Canucks’ playoff newbies might need short memories
Coach, veterans urged team’s youngsters to put Game 1 thumping behind them
Those with a considerable NHL playoff pedigree subscribe to the 90-minute rule.
They have that time frame to savour a victory or process a loss. After that, it’s preparing for the next test because there’s nothing quite like elevated testosterone levels in the ebb and flow of a Stanley Cup pursuit. It can be daunting for veterans and overwhelming for post-season newbies.
The Vancouver Canucks have 10 first-time playoff participants and this is new territory for 21-yearold Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes, 20. They have excelled amid additional scrutiny while being hounded and treated like pinatas. And being drubbed 5-0 by the favoured Vegas Golden Knights in Sunday’s second-round series opener can take more than 90 minutes to get over.
It can linger.
Bouncing back means embracing another rule — the 10/90 — to get back in the series at Rogers Place in Edmonton. It’s 10 per cent of what happens to you and 90 per cent of how you deal with the adversity.
“It’s probably harder for a younger team,” Canucks coach Travis Green said. “There are emotional parts to it, much like we talked about against Minnesota. I felt like we had to do a lot of talking with our team after that (first) game — just with the hype. I thought they were really down.
“They want to win badly and when you want something badly and it doesn’t happen, you don’t feel great. Part of being a young guy in the league is learning, that there are ups and down in the playoffs and you are going to go through some adversity.
“How you respond is important and keeping your confidence and realizing where you have to be better. Playoffs are never about one game. It’s what you do and how you react and improving as you go deeper and the challenge gets harder. It’s not supposed to be easy.”
In the past, the Canucks have relied on psychologist Dr. David Cox to prepare players for the mental challenges of being a professional athlete. This season, veterans J.T. Miller and Antoine Roussel mapped out the rocky playoff road by making sure newbies were wary of what awaits and that they also enjoy the moment.
For Miller, the journey has provided joy and heartache.
He was with the heavily favoured Tampa Bay Lightning last year — a Presidents’ Trophy winner and top seed following a 128-point season — who were swept in the opening round by the 98-point Columbus Blue Jackets. He was also on the losing end of a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference final on home ice with the New York Rangers (2015) and Lighting (2018).
“It teaches you a lot about yourself and what the game is like, and it’s important to be a sponge — and that’s hard to be,” Miller recalled. “You have to care a lot about each play and every play matters. And you have to have a little bit of amnesia and move on, win or lose, good play or bad play.
“And that’s something I’ve grown with over the years in the playoffs. I’m a fiery guy and you can’t let a period get away from you in the playoffs. We’ve proved when we stick to our plan and our identity, we’re a really tough team.”
That said, there has been a certain level of naiveté from Pettersson and Hughes. They have struggled at times, but have also produced points in the post-season — 13 for Pettersson (4-9) and 10 for Hughes (1-9) before Game 2 against the Golden Knights — which says a lot.
“Sometimes, I think having no experience is the best because you don’t worry about what you’re going to get — you just play,” said Roussel. “To be honest, that’s awesome. You don’t want to get caught in between. Maybe the second time around, I was a little caught in between and I felt like I had a better playoff my first time.
“The second time, I got hurt and this could be my last chance in the playoffs, so have fun. And that’s my thinking. You get into the league and you think you’re going to be in the playoffs every year. It’s a privilege and you better have fun. Don’t have any regrets.”
Golden Knights defenceman Nate Schmidt spent his first two post-seasons as a roster extra with the Washington Capitals. He was told what to expect, but there was no real way to prepare for it.
“By watching, you can see that the game is more emotional and everybody is invested,” Schmidt said Tuesday morning. “But, man, nothing gets you more than your first time and something you only gain with experience.
“Sometimes, you just come in with less expectations and just play. But sometimes it’s hard when you’re trying to fight your way back into a series to keep yourself alive and there’s a lot of pressure.”