Cloutier has rebounded nicely from Game 1 loss to shine in series
Gary Mason, Vancouver Sun
CANADA.COM
ST. LOUIS -- The Canucks top player so far in this series stood surrounded by reporters Tuesday, trying to convince them all that his team was just fine and would find the will to bounce back in Game 4 tonight.
"I'm not worried about this group at all," said goaltender Dan Cloutier. "We've rebounded from tough losses all season and I'm confident we can do that tomorrow night. I know as a team we can score goals, that hasn't been a problem all year."
If there has been a bright spot for Vancouver in the three games played so far in this round-one matchup, it's been the play of Cloutier. After giving up six goals in the series opener that his teammates forgot to show up for, Cloutier has rebounded nicely and has easily been the best player in Vancouver's lineup.
He's looked particularly sharp when St. Louis has been on the power play, robbing several Blues' players in close. With Al MacInnis out with an injury, the Blues power play has changed. It no longer revolves around a MacInnis rocket from the point, but instead hinges on the speedy movement of the puck down low.
This has tested Cloutier's lateral movement in particular.
"I feel very good out there," he said. "I'm seeing the puck well right now. I just have to continue to be aware of what the other team is doing. They have loads of talent in that lineup and on the power play particularly. They're trying a lot of back-door stuff right now so our communication has to be excellent."
Cloutier has seen enough of Keith Tkachuk's and Scott Mellanby's backsides to last a lifetime. His defencemen are going to have to continue the battle in front of the net to move these guys, especially on the power play.
As for what he sees from his vantage point in goal, Cloutier said the attention the top line is getting is no different than the attention St. Louis' best players are receiving from the Canucks.
"Hey," he said. "It's tight everywhere. There just isn't a lot of room five-on-five. But I'm not worried about our goal scoring. We've been a team that scored in bunches all year and I think we'll break out soon. It's not like we're playing bad or anything we just need to get a few and then they'll start coming."
Cloutier said every game in the playoffs is big but admitted the one tonight would be an especially nice win for the Canucks.
"It would be great to go back home with the series tied obviously. I think we'll come out with a solid effort."