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When the Vancouver Canucks (41-22-11) began their six-game road trip, they knew their performance could very well determine their playoff destiny. Ten days later and still far from a clear picture of how everything will be settled, the one question they can put an end to is whether they’ll indeed qualify for the post-season as a win tonight over the Minnesota Wild (36-32-8) would all but solidify their spot in the Western Conference’s elite eight.If Sunday night’s tilt with the Blackhawks was in fact a playoff preview, then there is indeed plenty to look forward to once the NHL’s second season rolls around. In an emotionally-charged game that featured a third period line brawl and 108 combined penalty minutes between the two clubs, it was the Canucks that scored all the big blows as far as the scoreboard was concerned. Backed by Roberto Luongo’s 45th career shutout, the Canucks were full value for a 4-0 win that gave them consecutive road victories for the first time in over a month and gave them their third win in their last four games overall. But while the Canucks definitely sent a message to the Blackhawks in advance of a possible first round meeting, they still have their sights on catching the Calgary Flames for third place in the Conference. They can take another big step in reclaiming the divisional crown by dashing the playoff hopes for another Northwest Division rival tonight.The Wild enter the day trailing the final playoff spot in the West by three points but, with three teams between them and that coveted eighth place position, the deficit may be impossible to overcome – especially if they don’t find a way to get a win out of tonight’s match. The Wild, who are coming off a 3-2 win in Edmonton on Sunday, have alternated wins and losses over their last eight games and have not put together back-to-back victories since February 21 – 22 when they knocked off the Red Wings and Blackhawks on consecutive nights. The Canucks have dominated the Wild in the season series to this point, winning four of the five head-to-head-meetings (4-0-1) so far including posting a perfect 2-0-0 record at the Xcel Energy Center. However, they’ll have to contend with a new face in the season series as Minnesota’s superstar forward Marian Gaborik will make his debut in the season series tonight after missing all five of the previous games due to injury.

Tonight’s game faces off at 5:00pm PST and can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet Pacfic.

Quotable ~ “It was a weird fight … I’m looking at the guy face-to-face for about 20 seconds and nothing happens. I turn my back to go to the pile and he grabs me from behind, so he’s got to live with that, I guess. He didn’t want to fight me when I was facing him.” – Kevin Bieksa on his third period WWE-like tussle with Blackhawks’ forward Ben Eager. (Vancouver Sun)

 

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After a big bounce-back win in Denver on Friday night, the Vancouver Canucks (40-25-9) travel to the Windy City to face the Chicago Blackhawks (40-22-11) in what could very well be a first-round playoff preview for the teams that currently occupy the fourth and fifth seeds in the Western Conference standings.

Playing what was essentially a glorified AHL team on Friday, it was the Canucks who appeared to be the team that was out-classed in the first 20 minutes of the tilt. But after falling behind 1-0 in the opening frame, the Canucks were dominant in the final two periods out-shooting the Avalanche 24-14 and out-scoring them 4-0 in an eventual 4-1 win. The Canucks now turn their attention from a struggling Avalanche squad that will miss the playoffs to a streaking Blackhawks team that already has their post-season ticket booked – a ticket that quite possibly has Vancouver stamped on it. The game also marks a chance for the Canucks, who have 89 points on the season, to pull even with the Blackhawks as they enter play tonight trailing Chicago by just two points in the ultra-competitive Western Conference standings.

The Blackhawks come into tonight’s game on a three-game win streak and having earned points in five straight contests (3-0-2). They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime win over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night and are closing out a five-game home stand before heading to Montreal for a quick one-game trip on Tuesday night. Besides playoff positioning, the ‘Hawks probably have revenge on their minds after they were handed an embarrassing 7-3 loss at GM Place back on February 7th when these two teams last met. The Blackhawks still hold the lead in the season series having earned wins in the first two meetings of the season between the two clubs – including a 4-2 win at the United Center way back on October 19th. They ‘Hawks could get a boost with the return of Ben Eager to the lineup after the forward finished serving his three-game suspension for his head shot on Edmonton’s Liam Reddox although the Blackhawks coaching staff led by Joel Quenneville may be hesitant to tinker with a lineup that has won all three games in Eager’s absence.

Tonight’s game faces off at 4:00pm PST and can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific.

Quotable ~ “Trust me, I was pissed [Friday]. I got my game face on and I was ready. I was ready for a good game”. – Pavol Demitra on rebounding from a poor Thursday outing against the Blues with a more determined effort on Friday versus the Avalanche. (Vancouver Sun)