Too many men on the blog.

While Andrew Alberts is getting most of the blame for his ridiculous three trips to the penalty box, it was a downright foolish too many men on the ice penalty in OT that sank the 'Nucks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Now, the series between the Orca and the Kings is knotted at one and headed to the Staples Center. What's the good word heading into game three?

-- Mikael F-ing Samuelsson is red hot like his old Red Wings jersey. The Swedish Storm nailed two goals on seven shots in the series opener (including the GWG) and tallied another goal on 3 shots in Saturday's loss. The goal in game two was a straight wrist shot from just inside the blue line that Quick somehow missed. Those are fun. He's looking like a pretty important acquisition now, eh? Keep it up.

-- Sami Salo made the biggest mistake in Game 2, in my opinion. Outside of the Canucks just playing way to complacent as a whole, Sami Salo half pinching up and then falling down on that Simmonds goal in the 2nd was awful. This guy is our #1 defender on the ice, and he looked like a complete moron, allowing a 3-on-1 rush after he fell, that easily led to the game tying goal. Either go all the way up and take the body, or hold back at the blue line and don't get beat. 

-- Despite what the Kings announcers are saying, Roberto Luongo is having a good enough series for us. Sure, we don't have any shutouts (yet), but allowing just two regulation goals in back to back playoff games should be enough to get two wins. It may have been, if the knob of Lu's stick wouldn't have knocked in the King's OT winner Saturday after he made the initial save. While it would be nice for Bobby to have that epic game, especially at Staples tonight, let's give him props for doing a good job so far.

-- Zero Sedin action in game 2. Let's be real: in game one the twins combined for 4 points, and in game two there was a whole lot of nothing. Sure, we saw a couple of chances with the top guns out there, but nothing to write home about. The Kings figured out the key to beating Vancouver in the playoffs: eliminate the Twins. But let's be honest, can they do that two games in a row? Look for D-Sedeezie and H-Bomb to be back on the scoring sheet tonight.

So, do we fear and fret at this point? Not really. We called the 'Nucks in 5, I believe, and I'm still thinking that's what we're going to get. This is a big Game 3, though, as the loser will have to suffer endless questioning of their abilities by local sports talk radio (well, maybe not in LA). It's a big one, and we need to make something big happen.

Predictions: Henrik has a 3 point night in a 4-1 Vancouver victory. Redemption!

-- Sent from my Palm Prē