The Calgary Flames remain a single victory away from securing a second round playoff berth but the Vancouver Canucks are hoping to carry the momentum from their Game 5 win into Saturday night.
“They responded last game, they played a real good game,” said Flames forward Matt Stajan. “Top to bottom, we all have to match that.”
The Canucks overcame an early deficit in Thursday night’s game at Rogers Arena to claim the 2-1 win and extend the series to a sixth game. In the win, the Canucks outshot the Flames by a 43 to 21 margin.
“A very simple equation in this game is the more pucks you put at the net, the more chances you have to cross the red line,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley. “We’re kind of playing a trap style and so are the Canucks. Both teams are playing very well.”
Support from the 'sea of red' at the Scotiabank Saddledome was a significant factor in Games 3 and 4, and the Flames have not lost on home ice this series.
Flames forward Sean Monahan, who has tallied two points in the series, says the hometown fans provide a boost.
“You get those little shivers standing on the ice before it even starts,” said Monahan. “With that passion that they have, you want to (win) for them.”
“There’s gonna be a lot of energy in the building tonight. We’re gonna have to use that to our advantage.”
Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa says his team strayed from the proven playoff format of bombarding the opposing goalie with shots and seizing opportunities during the first two games at the Saddledome.
“I don’t think we gave them our best here in 3 and 4,” said Bieksa. “Maybe we were trying to get a little too perfect, too cute, trying to generate a Grade A chance instead of throwing pucks at the net.”
According to Matt Stajan, the idea of the series returning to Vancouver is unfathomable at this point.
“We don’t want to leave it to a last game in their building. We’re treating this like our Game 7," said Stajan. "We want to get it done here.”
