1994-1995: LOCK-OUT SLOWS MOMENTUM
Less than two weeks after the thrilling seventh game, the Canucks picked a player whom they hoped would be a big part on the team as they enter the new millennium -- Swedish defenseman Mattias Ohlund (13th overall). But the hockey scene changed from very positive to very negative, very quickly. Amidst the excitement of a thrilling Stanley Cup Final, cynics were pointing out that the NHL and NHLPA had just played an entire season without a collective bargaining agreement and had no intention of playing another under such circumstances. By the time training camps began in early September, the two sides were no closer to an agreement. New coach Rick Ley went about preparing his troops for the coming season, knowing full well it may not happen, as the NHL's lockout date of October 1 loomed ever nearer. True to their word, the NHL locked out the players on October 1, and as the months passed, fans all over the world wondered whether there would be a season at all. Labor peace was finally achieved in early January and a 48-game season commenced on Jan 19. On that night, the Canucks were finally able to raise their Western Conference Championship banner as they played the Dallas Stars to a 1-1 tie. The damage done by the labor dispute was evident in the crowd, as only 12,053 fans showed up for the banner-raising and sold out only three of 24 home games during the season, and only two of five home playoff games. The fans seemed to be more interested in what was going on off the ice where Chairman Arthur Griffiths, being overrun by the cost of the new building, took on a minority owner -- Seattle-based millionaire and family friend John McCaw. On April 7 the Canucks parted company with Greg Adams, trading him, RW Dan Kesa, and a fifth round pick (Jason Williams) to Dallas in exchange for C Russ Courtnall.
The Canucks finished with a .500 record for the season and placed sixth in the conference, drawing St. Louis as a first-round opponent. The series was a clinic on chippy, sloppy hockey. The Canucks would have been out of the series in five games, had St. Louis' goaltending not gift-wrapped two games for the Canucks. Cliff Ronning scored in overtime to give the Canucks a 6-5 win in Game 5 and a 3-2 series lead, giving them a chance to wrap up the series on home ice in Game 6. In that game, the Canucks put on such a poor performance that fans began heading for the exits with the team trailing 6-1 in the second period. The chippiness of the series came to a head in the third period, as the game degenerated into an all-out brawl. The lasting image is of Gino Odjick, jersey off, racing around the ice after Glenn Anderson, who had viciously high-sticked a Canuck earlier. Both players would be suspended for the seventh game. The seventh game, at St. Louis' Kiel Center, would be much better. The Canucks played inspired hockey and grabbed a 4-2 lead through forty minutes, setting the stage for a most entertaining third period. The Blues threw all the rubber they could manage at the Vancouver net that period, but could only put one puck past Kirk McLean, whose play was reminiscent of the overtime period in Game 1 of the previous year's finals.
There was little time to savor the victory, however, as Game 1 in Chicago was less than 48 hours away. In a game that was well played defensively by each team, but provided little entertainment value, the Blackhawks defeated the Canucks 2-1 in overtime. Game 2, won 3-0 by Chicago, would be remembered for the Pavel Bure goal that was disallowed because Trevor Linden's foot was in the crease -- something that would become more of an issue in the next game. In that game, Russ Courtnall broke a wildly exciting 2-2 tie with a breakaway goal with seven minutes to play, and it appeared that the Canucks were back in the series. In the final minute however, ex-Canuck Murray Craven set up shop in front of McLean, firmly planting both feet in blue paint. He then received a pass from the corner and chipped it into the goal, all the while remaining in the crease. The goal stood, and Chris Chelios scored in overtime to all but eliminate the Canucks. Pat Quinn, who clamored heavily for video replay after the Joel Otto goal in 1989, would use this as evidence that replay must also be used to ensure that crease encroachment was consistently enforced. The Canucks again blew a third period lead in Game 4 and lost on another Chelios overtime goal -- the last NHL goal to be scored at the Pacific Coliseum.
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