CANUCKS SHUT OUT BLUES, TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD

No one ever said that Roberto Luongo wasn’t a ‘streaky’ goalie, but the good news for the Vancouver Canucks is that he’s been in fine form of late.  His solid play during the stretch run of the regular season has apparently carried over into the playoffs.  Luongo finished the regular season with back-to-back shutouts, allowed only one goal in Vancouver’s game one victory over the St. Louis Blues, and pitched another shutout on Friday night.  The Canucks took care of business on the offensive end, leading them to a 3-0 victory over the Blues and a 2-0 lead in their opening round series.

St. Louis held a 30-27 shots on goal advantage over Vancouver, but the way Luongo was playing they could have tripled that and still not won.  Vancouver’s Alexandre Burrows raved about his goalie’s performance in a postgame interview:

"He was unbelievable. He made so many great saves."

Added Canucks’ coach Alain Vigneault:

"Probably one of his best games of the year.”

Blues’ center David Backes said of Luongo:

"He's one of the best, if not the best, in the world."

Like professional prizefighters, NHL goaltenders are simply ‘wired differently’ than normal humans.  Case in point—Luongo’s comments about how he thrives on the postseason pressure and intensity that so many others dread:

"Once you get into the playoffs, the adrenaline takes over. It brings my game to that next level. It makes you quicker, sharper and more aggressive."

Blues’ goaltender Chris Mason also played well and for most of the first two periods the game remained scoreless.  At 18:04 of the second period, Vancouver’s Mats Sundin opened the scoring with his goal assisted by Pavol Demitra and Ryan Kesler.  Alexandre Burrows would add an insurance tally at 9:46 of the third period set up by Daniel  and  Henrik Sedin.  Henrik Sedin would give the Canucks their final goal to produce the ultimate 3-0 verdict with his empty net score at 18:46 assisted by his brother Daniel and Sami Salo.

Until the first two games of this series, the Blues hadn’t lost back-to-back in regulation since mid January.  The series now shifts to the Scottrade Center in St. Louis for the next two, starting with game 3 on Sunday afternoon.