Malhotra helpful, even on the sidelines
VANCOUVER -- Even though Manny Malhotra wasn't able to make it to the starting gate for the Vancouver Canucks in Game 1 the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins, his leadership skills had a helping hand in the Canucks' 1-0 victory.
You see, the Canucks forward who planted the game-winner behind the remarkable Tim Thomas with 18.5 tics left on the clock was Raffi Torres.
The hard-hitting, swift-skater plays on the edge, and after a couple of controversial hits -- one late in the regular season and another early in the playoffs -- Malhotra had to talk Torres off the ledge and get his teammate back playing the sort of game that has made his successful.
The 29-year-old Torres was stressed about what had happened to him. First, he was suspended four games for a nasty headshot on Edmonton Oilers rookie Jordan Eberle.
After he sat out the final two games of the regular season and the first pair in the playoffs, he returned to find himself in another mess with a questionable hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook in the first round.
Torres was given a two-minute penalty for his check behind the Chicago goal, but there was a feeling that he deserved a suspension for that too.
The back-to-back incidents had Torres confused about his game and wondering if he could still play the same way. That's when Malhotra, who despite his serious left eye injury still may see action in the final, entered the picture.
Positive influence
"Manny has been nothing but a positive influence on me throughout the season and throughout the course of the playoffs," Torres said.
"He's just one of those guys that said, 'Hey, Raffi, just go out there and relax. At the end of the day, your game is a meat-and-potato type of game. Don't try to do anything out of the your element. Just go out and play hockey, which is north/south, getting pucks, feet moving.' He kind of puts that into my head every day.
"After every period, I just go in [the dressing room] and say, 'what's up, what do you think?' Just a couple words of wisdom from a guy that knows what he's talking about."
Malhotra and Torres also played together in 2008-09 with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Torres probably played his best hockey for the 2005-06 Edmonton Oilers when he scored a career-high 27 goals and was so helpful in their underdog run to the Stanley Cup Final.
But he's close to playing the kind of hockey he did then, especially lately with his third goal in eight games.
Not bad for a guy who had difficulty finding a home as an unrestricted free agent last summer. He didn't sign with the Canucks until late August.
"Thanks for the reminder," he said, smiling. "Yeah, it was a long summer. Obviously the phone wasn't ringing off the hook too much. But everything happens for a reason.
"I've tried everything in my power to put it behind me. Had some great support along the way. Just in a very fortunate situation right now. For a chance to reach our ultimate goal, which is winning the Stanley Cup, it's been quite a ride."
Third-line importance
We've mentioned before the importance of a third line for teams that win the Stanley Cup, because the top two lines generate more attention defensively.
The 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks had Sami Pahlsson, Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer. The 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins had Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke. Last year's Chicago Blackhawks had David Bolland between Kris Versteeg and Andrew Ladd.
Torres with Maxim Lapierre and Hansen have been dynamite for the Canucks since they were put together in Game 3 of the second-round series against the Nashville Predators. The Canucks have gone 8-2 with that line intact and they enjoyed another grand game on Wednesday.
"For us, we feel like we've been gaining confidence throughout the whole [playoffs]," Torres said. "I thought Jannik and Lappy had a hell of a third period to go along with a pretty solid game.
"For us, it's pretty simple hockey, getting pucks deep, trying to work their D. Like I said, our confidence is pretty high right now. But we know, like [Ryan] Kesler said, it's just one game, we got to carry that into Game 2."
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