Canucks need to build on double-overtime win

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Vancouver Canucks’ double-overtime win in Anaheim on Friday night quieted critics, but the team knows it will take more to silence them.

Written off by many after being dominated by the Ducks 5-1 in Game 1 on Wednesday night, the Canucks tied the series on Jeff Cowan’s sharp-angle shot 7:49 into the second overtime.

Injuries to top defensemen Kevin Bieksa and Sami Salo only added fuel to critics, who claimed the team didn’t have a chance against Anaheim.

To a man, the Canucks insisted they weren’t listening to their doubters after the Game 1 blowout, but that didn’t change the importance of coming back to Vancouver for Game 3 on Sunday night with the best-of-7 series tied at one game apiece.

“It was a bit of psychological situation,” said veteran Trevor Linden, who assisted on Cowan’s game-winner and has scored or set up four of the Canucks’ five winning goals in these playoffs.

Linden said the Canucks “came out with a better edge” in Game 2 after being badly outclassed in the opener, but knows they’ll need to find another level as the series goes on. Just as the Ducks weren’t surprised the Canucks bounced back, Vancouver expects more from Anaheim in Game 3.

“From our standpoint, we can execute at a higher level,” coach Randy Carlyle said after the Ducks practiced in Anaheim before flying to Vancouver Saturday. “We turned the puck over way too many times.”