Although Roberto Luongo gets much of the responsibility for the merger of two games from Vancouver to Boston for the Stanley Cup final, the Canucks refused to allow the goalkeeper to take the heat alone.
Most of the 12 goals he allowed in just over five periods was not his fault, defender Kevin Bieksa claimed. Luongo could have been fired from a decisive game 4, but the goalkeeper star meets itself in time for Game 5 on Friday night, promised Captain Henrik Sedin.
If only the Canucks had a lot of support for Luongo on the ice, maybe he would not go home with their series lead evaporated.
"These are the same questions as Boston won after losing two games, and found a way," said Sedin. "We have to do the same."
No matter what spin is applied to the Canucks, Boston goalie Tim Thomas has been defeated by his colleague Vezina Trophy candidate through the final four games, which is still on the way back to Vancouver.
Although there is no goalie is the sole responsibility of their game, even the most loyal fans that Luongo Vancouver is struggling after allowing seven goals in the last 23 shots he faced in Boston.
Luongo was reportedly booed by the crowd in a public game-watching parties at Vancouver, where coach Alain Vigneault finally pulled in Game 4 at the beginning of the third period.
Luongo was shaken and quiet then, clearly anxious to get away from Boston and hopes his blue jersey will help restore what was missing.
"We have two, and three home-ice advantage, and that's what we've done all season," said Luongo.
The Canucks need just one win to earn the chance to parade around the Cup on home ice. Now they need to win the game 5 just to stop the Bruins an impressive rate of Thomas, who still seems to come across after leaving a goal in two games at home.
He has published his third shutout of the playoffs the Bruins 4-0 win in Game 4, and quieted the skeptics of his aggressive style crazy 1.26 goals-against average and .966 save percentage in the end to stop the files of 141 and 146 in four games.
"I felt like that for many this year," said Thomas. "I felt so good in the final of the measure. I'll keep doing what I did to try to have the same success he had. Between games, try to relax as much as possible and keep my body also remains possible. "
The third consecutive season, the home team won their first four games for the Stanley Cup finals - but the Canucks do not have time to mourn their scoring drought or Luongo is a lack of confidence. If Vancouver can not recover from a disastrous tour in Boston until Friday evening, Thomas and the Bruins surge just can steamroll their way to the title.
"I think that Thomas gives us too much respect," said Bieksa. "It leaks. Puck go by him. We've seen all year. We just put more pucks at him. "
The problems stem from Luongo Canucks before injuries forced couples to mix and set of three supporters of this new series. While the teams are reluctant to talk about injuries at this stage of the season, the Canucks are short on healthy players.
Centre Ryan Kesler, a performer of the playoffs and director of stellar defensive line to stop Vancouver played with a fraction of its usual disruptive force in the finals, then it seems a nursing unknown problem. Puck-moving defenseman Christian Ehrhoff has a shoulder injury that prevents him from pulling the puck with his usual energy.
And these players are healthy enough to meet. The biggest loss was the Canucks 'Dan' Hamhuis, versatile veteran defender, who has not played since injuring himself delivering a check in Game 1.
Hamhuis and without suspended defender Aaron Rome, the Canucks' offense had trouble in Game 4 is the inability to quickly move the ice in transition. Vancouver aggressive offense is built in its team of mobile, puck moving defender, but the Canucks are no longer a labor force to do what they want.
"We did not expect to sweep these guys," said Bieksa. "We must focus on the positives, and can not look down. If we go out the next game and score three (goals) in the first, nobody will remember these games. "
Vancouver is still not very Sedin twins, who have largely disappeared in the prime of their careers. Boston defender Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg deserve much credit for preventing the Sedin passing and shooting team with his usual fluid, holding the last two NHL scoring champion two points in four games.
"It's playoff hockey. There is always a line that decides," Luongo said. "If we win a game 1-0, as we did in Game 1, so that's what we do."
At least the Canucks have the experience to come back from embarrassing losses this postseason. After taking a 3-0 lead over the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, lost the next two games by a combined 12-2 - and then lost Game 6 with a backup starts Luongo, Cory Schneider.
Vancouver hung on to win Game 7 in overtime and the Canucks do not expect this change to be easier.
"Lou is going to be good," Vigneault said Luongo. "He is one of the best goalies in the league. We have a lot of confidence and faith in him, his ability to play well."