Feeling the Pain
VANCOUVER -- It's Team Desperate versus Team Turmoil tonight at GM Place.
"We're just as desperate as they are," admitted Trevor Linden, whose Vancouver Canucks also know about turmoil.
While the Leafs are a team in panic, controversy has dogged the Canucks all season long - to the point where they, too, are in danger of missing the playoffs. Part of their problems are:
- Vancouver's $5-million man, Pavel Bure, hasn't been half the player he used to be since his reconstructive knee surgery.
- Alex Mogilny can't get along with rookie coach Tom Renney.
- Esa Tikkanen wants to be traded.
- Financial pressures forced long-time owner Arthur Griffiths to sell the team.
- And now, Linden - the heart and soul of the Canucks franchise - can't put the puck in the Pacific Ocean.
"It's not going well for me offensively at all," said Linden who hasn't scored since he returned eight games ago from a knee injury.
"I try to do the best I can and contribute in other areas. But as far as getting chances or creating chances, it's hasn't happened.
"I wish I knew what the problem is. If it was a case of practising more, or working harder on this or that, I would. Sometimes it's a matter of just learning to relax a little more."
Linden's scoring woes started following the World Cup - he went 10 games before getting his first goal.
He had five by Dec. 1 when he tore left knee ligaments in a collision with Philadelphia Flyers winger John LeClair.
At the time, he was the NHL's leading Ironman, having played in 482 consecutive games.
The Canucks are 3-5-0 since he rejoined the lineup Jan. 30. They appeared to hit rock bottom in a 4-2 loss to the Leafs 10 days ago at the Gardens.
"After a win, (not scoring) is a little bit easier to accept," said Linden, 26.
"But after a loss you really focus on what you want to do better.
"There haven't been a whole lot of breaks. When I get on a little bit of a roll, hopefully things will start to snowball."
Renney thinks it could happen tonight.
On Saturday, Renney reunited Linden with Russ Courtnall and Martin Gelinas and they erupted for a pair of goals in a 4-2 victory over Anaheim.
"I think Trevor's conditioning and his game are starting to click at the same time," Renney said.
"If Trevor ends the season with 16 goals and we're in a real solid playoff position, I'd take that."
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