Canucks back home for pivotal Game 5 today

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – One of the biggest questions heading into Game 5: Can Bobby Lu get back on track?

What will it take for Luongo to get back to his winning ways? He needs to be calm and stable, says News1130 Sports Director Ann Schmaltz.

“He needs to allow the puck to come to him instead of over-reacting on the first shot, forcing himself out of position,” she explains. “He was guilty of that happening way too many times in the last two games in Boston.”

“This is the time, Lu really needs to steal a game for the Canucks, regardless of what his teammates do in front of him. Up to this point, he’s only needed to be good; tonight, he needs to be great.”

Sedins need to show up tonight

Henrik and Daniel have been missing in action throughout this series. Daniel has only contributed two points; Henrik has nothing.

“The twins must move their feet better to create time and space,” says Schmaltz. “[They need to] rely on speed to try and be creative. They have to fire shots on Thomas, look for anything to get the puck through.”

“It will be key for Coach Alain Vigneault to keep them away from Boston’s big defenceman Zdeno Chara and use that last line change to break that matchup up,” she notes.

The Canucks may have been dealt back-to-back defeats in Boston but fans are not demoralized. They’re confident Game 5 this afternoon will swing the series back in our favour.

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Pundits have their say

Warm up the clichés! Hockey experts are weighing in ahead of tonight’s Game 5 of the Canucks-Bruins final.
    
“Everything goes mental,” former winger turned pundit PJ Stock tells City TV, adding there’s plenty of pressure on Roberto Luongo.

He says he may have signed an uber-long and lucrative contract here without yet winning a championship, but “he’s been playing great, he’s been amazing all year.”

“You always want more,” he explains. “In Canada, we always want more and everyone’s super huge hockey fans, and there’s a lot of pressure on… your best player is always your goalie.”

“The powerplay is just a question of a work ethic,” Stock adds. “Simplify, get pucks to the net, create traffic, and it’s two minutes when your goalie gets to relax. Help him, help them, and help the city tonight.”

Sportsnet’s Craig MacEwen tells the News1130 Morning Show, Canucks need to take more shots. “Get to the net and try and get a dirty goal or two because right now it seems like the only thing that will get by Tim Thomas.”

He also says the Canucks need to get back to their game. “Start to move their feet a little bit more. That will open up some opportunities to move the puck.”

Fans nervous but confident

Tension, anxiety, and stress: It just comes with the territory when you’re a committed fan, especially with stakes this high.

We met one man decked out in his vintage Canucks sweater says confidence is the only thing that kills the nerves. “Do I look worried? I’m not worried at all!”

“Everybody’s excited and disappointed when they lose because they are expected to win,” explains another.

“They lost [three times] to Chicago and came back and hammered them,” argues one man. “We’ve got it made, we’re just psyching them out. Luongo’s got this funny way about him. We’re going to win!”

“We’re definitely going to bounce back in Game 5,” explains another. “It’s kind of like we’re starting off fresh and it’s a best of three instead of best of seven. And Roberto Luongo has bounced back from the same deficit.”

One person believes the only thing that can beat the jitters into submission is unwavering faith in the talent that got this team this far. Fans aren’t getting too cocky though; most believe it will take the Canucks all seven games to clinch the cup.

The puck drops just after 5 p.m. Listen for updates on the game every 10 minutes on the fives. We’ll also break in whenever a goal scores.

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