The Canucks went looking for Big Mo on Sunday night, but he was nowhere to be seen as the Canucks fell 1-0 to the Los Angeles Kings in the third game of their first-round playoff series.
Big Mo is otherwise known as momentum -- something the Canucks are seriously lacking in their attempt to stave off elimination.
The Canucks had plenty of momentum late in the regular season as they won eight of the last nine games -- even without top goal-getter Daniel Sedin -- and claimed first place overall in the NHL for the second straight spring. But the Kings, after barely making the playoffs and settling for the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference, now have momentum on their side.
To say the Canucks are in trouble is putting it mildly. Only three teams in Stanley Cup history -- the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942, the New York Islanders in 1975, and the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 -- have overcome 3-0 series deficits. Don't bet on Vancouver becoming the fourth.
Henrik Sedin was, arguably, Vancouver's best player Sunday, even after he got blindsided by Dustin Brown and had to leave the game temporarily. But with twin brother Daniel still out with a concussion, there is not much Henrik can do when Jannik Hansen, or whoever coach Alain Vigneault opts for Tuesday, is on the wing instead.
Daniel also plays on the power play, and it continues to be invisible. The Canucks have been blanked on 14 man-advantage opportunities while also giving up two shorthanded goals. The Kings have scored only three goals at even strength.
With his team clearly sputtering, there is not much Vigneault can do to build momentum. He tried by installing Cory Schneider in goal in place of Roberto Luongo, but the move did not pay dividends.
Vancouver started the game by outshooting the Kings 11-0 but still could not score. Hansen hit the post in the first period, but that was as close as the Canucks could get to scoring as they outshot the Kings by a whopping 41-20 in the entire game.
No, it's unlikely Big Mo will return to the Canucks anytime soon. It's clear that he is enjoying life in Hollywood with the underdog Kings, and he is in no hurry to leave them.
But the Canucks are more desperate for momentum than they have ever been at any point this season.
NOTES, QUOTES
--The Canucks must accomplish something only three other clubs have done in Stanley Cup playoff history -- come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1975 New York Islanders and 2010 Philadelphia Flyers have pulled off the feat.
--The Canucks continued to struggle on the power play. They were blanked on four man-advantage opportunities and are zero-for-14 in the series.
--C Henrik Sedin was sidelined briefly in the second period after L.A. counterpart Dustin Brown caught him looking the other way. Despite the incident, Henrik Sedin stood out in comparison to most of his teammates, but he clearly missed his injured brother Daniel, who remained out with a concussion.
--D Alex Edler's playoff struggles continued. He did not notice Dustin Brown standing all alone before he put in a rebound for the game's only goal. Truth be told, though, a forward probably should have picked up Brown. However, Edler committed another faux pas when he shot the puck over the glass and took a delay-of-game penalty in the final minute as the Canucks were desperately trying to earn the equalizer.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's do-or-die for us now, so (we) might as well get ready for the next one and get it going. The pressure's on them now, I guess. We've got nothing to lose. We just have to go out and play and survive the next one and go from there." -- Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows after his team lost 1-0 to the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday and fell behind 3-0 in their opening-round playoff series.
