Luongo Not Lucky Enough as Ducks Cook Canucks

For a team that was on the verge of being booted out of the playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks didn't show a lot of fight as they went down to the Ducks by 2-1 in double overtime.

The Ducks, smelling Orca blood, outworked and out-shot the Canucks by a wide margin (63-27), putting the Canucks out of their misery and on to the golf course. The score simply doesn't do the disparity in play much justice.

Apart from Roberto Luongo, who made 56 saves, and the fourth line, who scored the Canucks' only goal, the team put forth a rather shameful effort in the face of possible elimination.

Once again, the Canucks failed to score on a 5-on-3 Power Play. They were 0-for-6 on the night with the man-advantage. I've never seen a Canucks team, let alone any NHL team, look so hapless on the Power Play as the Canucks did throughout the entire playoffs.

I've heard a lot about the Sedins not being fast enough to succeed in the playoffs. I feel that is a lot of rubbish, seeing as Trevor Linden did well despite his lack of speed. If the Sedins actually increased their effort level, they would be fine.

Chris Pronger set up Sean O'Donnell, of all people, on a breakaway. Good thing that defensive defensemen suck at breakaways, because O'Donnell's shot was about as dangerous as tapioca pudding.

Ducks blogger Earl Sleek has been signing the praises of Samuel Pahlsson as the true master of defensive forwardness, and I'd have to agree, based on this series. Much of the Canucks suckiness on the PP can be attributed to Samuel Pahlsson's effective PK ability.

Backup Dany Sabourin started the first OT period for the Canucks, giving the Canuck Nation a collective heart attack. Fortunately, Luongo's 'equipment malfunction' was fixed soon enough, and he was back in the net.

All in all, the Ducks were simply the better team, and the Canucks didn't take advantage of the chances that they did have with the man advantage.

Looking back, the Canucks can be proud that they achieved what they did in a 'rebuilding' season. With a new coach, goaltender, and system in place, the Canucks turned from a non-playoff team into a really competitive squad that could give any team fits.

Let the off-season tweaking begin!