An article from Gord McIntyre of the Vancouver Province on the abrupt turn around in the Canucks road record from the first few road games of the season. The Canucks simply decided that there was no point to playing road games and home games differently - just play their game.
Daniel Sedin:
“I think we finally realized [what was wrong],” Daniel Sedin said on Sunday as players arrived at the airport to fly to Long Island, N.Y. “For a lot of years it seemed we were playing, as a team, a lot different on the road than at home.
“But it's the same game on the ice and I think we realized after those first four games, why change?
“We should play the same way on the road as we do at home and it's been successful.”
Ryan Kesler:
“Really, we've just got to play like it's a home game,” said Ryan Kesler, who had a goal and six assists in the Canucks' first 14 road games last season – a 0.5 points-per-game pace – and 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) over the club's final 27 road games of 2009-10.
“I don't even remember what my turn-around was,” Kesler said. “I know the coach brought it to my attention.
“I don't know why I wasn't scoring or doing well on the road. As a team we weren't doing well.”
Alain Vigneault:
“I know at one point there, there was some confusion in our play,” Alain Vigneault said. “Some guys were saying we were sitting back.
“But there never should have been any confusion. In my mind, and I know our guys believe it too now, there's only one way to play, and that's the right way.”
...
“If the other team's got the gap on you, you've got to chip it behind them, if you've got room you've got to use that space,” the coach said. “Whether that's at home or on the road, the ice is still 200 by 85.
“I think our guys understand that real well, that there's a right way to play, and that's what they're trying to do every night.”
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Ca...#ixzz1AfbFOmyd
Sounds like the players and coaching staff are all singing from the same hymn book now. And it is working.
