Trevor Linden sounds as if he might not spend a lot of his free time tuned into ESPN Classic.

	Trevor Linden says comparisons to the 1994 Canucks are a waste of time.

History, it seems, is something he'd enjoy making, not something he's keen to revisit.

"I've been asked about that, about '94, a lot," protests 32-year-old Linden, who is in his second tour of duty with the Vancouver Canucks. "But I really don't believe it does much good looking back into the past. That was eight years ago, when this franchise went to the finals. It was a fantastic experience, one I'll never forget it and neither will the city but ... it's long over and done with. What relevance does it hold to today?

"A lot of the guys in this room weren't even in the league at that time. So how can you compare then to now?"

Still, those who dare to dream on Canada's west coast see this Canuck team and can't help but allow their minds to drift back to 1994, to Linden and Pavel Bure and Geoff Courtnall and goaltending hero Kirk McLean, to that improbable, exhilarating run all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Mike Keenan-coached and Mark Messier-led New York Rangers. Impossible now?

Hell, it was impossible then, too.

That '94 club was an 85-point unheralded seventh seed entering the postseason. This edition is a 94-point team that has only been the league's most dynamic since the Christmas break.

For the first time in franchise history the Canucks led the entire NHL in goal scoring. Their top line of Todd Bertuzzi (third in league scoring at 85 points), captain Markus Naslund (second, at 90) and center Brendan Morrison has become the league's most lethal. All the talk of having to trade for a proven netminder came to nothing as Dan Cloutier proved -- to management, at any rate -- that his 2.43 GAA, 31 wins and .901 save percentage made him the man of the moment, and the man for the future. He can prove it to everyone else over the next two weeks. Or longer.

"We have confidence," says the burly Bertuzzi, whose personal breakthrough mirrors that of his team. "The key to confidence is having done it before, having had success; and we've seen these last three months, when every game seemed to be make-or-break for the playoffs, we can be successful.

"Sometimes you can have a false feeling of confidence; try to convince yourself you can do something when you have doubts in your heart.

"I feel good about where we're at. Why? No. 1: Naz (Naslund) and Cass (Andrew Cassels) are healthy for these playoffs and they're such a big part of our team. No. 2: The fact that we've got an unquestioned No. 1 goalie now. Last year, our two guys were good. But this year (Dan Cloutier) has solidified himself as that No. 1, go-to guy. He's played great for us. No. 3: The roll we've been on.

"We've been playing pressure games for the last three months. I think that helps us, too. We're in playoff-style mindset already.

"There's a great feeling in this room."

There's going to have to be.

First up, the Presidents' Trophy-winning, 116-point Detroit Wings, hockey's second highest-scoring aggregation. Most stunning upsets occur in the first round of playoffs, though, and the Wings aren't exactly marching into battle on a high note, having only won one of their final 10 games.

Vancouver, by contrast, is riding an nine-game (8-0-1) unbeaten streak heading into Game 1 at Joe Louis Arena.

And for anyone who flat-out dismissed their chances, think back ... in '94, the Canucks shocked the heavily favored Calgary Flames in the opening series, as Pavel Bure deked Mike Vernon on an overtime breakaway to seal the deal in Game 7.

Mightn't such a shocker happen again?

	“	We don't wait for things to happen. We go out and make them happen. We don't try not to lose games; we try to win them. That's a fun way to play. ”
		— Markus Naslund, Canucks captain

Who's to totally dismiss the possibility? For who, three months ago, would've imagined in their wildest Hunter S. Thompson-esque hallucinations that the Vancouver Canucks would even be playing right now? Anyone so obviously daffy would've been immediately whisked to a neurological center for a CAT scan. At Christmas, the down-at-heel Canucks had already pretty much been cremated by fans and media alike and their ashes strewn to the four winds, lagging well behind in 14th position in the West, a hefty nine points adrift of the eighth and final postseason perch.

They appeared to be as out of fashion as Pokemon. Since that time, they've only been the hottest act on the circuit, going 27-9-3-0 for an astonishing 57 points -- a 115-point pace. Since then, they've become the game's most attacking team; eschewing the customary constipated, safety-first style so indiginous to the NHL these days and thrown caution out the door.

"I think it's important, to be successful the way we've played," Naslund says. "We don't wait for things to happen. We go out and make them happen. We don't try not to lose games; we try to win them.

"That's a fun way to play."

Don't think for a moment that the Canucks will change their style because Detroit is the opponent. This series has the makings of the most gripping in the conference quarterfinals, two attack-oriented teams surging ever forward.

"Playing this well since Christmas, we believe in the way we play," Naslund says. "Even if we get down two or three goals, we don't panic. We know from experience that we're capable of coming back."

Or holding fast, for that matter.

"Being able to score goals is great," cautions Linden, "but what makes me so optimistic about this team is the way we've been able to hang tough in the last couple of weeks. We go into Colorado and play a tight defensive game against the defending Stanley Cup champions and win, then two nights later at home to L.A., a 1-1 game in the second period, we stayed patient and then broke it open in the third.

"It's no secret there's plenty of firepower here but defense is what separates teams in the playoffs. And we've shown ourselves we're capable of playing a tight, disciplined game against very good opponents."

Just like in '94, huh, Trevor?

"I will say this," hedges Linden after some additional prodding. "In '94 we were just an average team that got hot at the right time.

"This team is not average.

"When you see the quality of these players, see how young they are and their potential, it's fun to be a part of. I've been saying it since Christmas -- this is a real special group. They show you something special on a nightly basis that I haven't been a part of for a long time.

"This has been very exciting."

And who knows? The excitement might just be beginning.

George Johnson of the Calgary Herald is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.