Careless captain

MacInnis' gaffe proved costly in Blues' Game 7 defeat

The goal of Al MacInnis was to provide a spark by returning to the lineup when his team needed him most, despite a severely separated right shoulder. Unfortunately, it was MacInnis' weakened condition that lead to the turnaround goal by Vancouver.

With the Blues taking an early 1-0 lead against the very tight and tentative Canucks, MacInnis softly passed the puck behind his net. It never made it to Barret Jackman, allowing the Daniel Sedin to intercept the pass and feed twin brother Henrik Sedin to tie the score. It was an all-important, settling goal for the Canucks. From that point forward, they absolutely dictated the style and pace of play.

I know MacInnis was noble in his intent and his bravery is commendable. But his decision altered the game. He was susceptible to the forecheck every time he was on the ice and accordingly the Canucks targeted him with big hits every time he touched the puck. That strategy spilled over to include everyone in all situations, as the Canucks played their most physical game to date. To a man, they beat the Blues up on their way to beating them in the game.

Once the score was tied and the banging began, the Canucks' big offensive line again carried the day, while the Blues' top line, centered by Keith Tkachuk, again was stymied by Trevor Linden's line. The Canucks remained relentless, even in the third period when they were up 4-1. Goaltender Dan Cloutier turned in a stellar performance, exorcising last year's demons and gaining a measure of well-earned respect.

Ultimately, that is what the playoffs are all about. The Canucks took another step in establishing their credibility especially by coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the series. Meanwhile, MacInnis already has earned all the respect and credibility possible for his Hall of Fame-to-be career. Yet, he still made a bad decision to suit up for this crucial game. It won't hurt his reputation, but he couldn't help his team avert elimination. Not in his condition.

Three Stars

First Star: Linden is a legendary performer in seventh games, and he added to his legacy.

Second Star: Cloutier was brilliant, playing his best game when it mattered most -- a testament to his inner belief and resiliency.

Third Star: Markus Naslund kept his mid-series renaissance going, demonstrating why he is emerging as one of the best captains in the game.

Darren Eliot, a former NHL goaltender, is a hockey analyst for SI.com. Eliot will provide Stanley Cup Playoffs commentary throughout the postseason and is also broadcasting games for NHL Radio.

 

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