Bruins vs Red Wings

CALGARY -- The Vancouver Canucks survived elimination once. They hope to prolong their season again with a win in Game 6 in their Western Conference First Round series against the Calgary Flames on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

With the momentum of winning Game 5 on home ice, the Canucks will enter Scotiabank Saddledome in search of their first road win of this best-of-7-series.

“I don't think we gave them our best here in [Games] 3 and 4,” Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa said. “For whatever reason, maybe sitting back at times, not attacking, a little bit hesitant, not 100 percent sure of our reads, not trusting them and staying hard on the forecheck and keeping pucks in. Just go out with more of an attack mentality I think.”

CALGARY -- Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley wants his team to step back and enjoy the situation in advance of Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round series against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

With a chance to earn a bid into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 11 years and eliminate the Canucks in the process, Hartley stressed the significance of his players relishing the moment.

"That has been our mindset since day one of training camp; that's our culture," he said. "We're asking a lot from all of us in this organization, but at the same time it's a game. It's a game and we earned the right to play this game tonight so let's enjoy it.

"I know lots of my friends that would pay big money to be behind the bench instead of me and I know lots of players that would pay big money to be in my players' skates tonight. It's us and while we're there we have a job to do, but at the same time let's enjoy it."

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks center Brad Richardson was one of several forwards who didn't practice Friday, but coach Willie Desjardins sounded optimistic Richardson will play in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round series against the Calgary Flames on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

If Game 4 in Calgary was any indication, the Canucks will need him.

Richardson is one of Vancouver's top penalty-killers, and without him and right wing Alexandre Burrows, who is out for the series with an undisclosed injury, Calgary scored on its first two power plays in a 3-1 victory in Game 4.

With Richardson back in the lineup for Game 5 on Thursday, the Canucks gave up one shot while killing off all three Flames man-advantages, including two in the third period of a 2-1 victory.

CALGARY -- After the Calgary Flames failed to close out the Vancouver Canucks in Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series in Vancouver on Thursday, Mikael Backlund said there is "no way" the Flames will lose Game 6 at Scotiabank Saddledome.

The Calgary forward didn't shy away from the comment Friday.

"I didn't guarantee anything," Backlund said. "All I said was that there's no way we're going to lose, and that's the mindset we need to have going into the game. There's no guarantees in life, so why would I guarantee something?"

The guarantee isn't there, but the confidence is.

Ahead 3-2 in the best-of-7 series and with an opportunity to clinch on home ice is a scenario the Flames are more than happy to be in heading into Game 6 on Saturday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports).

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks forward Sven Baertschi said he would have been excited about his Stanley Cup Playoff debut regardless of the situation, but making it against the Calgary Flames adds a layer of motivation.

Baertschi will make his playoff debut on the second line with the Canucks facing elimination in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round on Thursday (10 p.m ET; CNBC, CBC, TVA Sports). If that's not enough motivation, Baertschi's debut comes against the team that drafted him 13th in the 2011 NHL Draft before trading him to the Canucks on March 2 for a second-round pick this summer.

Baertschi requested a trade, but was downplaying it Thursday.

"It's in the past. Today I am wearing a blue jersey, and that's all that matters to me," Baertschi said. "It's something special for any young player and I guess playing against your old team is something even more special. There's no lack of motivation for sure."

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks are turning back to veteran goaltender Ryan Miller with their season on the line.

Coach Willie Desjardins announced that Miller will start Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round series against the Calgary Flames on Thursday at Rogers Arena (10 p.m. ET; CNBC, CBC, TVA Sports).

Miller, who has started one game since spraining his right knee Feb. 22, replaced Eddie Lack after the first period of a 3-1 loss in Game 4 that left the Canucks trailing the Flames 3-1 in the best-of-7 series.

"Performance is No.1," Desjardins said of his decision to start Miller. "I think he's been in big games before, but the biggest thing is how he played in Calgary. I thought he looked real sharp in Calgary."

VANCOUVER – Goaltender Jonas Hiller is very aware what awaits his Calgary Flames if they can finish off the Vancouver Canucks in Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round on Thursday.

Calgary would advance to face the Anaheim Ducks, who swept the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday. For Hiller it would be a chance to go up against the team that benched him twice in last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs before he walked away after seven seasons.

Hiller, who signed a two-year, $9 million contract in Calgary as a free agent, isn’t thinking about a shot at revenge – yet.

“Yeah, I barely noticed last night,” Hiller said with a laugh after being asked if he knew the Ducks were waiting in the second round. “If we don't (keep our focus), we’re not going to play them. We have to do our share to move on, and then I think we can worry after that. We definitely want to finish this series as soon as possible.”

VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Canucks don't know who will be in goal when they try to avoid elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Ryan Miller replaced Eddie Lack after the first period of a 3-1 loss in Calgary on Tuesday that left the Canucks down 3-1 in the best-of-7 Western Conference First Round series. But coach Willie Desjardins wasn't tipping his hand for Game 5 (10 p.m ET; CNBC, CBC, TVA Sports).

"I have decided, but, no, we’ll wait to see after the morning skate and then we’ll name it,” Desjardins said after practice Wednesday.

CALGARY -- It's a cliché the Calgary Flames haven't been in a situation to dust off in quite some time, but one they will repeat constantly heading into Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round series against the Vancouver Canucks.

The fourth win is the toughest to get.

Ahead 3-1 as the series returns to Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, CNBC, TVA Sports), the Flames understand the challenge that lies ahead.

The last one, they say, is the hardest.

"So I've heard," said rookie forward Josh Jooris, participating in his first Stanley Cup Playoffs. "The fourth one is definitely hardest. Their backs are against the wall now. It's a good position to be in but I think we've got to take care of our business, play a solid road game, play the same way we've been playing, and hopefully get the job done."

VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows has been ruled out for the remainder of the Western Conference First Round series against the Calgary Flames, coach Willie Desjardins said Wednesday.

Burrows, who appeared to be injured in the morning skate prior to Game 4 at Scotiabank Saddledome, was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. He remained in Calgary on Wednesday.

"It's nothing to worry about, it's just kind of a comfort thing," Desjardins said. "He won't be back for this series, but it's not anything serious or anything like that."