Defense will decide NHL series

Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

When Daniel and Henrik Sedin streak down the ice, exchanging crisp passes in a display of their jaw-dropping offensive creativity, it’s easy to forget the Vancouver Canucks were the NHL’s best defensive team this season.

When Boston’s top line presses the attack, changes styles on the fly and comes up with yet another clutch postseason goal, it’s tough to remember the Bruins are nearly as defensively stingy as the Canucks.

The Stanley Cup finalists are reminding the entire NHL that elite defensive teams don’t have to fall into the trap — or any other defensive scheme that results in boring hockey. Defense can also be a natural outgrowth of a commitment to goal-scoring, Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said.

“Who says you have to do one or the other?” he asked.

In Game 2 tonight, the Canucks will continue their quest to show it’s possible to win a title without retreating into a defensive shell, while Boston will look to build on a quietly impressive offensive season — except for that slumping power play — for a club without a big-name scorer.

Both teams proved their approaches work in the series opener. Vancouver’s 1-0 victory was hardly a boring defensive game, with 12 power plays, numerous tantalizing scoring chances and an edge-of-the-seat intensity before Raffi Torres’ winning goal in the final minute.

“Even when we’re not getting rewarded, we’re out there taking chances and trying to find ways to be aggressive and score,” Boston forward Milan Lucic said. “We’re not a team that’s usually going to sit back and wait and hide. We try to make things happen.”

Vancouver scored more goals (3.15 per game) and allowed fewer (2.2) than any team in the NHL during the regular season, while Boston was fifth in goals and second in defense, giving up just 2.3 goals per game. Even after managing just one goal in their last two playoff games combined, the Bruins are outscoring Vancouver in the postseason with 3.05 goals per game, compared to the Canucks’ 2.68.