style of play, using their grinding defence to turn Vancouver's rock-and-roll offence into a night at the symphony.
"They're not going to change the way they play," said Canucks centre Brendan Morrison, who was held to just one shot Sunday.
"You have to change your game if your going to be successful against them. You can't go through the middle, they will kill you. You have to adjust and play simple and patient and get pucks deep."
Trent Klatt, who scored the overtime goal in Friday's 4-3, come-from-behind victory, said Vancouver is still trying to tango while Wild are content to waltz.
"They're just really clogging up the centre of the ice, forcing everything to the outside whether it's in the neutral zone or the defensive zone," said Klatt.
"We have to realize we have to skate through the trap, we can't pass through it."
Vancouver outshot Minnesota 31-18 Sunday, including 12-3 in the third period, but many of those came in the frenzied dying moments of the game. The Wild are also doing a good job of steering away rebounds.
"We're getting some shots but I don't think we have a very good presence in front of the net," said Klatt. "We have to be hungry and pay a price to stand in front of the goalie to cause as much havoc as possible."
The Canucks haven't played with a lead in either game, something else which could make a difference, said Markus Naslund.
"They play well protecting the lead," said the Canucks captain who saw his five-game scoring streak end Sunday.
"If we get the lead I think they will open up a little more."
Wes Walz, who has scored three goals in the first two games, said Minnesota isn't straying from the strategy that allowed the third-year franchise to upset Colorado in the opening round of the playoffs.
"We try to take care of our end of the rink first then we move forward from there," he said.
"We don't go into games thinking we have to score four or five goals. That's not our style. We try to play solid defensively, keep ourselves in games and hang around."
The Canucks accused Wild defenceman Willie Mitchell of grabbing the puck and tossing it out of the crease during a hair-raising scramble in Sunday's dying seconds. Had the referee seen the infraction it would have resulted in a penalty shot.
At the final horn a full-scale brawl nearly erupted.
Vancouver's Todd Bertuzzi said he was sucker-punched by Minnesota's Brad Brown. Matt Cooke slashed Matt Johnson on the ankle dropping the Wild winger to the ice.
Mitchell, who had been sent to the dressing from for roughing with seven seconds left in the game, reappeared on the ice and began grappling with Jovanovski.
Jovanovski, Bertuzzi, Brown and Johnson all were assessed misconducts. Mitchell was given a game misconduct.
Vancouver's Trevor Linden, who also scuffled with Mitchell, shrugged when asked if Game 3 would pick up where Game 2 left off.
"It might," he said.
"It might not."
Walz expects the teams to stick to hockey.
"I don't know who they are going to look at it," he said. "The games now there is too much to lose taking stupid penalties to even scores. One silly penalty could cost your team the game and eventually the series.
"I don't see too many guys evening scores as the game goes on. Next season in the regular-season games it could be a different issue."
Cheers,
Aquaman