Canucks Advance to Western Conference Final for First Time Since 1994

When the Canucks-Predators series began, not many gave the Predators a chance to win the series. Six games later it was discovered that the Nashville Predators were a much better team them most people thought.

The bottom line is that the Vancouver Canucks have advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since their Cinderella run in the spring of 1994. The only difference between the run in 1994 in comparison to this years run is that this years run was expected. However, with the expectations of a cup run this year also brings in pressure. Pressure that the Canucks have shown that they can handle, game 7 against Chicago was maybe the most amount of pressure they have faced in the 40 years of being in the NHL. The question is do the Canucks have anything left in the tank to win eight more games?

The answer is yes. The Canucks during the regular season showed they can win in any situation. The Canucks in past years have been a very mediocre road team. This year is different. The Canucks were the best road team in the NHL going 27-10 4. That was a significant improvement from the Canucks road record in 2010 (20-19-2). If you add that to the Canucks 4-2 record  on the road in the playoffs this year, the Canucks have been superb on the road this year.

Why does this matter? Well the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions the Chicago Blackhawks won eight out of their 16 games on the road last year. Home ice doesn't mean that much in the NHL compered to other sports. In fact, it it is pretty easy to steal road games.

Furthermore, the best thing about the Canucks winning right now is Daniel and Hendrik Sedin are not producing like Art Ross Trophy winners. Despite Daniel's goal on Monday and Hendrik's empty net goal in game 4, the twins have been almost non existent. The Sedins will eventually get going. The truth is they are too good of players to not score. Daniel and Hendrik have been pretty consistent by averaging about a point per game.

If the Sedins every get going the Canucks might have a pretty deadly attack to move on to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994. The play of Ryan Kesler has elevated the Canucks to the Western Conference Final possibly single handedly. In the Canucks Western Conference Semi Final the Canucks scored 14 goals.  That stat is nothing to brag about but Ryan Kesler has something to brag about. He has been in on 11 out of the 14 goals. If Ryan Kesler can continue his amazing play  Canucks
 fans should be in for a big party come the end of May.

Despite, the play of Ryan Kesler, I wouldn't be surprised either way if the Canucks season ends soon. The Canucks next opponent, the San Jose Sharks are a much better team then the Nashville Predators and the Canucks will have to be much more discipline. More Importantly, Luongo will have to play much better an eliminate the bad goal from behind the net.

All in all the series win is important but the Canucks haven't reached their main goal yet. Yes the Canucks have gotten the Chicago Blackhawks monkey off their backs and  the second round exit off their back a loss in the Conference final would still be disappointing. The Canucks are the Presidents Trophy winners so their bound to put up a good fight. The problem is their are so many good teams this year nothing is a given.