Kevin Bieksa

Last spring the Vancouver Canucks took us on an amazing roller coaster ride with many unforgettable highs and lows. After a long and hockey-less summer it's easy to forget that only a little more than two months ago our 'Nucks were just one win away from the ultimate prize in hockey.

Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is tomorrow, and the Vancouver Canucks currently have a 1-0 lead against the Boston Bruins.

Both teams have a few players that can make or break their team this series, and if they play well, chances are, their team will too.

These are the X-factors that may or may not come through for each side.

With the 2011 NHL playoffs field set and all of the focus directed on the teams, the matchups and the series, a lot of postseason-bound players need to improve their play during their team's stay in the playoffs and really make a difference if they want to be re-signed.

If not, they'll be dumped off to a lesser role in a lesser team for a lesser salary, and they certainly don't want that.

VANCOUVER—"Defense wins championships." Canucks followers can relate to this quote particularly well these last few weeks.

The Vancouver Canucks suffered a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday. As much as the forwards tried to reduce opponents getting scoring chances in their own zone, the Canucks suffered both defensively and offensively Thursday.

VANCOUVER: Before you search for the big red panic button on the Canucks blue line, think again, because you may be surprised with what you see after a closer look.

The Vancouver squad entered Tuesday night's game in Minnesota with ONLY two defensemen from their opening night roster: Christian Ehrhoff and Kevin Bieksa.

Update in a minute, but Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler, Keith Ballard, and Andrew Alberts are all out with some form of bodily illness.

The NHL trade deadline, February 28, is rapidly approaching. It is the teams' last chance to add to their rosters going into the playoffs.

High profile teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins are in dire need of some acquisitions, if they want to remain serious Stanley Cup contenders this year.

The Penguins desperately need some offensive relief to replace the void left by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Both stars' statuses are unknown at this point.

As the season moves along, many factors will start to affect the judgment of front office officials in the NHL.

Injuries, standings and pressure from every direction will start to wear on people and a move will have to be made.

Many of these defenders are getting older and are becoming unrestricted free agents at the conclusion of the season, so teams may be looking to get whatever they can in return so that the player doesn’t walk without the team getting compensation.

We learned on Tuesday that Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa had battled the flu throughout the Canucks' eastern trip in mid-November before contracting pneumonia and missing last Saturday's tilt against the San Jose Sharks.

Game Preview: Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings

Oct. 9, 2010

Location: Rogers Arena (formerly GM Place)

Home Team: Vancouver Canucks

Visiting Team: Los Angeles Kings

Head Coaches:

Canucks—Alain Vigneault

Kings—Terry Murray

Captains:

Canucks—TBA tonight

Kings—Anze Kopitar

Key Additions: D Dan Hamhuis, C Manny Malhotra, D Keith Ballard, D Ryan Parent, RW Victor Oreskovich, LW Andrew Peters, LW Raffi Torres, LW Jeff Tambellini, C Joel Perrault.

Key Subtractions: RW Michael Grabner, RW Steve Bernier, D Shane O’Brien, LW Darcy Hordichuk, D Brad Lukowich, C Kyle Wellwood, LW Pavol Demitra, D Nathan McIver, D Willie Mitchell, G Andrew Raycroft.