"Vancouver fans can breathe easier for a few more days after spending the last 12 holding their air every time Sami Salo goes onto the ice.

Given his history and the way he's been playing so well, any real Canucks fan is always a little bit worried in the back of his or her mind that the season might go down the tube with one big hit. Or even a little one, or even when Sami is scoring a goal.

Give him a hard time about his injured past, he's on board.

But also give him credit for co-leading this Vancouver defence at age 35.

Granted both Christian Ehrhoff and Alex Edler both played more at 25 minutes in the game six clincher as the coach shortened the bench, Andrew Alberts playing just one shift in the third period.

But Salo is the old man, the guy who stands to gain the most from this week off given his recent workload.

"There's two sides to the break really," Salo said. "I don't know I really want to get out of this rythm of playing every other night because things are going pretty well. But at the same time the playoffs are so long and the games are so intense, you need that little bit of a break. But I'm feeling good. At least it's better than last year. That was way too long.

"You don't get too many chances in your career to get a shot at this so this is the time when you want to be playing a lot."

Salo said the last time he played this much it was during the lockout in Sweden in '05 when he played with P.J. Axelson, Daniel Alfredsson and others on a very good team. And there's no question playing on a good team helps, although Sunday night was not easy as LA carried most of the play most much of the night."