For me the key to the game is as easy as rebound control. I don't think Vancouver played awful, I just think they got a couple of unlucky bounces and weren't able to capitalize on getting quality chances after a rebound. And you have to give the Armada D, as well as Larry Atta, credit for controlling where the loose pucks went. Atta at least twice in the first period alone gave up a rebound but directed it expertly into the corner. And he did this time and time again in this game. So was there rebounds that Vancouver gobbled up? Sure, but were any of them high quality chances? Not at all. And it wasn't just Larry doing that- look at how ANC plays- the 8 shots they blocked went into the corners or to their own players.

And then look at the flipside: the Whalers' rebound control was decent at best. The stats would make it seem like Leitner was a role of 2-ply out there, but I'd argue the opposite. Look at Barber's and Bust's goals and they have something in common: a decent rebound led to a goal. And these weren't open net goals, Anchorage was just able to capitalize. And Vancouver, if you're only going to block 4 shots at least hustle for them rebounds! I don't know if this is something that Vancouver's going to look at, but I would if I were them. Without those two goals, this could've been a very different game