Some quick thoughts from the NHL on TSN on Friday night:
Vancouver Canucks forward Mikael Samuelsson has been unbelievable so far this post-season.
The Swedish scorer has a goal in every single game of the playoffs and after Friday night's 7-2 victory over the Los Angels Kings, he is the playoff goal leader.
We know now why team Sweden performed poorly at the 2010 Winter Games - they didn't have Samuelsson and they didn't have Alexander Edler, who is also excellent.
You have to tip your cap to Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault, who in Game 4 put Samuelsson on a line with the Sedin twins. That paid off in that game and it certainly paid off in Game 5 when they were the dominant line on the ice.
The Kings tried to crash and bang at Roberto Luongo and take him off his game early, but the Canucks held strong.
I thought Vancouver did a much better job of killing penalties in this game, even though Los Angeles did get a power play goal in the first period. The Canucks got in their shooting lanes and took away the shots from Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty on the blueline.
Regardless, at the end of the day it's all about the Swedes, all about the two Sedins and especially Mikael Samuelsson who has become the goal sensation of these playoffs.