from Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province,

Following the Calgary Flames’ 4-2 victory in a physical, emotionally charged Game 3, Kevin Bieksa offered this assessment of the Vancouver Canucks.

“We’re a lot smarter team,” said the Canucks defenceman. “We’ve been through a lot of this before.

“It’s not about pushing the other team around. That doesn’t win the series. It’s about executing and making plays and controlling your emotions.”

This, it should be noted, is an excellent plan. It would be even better if the Canucks implemented it for Game 4.

Monday night, the Flames seized control, and the initiative in the opening-round series, by pounding the Canucks into submission with their physical forecheck.

The stratagem not only produced two first-period goals when the Calgarians hemmed in the Canucks for two prolonged stretches, it also seemed to drive the visiting team to distraction.

In the third period, the Canucks handed the Flames four power plays and gift-wrapped the insurance marker on a five-on-three. Willie Desjardins’ team was also lucky to escape a suspension to Alex Burrows, who drew an instigating minor in a late fight with Kris Russell.

continued