Late Goal Saves Canucks From Shocker

When you watch the Vancouver Canucks, you have to be impressed with their ability to take over a game they're hardly dominant in. Sometimes, it just works that way for you.

If you're a Canuck fan, you ride it as long as you can. The opportunistic Canucks started right where they left off after their sweep of St. Louis, taking a big lead through two periods while being outshot. They then proceeded to blow the lead, and needed a late Sami Salo goal to beat Chicago 5-3.

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It was the opening game in the NHL conference semifinals. Vancouver takes the early lead in this best-of-seven series. Needless to say, if this game is any indication of how this round of playoffs will go, we're all in for a treat.

After spending two periods struggling to maintain any kind of offensive attack, Chicago seemed to get their legs early in the third. A rush keyed by defenseman Duncan Keith led to a Patrick Kane goal barely a minute into the third, and that got the Blackhawks on the board. Until that point, the Canucks' defense had been practically impenetrable, giving up just 18 shots on Roberto Luongo and few second chance opportunities.

Chicago had momentum, and they weren't done. Kane struck again, this time stuffing in a rebound off a point shot by Brent Seabrook. The power-play goal made it 3-2. Stunningly, Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault watched the Blackhawks take more and more control over the flow of the game, and he didn't burn his team's timeout.

The Blackhawks were able to tie it on a Dave Bolland goal, again off a rebound. They were buzzing, but the Canucks got back to the simple defensive game they have mastered in these playoffs, and they made sure the Blackhawks didn't get any second-chance shots at their goaltender.

Late in the third, Chicago got caught with their proverbial pants down. Cam Barker pinched way too far into the offensive zone, and Vancouver picked up a turnover that was quickly turned into a three-on-one. Mason Raymond brought the puck down the left wing, flipped a pass across to Steve Bernier. His shot was stopped by Nikolai Khabibulin, but Salo was there in the slot to jam the rebound into the open net.

The Canucks picked up an empty-netter to seal the deal with 15 seconds left.

Game 2 will be played Saturday night in Vancouver.