Canucks can bounce back at home against Flames: Kirk McLean
Posted April 23, 2015 8:17 am.
Last Updated April 24, 2015 11:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It was 21 years ago when the Canucks found themselves down 3-1 to the Calgary Flames in a best-of-seven playoff series.
Current team president Trevor Linden captained that team, which was lead up front by sniper Pavel Bure and in net by Kirk McLean.
McLean still pays close attention to his former team and says this edition of the Canucks does have the ability to rebound from the same deficit he faced in 1994.
He says the switch to home ice will help.
“It means a great deal because the crowd support this year has been really good. At times, people have been sitting on the fence because everybody has been waiting for something to happen, not quite sure how this team is going to play and then they go out and get 100 some-odd points. They’ve been resilient all year and I don’t expect tonight to be any different.”
But he admits there is more scrutiny from fans and media then when he last donned the logo, which is something that can be worse at home.
“They’ve just got to put their phones in their pockets for this part of it. But it’s a little tougher coming home because there are family things to deal with. You’re surrounded by it, no matter where you go there’s going to be a fan making a comment, hopefully a good comment but we all know that doesn’t happen all the time.”
Going out of his way to praise Eddie Lack, the 48-year says tonight’s switch to Ryan Miller in goal is the right one.
“Ryan came in and played very well and maybe this is the change and the spark that they need to get them going,” says McLean.
While players like Linden and Dave Babych were the vocal leaders of that ’94 team, McLean says the current core has been around long enough to develop its own leadership group.
“You have your Bieksas, your Doresetts, the Sedins, Edler. They have a good group of guys. Even Burrows, I know he’s hurt but I’m sure he’ll be in the room.”
The action gets going at 7 p.m. at Rogers Arena.
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