Optional morning skates for both the Canucks and Blackhawks. Sami Salo did not skate this morning and will not dress tonight in Game 4 for Vancouver. D-men Willie Mitchell, Shane O'Brien, and Ossi Vaananen, along with Roberto Luongo were the only players skating today that will draw into tonight's line-up for the Canucks. Both teams are likely going with their exact same line-ups as to what they iced in a 3-1 Vancouver victory in Game 3 on Tuesday.
Luongo is one win away from tying Richard Brodeur for 2nd place in the Canucks all-time playoffs wins (12). Kirk McLean holds the all time record for wins with 34. Luongo is the only goalie in the playoffs who is undefeated on the road, having allowed just five goals against in three games.
The Hawks are certainly going to have to a better start tonight if they want to bring this series back to the United Center for a Game 6. Nikolai Khabibulin did not take the morning skate for Chicago. He has given up the first goal in a game five times in the playoffs. Chicago enters tonight having scored the most goals of any team in the post season (31). On the flip side, the Hawks have allowed the most goals against in the league (27).
Here are the expected line-ups for Game 4:
Canucks:
D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows
Raymond - Sundin - Kesler
Pyatt - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Rypien
Mitchell - Vaananen
Ohlund - Edler
Bieksa - O'Brien
Luongo
LaBarbera
Blackhawks:
Sharp - Toews - Kane
Versteeg - Pahlsson - Byfuglien
Ladd - Bolland - Havlat
Eager - Burish - Brouwer
Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Campbell
Barker - Walker
Khabibulin
Huet
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Canucks Hawks Wednesday (With Quote of the Year)
A little comic relief following the practices today for both the Canucks and Blackhawks at the United Center.
Sami Salo is indeed in Chicago and skated on the ice at the conclusion of Canucks practice. Not committed to saying when he'll return to the line-up, Salo says he's feeling better since suffering the lower body injury in Game 2. He wouldn't confirm when the injury occured (before or after his goal celebration) or what the injury was. One Chicago reporter asked him if the injury was to his ankle, knee, or groin....to which Salo responded "That's close...but maybe it's the burning sensation when you pee...you never know!!"
Salo arrived in Chicago last night to see the tail end of the Canucks 3-1 win in Game 3. All other players participated in their off-day skate today, with the exception of Pavol Demitra, who rode the bike and received treatment from the Canucks medical staff.
The Canucks have won six of their last seven road games, playoffs and regular season included. Of those games, Roberto Luongo has just once allowed more than two goals against.
The Hawks had a handful of regulars not take part in their skate today, including Martin Havlat, Dustin Byfuglien, Sammy Pahlsson, Anderw Ladd, Duncan Keith, Cam Barker, and Matt Walker. Coming off their first home-ice loss of the post-season, the Hawks power play has struggled in this series. After going 5-for-11 on the PP in the series against the Calgary, they are 3-for-16 so far against the Canucks.
Sami Salo is indeed in Chicago and skated on the ice at the conclusion of Canucks practice. Not committed to saying when he'll return to the line-up, Salo says he's feeling better since suffering the lower body injury in Game 2. He wouldn't confirm when the injury occured (before or after his goal celebration) or what the injury was. One Chicago reporter asked him if the injury was to his ankle, knee, or groin....to which Salo responded "That's close...but maybe it's the burning sensation when you pee...you never know!!"
Salo arrived in Chicago last night to see the tail end of the Canucks 3-1 win in Game 3. All other players participated in their off-day skate today, with the exception of Pavol Demitra, who rode the bike and received treatment from the Canucks medical staff.
The Canucks have won six of their last seven road games, playoffs and regular season included. Of those games, Roberto Luongo has just once allowed more than two goals against.
The Hawks had a handful of regulars not take part in their skate today, including Martin Havlat, Dustin Byfuglien, Sammy Pahlsson, Anderw Ladd, Duncan Keith, Cam Barker, and Matt Walker. Coming off their first home-ice loss of the post-season, the Hawks power play has struggled in this series. After going 5-for-11 on the PP in the series against the Calgary, they are 3-for-16 so far against the Canucks.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Canucks Take Game 3 at United Center
The Canucks regained home ice advantage Tuesday night in Chicago by posting a 3-1 lead against the Blackhawks in Game 3 of their Western Conference Semi Final series. It was a solid all-around defensive effort on a night which saw the return of Taylor Pyatt to the Vancouver line-up.
The visitors had a 1-0 lead through the opening period of play. Kevin Bieksa started the play by making a good pinch in off the point to intercept a pass on the half wall. He was able to get the puck free to Ryan Kesler who wasted no time finding a wide open Mason Raymond in front. He had little troubling beating Nikolai Khabibulin high under the cross bar for his first ever playoff goal. The Canucks, who opened the scoring for the sixth time in the playoffs, did so at 15:34.
Vancouver started the second period on the power play and wasted little time capitalizing with the extra skater on the ice. Alexander Edler was able to get a point shot free on target. His chance was denied on a pad save, but Steve Bernier was successful in depositing his chance. Daniel Sedin chips in the other assist on Bernier's 2nd of the post-season. It aslo proved to be his first game-winning marker of the playoffs exactly one minute into the middle frame.
Just prior to the midway stage of the game, the two teams skated 4-on-4. Edler did good work inside the Hawks blue-line to get the puck in deep. However he was even better picking off a clearing attempt from Duncan Keith in the slot. Edler got the puck down low beside the net for Henrik Sedin, who's shot got through Khabibulin's pads and trickled just across the goal line. Henrik's team-leading 4th goal of the playoffs put the Canucks in the driver's seat at 8:40.
The shut-out bid of Roberto Luongo came to an end a few shifts later. Chicago was able to go to work on the power play and Brian Campbell's point shot found the back of the net with traffic in front of the Canucks captain. Martin Havlat and Keith chip in the helper's on Campbell's first point of the series. It was also his second goal of the playoffs at 11:09.
The Canucks had not lost a game in regulation time all year when leading after 40 minutes and they were not about to let that happen on this night. They did have a bit of puck luck on their side as a Chicago pass towards the net took a nasty deflection off the stick of Mattias Ohlund. Thankfully for him and his teammates the puck wound up bouncing off the cross bar.
Bernier nearly put the game on ice with a little more than nine minutes remaining. However his point-blank chance beside the crease would be robbed on a great pad stop by the Hawks veteran netminder.
At the other end of the rink, Luongo and those in front of him did a good job of shutting the door down the stretch. The Hawks had 10 shots in the final period, but weren't able to get closer on the scoreboard as Vancouver skated away with their third straight road win in the playoffs.
Final shots on net favoured Chicago 24-21. The Canucks capped off the night going 1-for-4 on the power play and were a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The club will practice tomorrow at the United Center in preparation for their next game in the Windy City. Game 4 goes Thursday night at 5:00pm PST.
The visitors had a 1-0 lead through the opening period of play. Kevin Bieksa started the play by making a good pinch in off the point to intercept a pass on the half wall. He was able to get the puck free to Ryan Kesler who wasted no time finding a wide open Mason Raymond in front. He had little troubling beating Nikolai Khabibulin high under the cross bar for his first ever playoff goal. The Canucks, who opened the scoring for the sixth time in the playoffs, did so at 15:34.
Vancouver started the second period on the power play and wasted little time capitalizing with the extra skater on the ice. Alexander Edler was able to get a point shot free on target. His chance was denied on a pad save, but Steve Bernier was successful in depositing his chance. Daniel Sedin chips in the other assist on Bernier's 2nd of the post-season. It aslo proved to be his first game-winning marker of the playoffs exactly one minute into the middle frame.
Just prior to the midway stage of the game, the two teams skated 4-on-4. Edler did good work inside the Hawks blue-line to get the puck in deep. However he was even better picking off a clearing attempt from Duncan Keith in the slot. Edler got the puck down low beside the net for Henrik Sedin, who's shot got through Khabibulin's pads and trickled just across the goal line. Henrik's team-leading 4th goal of the playoffs put the Canucks in the driver's seat at 8:40.
The shut-out bid of Roberto Luongo came to an end a few shifts later. Chicago was able to go to work on the power play and Brian Campbell's point shot found the back of the net with traffic in front of the Canucks captain. Martin Havlat and Keith chip in the helper's on Campbell's first point of the series. It was also his second goal of the playoffs at 11:09.
The Canucks had not lost a game in regulation time all year when leading after 40 minutes and they were not about to let that happen on this night. They did have a bit of puck luck on their side as a Chicago pass towards the net took a nasty deflection off the stick of Mattias Ohlund. Thankfully for him and his teammates the puck wound up bouncing off the cross bar.
Bernier nearly put the game on ice with a little more than nine minutes remaining. However his point-blank chance beside the crease would be robbed on a great pad stop by the Hawks veteran netminder.
At the other end of the rink, Luongo and those in front of him did a good job of shutting the door down the stretch. The Hawks had 10 shots in the final period, but weren't able to get closer on the scoreboard as Vancouver skated away with their third straight road win in the playoffs.
Final shots on net favoured Chicago 24-21. The Canucks capped off the night going 1-for-4 on the power play and were a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
The club will practice tomorrow at the United Center in preparation for their next game in the Windy City. Game 4 goes Thursday night at 5:00pm PST.
Injury Updates Prior to Game 3
Pavol Demitra will definitely not be playing tonight for the Canucks in Game 3 here in Chicago. His unspecified injury will be re-evaluated within the week.
As for Sami Salo, it looks like he's about to return to be with his teammates here in Chicago. Whether or not he'll be healthy enough to appear in Game 4 is still up in the air.
Taylor Pyatt and Ossi Vaananen both make their series debuts tonight.
As for Sami Salo, it looks like he's about to return to be with his teammates here in Chicago. Whether or not he'll be healthy enough to appear in Game 4 is still up in the air.
Taylor Pyatt and Ossi Vaananen both make their series debuts tonight.
Canucks Hawks Game Day #3
Only a handful of players from each team skated this morning in preparation for Game 3 at the United Center.
Pavol Demitra is a game-time decision heading into the game after being off the ice the last few days. If he's not good to go, Mason Raymond will likely take his place on the line with Mats Sundin and Ryan Kesler. Taylor Pyatt would likely draw in to play with Kyle Wellwood and Steve Bernier. Pyatt has missed the last 11 Canucks games following the death of his fiance.
Ossi Vaananen will make his 2nd appearance of the post-season and likely be paired up on defence with Willie Mitchell. Vaananen had just over eight minutes of ice time in Vancouver's 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 against the St. Louis Blues.
The Hawks are not expected to make any changes for this evening. Tonight is the first home game the Hawks have played in the month of May since 1996. Currently undefeated at home in the playoffs, they posted 24 wins during the regular season. The last time they had that many wins at the United Center came in the 2001-02 season.
Here are the expected line-ups for Game 3 tonight in Chicago:
Canucks:
D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows
Raymond - Sundin - Kesler
Pyatt - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Rypien
Mitchell - Vaananen
Ohlund - Edler
Bieksa - O'Brien
Hawks:
Sharp - Toews - Kane
Ladd - Bolland - Havlat
Versteeg - Pahlsson - Byfuglien
Eager - Burish - Brouwer
Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Campbell
Barker - Walker
Khabibulin
Huet
Pavol Demitra is a game-time decision heading into the game after being off the ice the last few days. If he's not good to go, Mason Raymond will likely take his place on the line with Mats Sundin and Ryan Kesler. Taylor Pyatt would likely draw in to play with Kyle Wellwood and Steve Bernier. Pyatt has missed the last 11 Canucks games following the death of his fiance.
Ossi Vaananen will make his 2nd appearance of the post-season and likely be paired up on defence with Willie Mitchell. Vaananen had just over eight minutes of ice time in Vancouver's 3-2 overtime win in Game 4 against the St. Louis Blues.
The Hawks are not expected to make any changes for this evening. Tonight is the first home game the Hawks have played in the month of May since 1996. Currently undefeated at home in the playoffs, they posted 24 wins during the regular season. The last time they had that many wins at the United Center came in the 2001-02 season.
Here are the expected line-ups for Game 3 tonight in Chicago:
Canucks:
D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows
Raymond - Sundin - Kesler
Pyatt - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Rypien
Mitchell - Vaananen
Ohlund - Edler
Bieksa - O'Brien
Hawks:
Sharp - Toews - Kane
Ladd - Bolland - Havlat
Versteeg - Pahlsson - Byfuglien
Eager - Burish - Brouwer
Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Campbell
Barker - Walker
Khabibulin
Huet
Monday, May 4, 2009
Canucks Blackhawks Monday Practice
The Canucks are in the Windy City after splitting their opening two games of their 2nd round playoffs series with the Blackhawks.
Both teams skated today at the United Center. Pavol Demitra did not skate for Vancouver while Sammy Pahlsson was absent for the Hawks. Both players were taking maintenance days.
Saturday's 6-3 loss in Game 2 was Vancouver's first home ice defeat of the post-season, and just their 2nd regulation time loss at GM Place in their last 19 games. The Canucks were out-shot 32-21 on the night. The only time they have out-shot the opposition in the playoffs came in Game 1 of the series with the St. Louis Blues.
Sami Salo suffered a lower body injury after scoring the opening goal of the game on a power play. He did not travel with the team to Chicago and it's undetermined whether or not he'll be healthy enough to join the team for Games 3 and 4 at the United Center. For what it's worth, when Salo was out of the line-up in December and January, the Canucks won just four of 15 games.
The Hawks come home after putting eight goals behind Roberto Luongo in the opening two games at GM Place. They are undefeated at home in the playoffs, having out-scored the Calgary Flames 11-5 in three games.14 players have scored a goal in the playoffs for Chicago, the most of any team in the post season. Brent Seabrook has the longest active point scoring streak for Chicago, with one goal and six assists in his last five games.
Both teams skated today at the United Center. Pavol Demitra did not skate for Vancouver while Sammy Pahlsson was absent for the Hawks. Both players were taking maintenance days.
Saturday's 6-3 loss in Game 2 was Vancouver's first home ice defeat of the post-season, and just their 2nd regulation time loss at GM Place in their last 19 games. The Canucks were out-shot 32-21 on the night. The only time they have out-shot the opposition in the playoffs came in Game 1 of the series with the St. Louis Blues.
Sami Salo suffered a lower body injury after scoring the opening goal of the game on a power play. He did not travel with the team to Chicago and it's undetermined whether or not he'll be healthy enough to join the team for Games 3 and 4 at the United Center. For what it's worth, when Salo was out of the line-up in December and January, the Canucks won just four of 15 games.
The Hawks come home after putting eight goals behind Roberto Luongo in the opening two games at GM Place. They are undefeated at home in the playoffs, having out-scored the Calgary Flames 11-5 in three games.14 players have scored a goal in the playoffs for Chicago, the most of any team in the post season. Brent Seabrook has the longest active point scoring streak for Chicago, with one goal and six assists in his last five games.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Canucks & Hawks Game Day #2
The Canucks, minus Mattias Ohlund and Rick Rypien, took part in game day skate this morning while the Blackhawks opted to take the day off the ice in preparation for Game 2 at GM Place this evening.
The Canucks 5-3 victory in Game 1 was the first time in the post season where they have scored more than three goals in a single game. Their record in the regular season when scoring four-or-more was a sparkling 28-2-3.
Game 1 also marked the first time in the playoffs where the Canucks allowed three goals against in one period of play. Vancouver allowed three goals in a single period 13 times during the regular season, five times in October and five times when Roberto Luongo was sidelined with his long-term injury. Only once this year have the Canucks allowed three goals in a third period on home ice, which occured in a 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues January 9.
As for the Blackhawks, they find themselves trailing a series for the first time in the playoffs. When you add the total from Game 1 and their four-game season series with Vancouver, the Hawks have given the Canucks 32 power plays this year. They are also playing their first game in the month of May since 1996.
Here are the expected line combos and defensive pairings for Game 2:
Canucks:
D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows
Demitra - Sundin - Kesler
Raymond - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Rypien
Mitchell - Salo
Ohlund - Edler
Bieksa - O'Brien
Luongo
LaBarbera
Hawks:
Sharp - Toews - Kane
Ladd - Bolland - Havlat
Versteeg - Pahlsson - Byfuglien
Eager - Burish - Brouwer
Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Campbell
Barker -Walker
Khabibulin
Huet
The Canucks 5-3 victory in Game 1 was the first time in the post season where they have scored more than three goals in a single game. Their record in the regular season when scoring four-or-more was a sparkling 28-2-3.
Game 1 also marked the first time in the playoffs where the Canucks allowed three goals against in one period of play. Vancouver allowed three goals in a single period 13 times during the regular season, five times in October and five times when Roberto Luongo was sidelined with his long-term injury. Only once this year have the Canucks allowed three goals in a third period on home ice, which occured in a 6-4 loss to the St. Louis Blues January 9.
As for the Blackhawks, they find themselves trailing a series for the first time in the playoffs. When you add the total from Game 1 and their four-game season series with Vancouver, the Hawks have given the Canucks 32 power plays this year. They are also playing their first game in the month of May since 1996.
Here are the expected line combos and defensive pairings for Game 2:
Canucks:
D. Sedin - H. Sedin - Burrows
Demitra - Sundin - Kesler
Raymond - Wellwood - Bernier
Hordichuk - Johnson - Rypien
Mitchell - Salo
Ohlund - Edler
Bieksa - O'Brien
Luongo
LaBarbera
Hawks:
Sharp - Toews - Kane
Ladd - Bolland - Havlat
Versteeg - Pahlsson - Byfuglien
Eager - Burish - Brouwer
Keith - Seabrook
Hjalmarsson - Campbell
Barker -Walker
Khabibulin
Huet
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