McGuire: Chemistry issues for Canucks

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire was a guest on The Big Show on Thursday and he noted that as the Bruins were inching closer toward capturing the Stanley Cup on Wednesday night in Vancouver, there was a major difference between the two benches. "There were definitely chemistry issues on one bench," McGuire said. "Coaches overreacting. I thought in the case of Alain Vingeault when the frustration set in, and the composure and the focus and basically every one of the Bruins players acting as coach. It was really an interesting dynamic to witness." 

He added, "When you have a knockout game and things start to go south in a hurry, guys just deviate from the plan and you could sense that. You didn't see the same Vancouver Canucks team in the third period that you saw in Games 1 or 2 or Game 5 when they were in Vancouver." 

McGuire said that he thought Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo hurt himself with his comments about Tim Thomas after Game 5. "The damage was done to Roberto Luongo [after Game 5]," McGuire said. "The whole thing, the two-day break, putting the foot in the mouth, questioning Tim Thomas' ability to make a save against Maxim Lapierre in Game 5.

"The one thing I thought was very apparent and I've been through this twice as a coach winning a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh in 1991 and 92, you have to manage the message and make sure your players are debriefed before dealing with the media. You've got to be so careful because everything is scrutinized. I really felt the Vancouver PR machine went off the rails going into Game 6. They were too brash, too arrogant. I give Boston full credit. They managed their message the entire playoffs and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they handled themselves. On the Vancouver side I don't think it was handled very well." 

McGuire also had praise for Bruins' coach Claude Julien, particularly his decision to practice as soon as the team landed in Vancouver. "Instead of practicing the day of the game they practiced as soon as they got off the plane," McGuire said. "They had a much better start. They had livelier legs and they were ready to go. They really believed in their plan. That little deviation helped them a ton. That's where Claude Julien isn't getting enough credit." 

McGuire also felt Julien was more willing to adapt this year as opposed to last. "The one thing I was really impressed with from Claude compared to a year ago, the ability to make adjustments both in-game and during the series," McGuire said. "We didn't see that last year. I think that's a big reason they lost last year. [Peter] Laviolette outcoached him and obviously the injury to [David] Krejci. But this year I saw a man prepared to make changes. He could deviate from the matchups if he had to, he wasn't afraid to get his fourth line on the ice and I thought they were a huge factor in Game 7. Claude deserves a lot of credit."

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