With Sami Salo already playing hurt, the Canucks took a collective breath when Alex Edler left the game late in the first period after a hit by Dustin Byfuglien. There was no penalty on the play. Edler first appeared to have had his bell rung, but limped off the ice when he finally got up. The replay appeared to show Edler twisting his ankle when Byfuglien made contact. Edler did not return to the game. Afterwards, he was in a walking boot and said he could not stand on the foot and that's what kept him out of the game.
Deja vu
With Edler hurt, his spot on the power play was taken by Pavol Demitra and he played the point on the second unit, which started the Canucks' power play late in the second. Just 18 seconds in, Dave Bolland pressured Demitra into a giveaway at Chicago's blue-line. Bolland broke in shorthanded, beat Roberto Luongo and put the game out of reach at 3-0. Afterwards, Mikael Samuelsson admitted the goal was really deflating.
Demitra was benched in Game 3 after some uninspired play. He had been relegated to the fourth line in Game 2, but was still getting power-play time, where he was exposed several times as a defensive liability.
Less than a minute
The Canucks' season essentially ended in a 36-second span early in the second period. They began the period without Edler and were quickly exposed. A pair of odd-man rushes led to back-to-back goals for Chicago.
After getting the lead, the Blackhawks were content to sit on it. They clogged up the neutral zone and only gave up six shots to the desperate Canucks.
With the Canucks pressing, Chicago made them pay twice more in the third period, scoring back-to-back goals just 25 seconds apart. That sealed Vancouver's fate.
Nothing special
The Canucks were once again done in by special teams. They could not convert on their two power-play opportunites and gave up that killer short-handed goal.
Vancouver admitted afterwards special teams did them in the series. The penalty kill was by far the worst among playoff teams clicking at roughly 68 per cent. The power play was a little better at 22 per cent, but not good enough to carry them through to the Western Conference final for the first time in 16 years.
Ailing Kesler
A few Canuck injuries will undoubtedly come to light now that the season is over. Assistant captain Ryan Kesler was the first to admit he was playing hurt. Kesler had an ailing right shoulder. The team's Selke Trophy nominee had just a single goal in 12 playoff games.
Creative fans
The Canucks had seven defensemen in warm up, just in case Salo was unable to go. But he did, indeed, play. Salo came out for the Canucks' first power play and the crowd started a rousing chant of "Balls of Steel" in honour of Salo, who overcame a puck to the nether regions in Game 5 and suit up for Game 6.
Surly fans
Vancouver fans turned on their team after they gave up the two goals in 25 seconds in the third period to make it 5-1. Luongo got a Bronx cheer every time he touched the puck. He was asked about it after the game and responded: "What do you want me to say. I played the best I can."
One fan went so far as to throw his Canuck sweater on the ice and storm out of the building before the final horn. Daniel Sedin understood the frustration: "We're disappointed, too. We understand. Obviously, we can't boo on the bench, but we wanted to."
Locker cleanout
The Canucks will take Wednesday off before reconvening Thursday to clean out their lockers. Head coach Alain Vigneault and general manager Mike Gillis will meet the media Friday.
