A puncher's chance

Roloson kept Wild in game early with his steadying play

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Like a fighter taking the best their opponent has to offer, the Wild withstood the Canucks' best first-period shots and jabbed their way back into contention. Vancouver was on its heels once Minnesota broke through on the power play and then went reeling when the Wild scored a second power-play goal to secure a 2-0 lead.

Early on, the goaltending of Dwayne Roloson made the difference. He was brilliant, making difficult stops look routine, putting the Canucks in a precarious position in the process. Roloson alone allowed the Wild to overcome their early-game anxiety and get their legs under them. Once in front, it was the Canucks who looked shaky. They lacked the discipline and lost the focus required to close out a series.

Meanwhile, the Wild brought their fans to delirium, with first-time playoff goals by three players -- Lubomir Sekaras, Darby Hendrickson and Antti Laaksonen -- at the root of the celebration.

But it started with the prescient play of Marian Gaborik, who at 21 is already the player the Wild rely on. His first-period shot caromed off the pad of Dan Cloutier to the always-lurking Andrew Brunette. Then in the second, Gaborik looked towards the net, drawing the attention of all four Canucks penalty killers, then calmly found the open Sekaras. And with that, the Canucks began to unravel.

Minnesota is one win away from becoming the first team in NHL history to rally from 3-1 deficits twice in one postseason. Gaborik's eight-game point streak is the third-longest for a first-time playoff performer. And this series is now a one-game proposition.

Given the Canucks' fragile performance, one has to wonder if they can regroup in time for Thursday's Game 7 showdown. Where is the composure? Where is the battle level, as head coach Marc Crawford termed his team's questionable effort in Game 5? More to the point, where is Todd Bertuzzi?

After telling Wild fans waiting in line before Game 4 for Game 6 tickets that they were "wasting their time," he failed to break through again in this one. And Cloutier continues to struggle with the low shot total and opportunistic offense that characterizes the Wild.

If the Canucks hope to advance, they had better get on the board first in Game 7, a luxury denied them in Game 6 by Roloson. One thing is certain, though. This fight is going the distance.

Three Stars

First Star: Roloson was fabulous early when his team wasn't.

Second Star: Gaborik has amazed even Jacques Lemaire with how he has elevated his game in the playoffs.

Third Star: Brunette scored two goals, including the crucial first of the contest.

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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