HockeySamuelsson relishing bigger role with Canucks

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Mikael Samuelsson was seen as a complimentary player in Detroit. He played on a third line and got minimal time on the point on the second power play.

Part of the reason he chose Vancouver as a free agent is because he wanted a bigger role, and he's found it.   

He's followed a 30-goal regular season with a remarkable start to the playoffs, scoring in all five first-round games. He's teamed with the Sedin twins in the last two games to put up numbers the Kings just haven't been able to answer.   

Vancouver's top line has 13 points in the last four periods (5-8-13) and Los Angeles' defensive pair of Drew Doughty and Rob Scuderi are now minus-5 playing against them.

Samuelsson scored 10 goals while going to the Stanley Cup final twice with Detroit in the last two springs (45 games). He's now scored seven goals in just five games with the Canucks, and doesn't get any cheap ones.

Vancouver's defence had its best game of the series in Game 5. Kevin Bieksa, who was on the ice for three goals against and in the penalty box for another in Game 4, bounced back with a solid  plus-2 on Friday. In fact, the Canucks defenders were a combined plus-10 on the night.

There are ten nationalities represented in the series, but the Swedish contingent is making the most noise. The Swedes have combined for 14 goals and 15 assists, with Vancouver's four Tre Kroners scoring 11 of the Canucks' 21 goals.

Demitra's return sparks more scoring

Pavol Demitra, the leading scorer at the Olympics, has finally rejoined the Canucks. His teaming with Kyle Wellwood gave them an excellent second wave of offence in Game 5. Somebody must have told Pavol he was playing Latvia!

Roberto Luongo was good, stopping 24 shots on Friday. But more importantly he has now looked solid, confident and, frankly, more like Roberto Luongo in the last four periods.  

At even strength the series hasn't been close. Vancouver has outscored L.A. 15-6 while the teams are even, and in Game 5 they finally looked better on the penalty kill, although they still gave up a goal on five King power plays.

What will the Kings do about their goaltending? Jonathan Quick has now given up 10 goals in the last two games, and backup Erik Ersberg isn't an option.   

Wonder if the Kings would consider calling up Jonathan Bernier, who's the best goalie in the AHL playoffs with a 4-0 record along with a 1.24 goals-against average and .962 save percentage.  

The Kings have found a good goalie in Quick but he might be tired, having played over 1,000 minutes more than any of his other previous seasons.  

On the other hand, I wonder if they'll risk shattering his confidence completely by calling up another goalie. The Kings love how resilient Quick has been all season, so my guess is they stick with him and hope he bounces back.

Young defenders Jack Johnson and Norris Trophy nominee Doughty have turned some heads with 2-10-12 between them, but they have really fattened up on the power play. At even strength they are a combined minus-8 through five games.

The Kings need to do something at even strength, get a sensational goaltending performance or witness another collapse of Vancouver's penalty killers.

If they don't, this series is over Sunday night.

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