Sports

Pressure mounts on Henrik Sedin and brother Daniel to produce some firepower for Canucks in playoffs

by Charlie Smith on April 17th, 2015 at 9:23 AM
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      It's usually harder to score in the grinding NHL playoffs than during the regular season. The Canucks discovered this again in their 2-1 opening-game loss to the Calgary Flames on April 15.

      As the teams prepare to square off tonight in Game 2 of their opening-round series, a big question remains whether Henrik and Daniel Sedin will play up to their potential this playoff season.

      In 100 playoff games, Henrik Sedin has 74 points and is minus 15 at even strength. Brother Daniel has 67 points in 97 playoff games and is minus 11 at even strength.

      In regular seasons, it was only in their rookie year that either was on the ice for more opponents’ goals at even strength.

      To cut them some slack, it’s much tougher in the playoffs. That’s when the Sedins are often on the ice against their opponents’ best lines.

      They remain fan favourites not only for their skill, but also for their basic decency and generosity. (In 2010, the twins donated $1.5 million to B.C. Children's Hospital.) But at playoff time, there's an expectation they'll produce on the ice. And in the first game against Calgary, the Sedins were repeatedly shut down on the power play.

      The Sedins have many admirers in Vancouver.
      Charlie Smith

      Daniel Sedin didn't score on a six shots all night. And the team's best line until the final minute was probably the one centred by Bo Horvat with Ronalds Kenins and Jannik Hansen on the wings.

      Canucks fans expect more after so many years of disappointments. As one of my colleagues told me, he's gotten sick of the team “shitting on his head” every time it makes the playoffs.

      If the Canucks lose tonight, that will be the 12th loss in their last 13 playoff games.

      Hockey disasters like that are often blamed on a team's top players, as Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf know all too well in Toronto.

      Fortunately for the Sedins, the Canucks played well enough during the season that nobody is going to be showing up tonight at Rogers Arena with a paper bag over their head. And I doubt that we'll see any jerseys being tossed on the ice even if Vancouver loses again.

      But another first-round playoff blowout could hurt season tickets sales for next year, which will infuriate the team's owners. It's one more reason why the pressure is on Canuck veterans to produce some goals tonight. 

      Comments

      2 Comments

      Betty Henderson

      Apr 17, 2015 at 9:50am

      What a silly article! Did you even WATCH Game ONE? The Canucks were the better Team for the Majority of the Game. They LED the Game until the last few minutes. Calgary had a VERY GOOD GOALIE. You do realize that a Goalie stops Pucks? Eddie Lack put it this way, after a foolish question from the Media, " he made one more save than I did." The Sedin's are AMAZING, Talented and Incredible Humans , BUT , they aren't Magicians.

      SHORTY

      Apr 17, 2015 at 11:39am

      Sedins have always (almost always) dissapeared during the playoffs.
      They are mainly responsible for making the playoffs but don't seem able to carry their contribution any further
      I expect that, but this year I thought there was enough supportive fire power to fuel the teams efforts
      However, realistically, even if they defeat Calgary, I think that is the last series they win this year
      I still think they are too small, old and slow to make any significant playoff effort.