Canucks Facing Elimination : Hockey: Vancouver’s slim hopes rest on its ability to overcome a 3-1 deficit for the second time in the postseason.

If there was ever a time the Vancouver Canucks were hoping for history to repeat itself, this is it.

Two weeks ago, the Canucks were just one game away from elimination in their opening-round playoff series against Winnipeg, Vancouver won three in a row over the Jets to win the Smythe Division semifinals 4-3.

They’ll trying to conjure up the same magic at home on Sunday night now that they trail the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 -- including a demoralizing 3-2 loss in Edmonton Friday night.

If the Canucks can do it again, they will be making NHL history. But coach Pat Quinn admits it is a tall order.

“The odds are you don’t overcome that 3-1 deficit too often,” Quinn said. “But we’ve done it once, and we’ll do it again. This club’s never laid down so I expect them to rebound and we look forward to coming back” to Edmonton.

Making the comeback even tougher is the fact that two key defensemen are doubtful starters. Doug Lidster left Friday’s game with an ankle injury and Gerald Didick has a strained groin. Neither took part in practice on Saturday and Quinn was reluctant to discuss whether they would play.

There’s one more important obstacle to another miracle comeback: the Edmonton Oilers are not the Winnipeg Jets -- a fact the Canucks aren’t trying to gloss over.

The Oilers were the only Smythe team to have an edge over the Canucks, finishing the regular season with a 5-2 record against Vancouver. Edmonton can secure its eighth trip to the Campbell Conference finals in 10 seasons with a victory.

“They’ve got definitely a little more experience than Winnipeg, and a little more firepower,” Canucks captain Trevor Linden said.

Beating Edmonton goalie Bill Ranford -- who has more playoff experience than Vancouver’s Kirk McLean -- is essential for a comeback.

“That third period we had plenty of chances to tie it up and even win the game,” Vancouver defenseman Dave Babych said of Friday night’s game. “We know it we just got to take it to him right where we left off.

“He made some great saves and he kept them in the game at times but we still have got to keep the pressure on for 60 minutes.”

The Oilers’ Scott Mellanby, who scored the winning goal Friday, said Edmonton isn’t about to let down its guard in Vancouver, particularly knowing what the Canucks did to the Jets.

“We’ve played better the last two games and we certainly are due for a good game on their ice,” he said. “They’re capable of coming back. There’s enough experience on this team that we’re not going to let up.”

Edmonton’s Esa Tikkanen, who took 12 stitches when cut by his helmet after he was crushed into the glass Friday, said nothing is certain -- particular in a series like the current one with “tight games anybody could win.”