So, is it premature to be getting excited about the playoffs?

On one hand, the Canucks have become the team that doesn’t die. Today’s win over the Nashville Predators marks nine instances this year where they have battled back from being down after 2 periods, winning the game. That sort of ‘never say die’ attitude and work ethic is something that will be incredibly useful going into the playoffs and I have to say it makes me optimistic about the Canucks chances. (Also, you have to wonder if the Canucks being so strong in the third period is reflective of some of the initiatives Mike Gillis has introduced, like the sleep specialists. Are the Canucks better conditioned than their opponents? Something to think about.)

On the other hand, though, the Canucks top players, Luongo and the Sedins, have been less than stellar on this road trip. Luongo’s been pulled three times while the Sedins have been goalless for nearly 10 games, the empty netter notwithstanding. You have to think that this is just a slump that happened to nastily coincide and they’ll snap out of it, but if not, well, it’s worrying that the Canucks top players managed to wilt on the road so easily.

That said, I have to say that I’m excited about this team. Especially if Willie Mitchell can get healthy and re-join the squad. The Canucks aren’t a perfect team, but then again, there really isn’t anyone in the Western Conference who is.

The Sharks have their perpetual post-season neuroses to deal with. Thornton and company didn’t exactly quell any worries about their performance in ‘pivotal’ or ‘key’ games. If Anaheim sneaks in at the 7th or 8th seed and they face the Sharks? Watch out.

Chicago, while they do seem to bully the Canucks with authority, I’m not entirely sold on their goaltending being able to hold up over a 7 game series. Niemi and Huet are a capable tandem and, as Chris Osgood will attest, perfectly capable are all a team needs to go deep. That said, if the Canucks can stop being so emotional when facing the Hawks, I don’t see why they can’t beat them. Assuming they get that far: there’s also the Joel Quinnville/Detroit Red Wings factor in play here.

But, right, today’s game. Once again the Canucks came from behind and played a far better ‘road game’ than they did against Chicago. They came in, grinded out a good game and kept things honest until the wheels fell off the Predators wagon in the third. There was a fortunate goal from Mikael Samuelsson (although, since he keeps scoring such weird goals is it really fortune or is it simply a matter of Samuelsson scoring those goals because he happens to, oh, I don’t know, shoot the puck?) and then Jannik Hansen came in and potted his own rebound to land the eventual game winner.

Hansen is an interesting case, as he’s the type of guy I want playing in the Canucks bottom six, in favor of guys like Hordichuk, Rypien or Glass. That said, he had a rather weird first period, including whiffing on a shot in epic fashion. I try to restrain my use of the word ‘epic’ but I feel it fits here, as not only did he completely miss on the shot, but he also fell arse over tea kettle, prompting a reaction from the relatively docile Nashville crowd. He also took a stupid penalty in the first which led to a goal against. He’s a good player, but he’s still young and there are going to be growing pains with him. I like the idea of a Raymond Wellwood Hansen line, which Alain Vigneault cobbled together in the third period, as it gives Hansen some skill players to gel with. Hopefully this also sparks Raymond, who has been rather quiet: only 5 goals in his last 25 games. Not bagging on him, as he’s still really young, but it’d be nice to get Raymond going again.

I’m really liking Andrew Alberts so far. He had a rough first period against Chicago, but since then I’ve been happy with him. Seems to have good hockey sense: he pinched in deep in the second period, I think it was, and got back and recovered really quickly. He’s been providing a physical presence and isn’t doing stupid things out on the ice. Very simple, basic game from him, which is nice to see. If he continues playing like this, kudos to Gillis for picking him up!

Also, I talked about the fighting from the Chicago game and how I wasn’t a fan of it. I liked Alex Burrows dropping the gloves with Dan Hamhuis. Because it was something that came from within the game being played, not from media stories or whatever. I don’t think he necessarily accquited himself well in that fight, but that’s not the point. That type of fight, which comes from a reaction to something that happened on the ice, is what I like. Not what happened in the opening minute of the Chicago game.

I thought Luongo looked really good in tonight’s game, that repeat goal, off of the knob of his stick, was unfortunate, but hopefully not a sign of things to come. He had several big saves that kept the Canucks in it. I’m really wanting to see him get into Complete Shutdown Mode, though. Tuesday’s game against Colorado would be a great chance for that.