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Blackhawks try to stay on the offensive versus Canucks

Dec 3, 2010 - 4:10 PM (Sports Network) - The Blackhawks didn't seem to miss Marian Hossa's offense much last time out. They also had no problem scoring goals the last time they faced the Canucks.

Chicago shoots for a fourth straight win both overall and versus Vancouver in tonight's clash at United Center.

Hossa, who has eight goals and 18 points in 21 games this season, suffered a lower-body injury on Monday in practice after a collision with defenseman Nick Boynton and is expected to miss two-to-three weeks with the ailment.

The Blackhawks took to the ice the following day and skated to a 7-5 triumph over the Blues in their first home game since Nov. 14, going 4-2-0 on a six- game road trip before Tuesday's win. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews both scored twice as Chicago nearly blew a 5-1 lead.

"It's easy to feel you're losing the game all of a sudden. The momentum swung so much in their favor," Toews said. "Everybody on the bench stayed positive. I think we really showed our team identity tonight."

Patrick Sharp scored in his fifth straight game, adding three assists in that span, and Tomas Kopecky notched a goal and three assists for a Chicago club that has won six of eight and took the opener of a four-game homestand.

Though Corey Crawford won his fifth straight start, making 21 saves, the Blackhawks will start Marty Turco tonight. Turco went just 2-5-1 in eight November starts with a 3.22 goals-against average, but is 19-7-2 with a 1.88 GAA in his career versus the Canucks.

He made 36 saves in a 2-1 shootout home win over Vancouver on Oct. 20, but it was Crawford who stopped 27 shots in a 7-1 victory at Vancouver on Nov. 20. Kane had a goal and two assists in that one and Sharp scored a goal to give him seven tallies and 11 points in 18 career games versus the Canucks.

That loss was Vancouver's fourth in five games versus Chicago and it carries a two-game slide in Chicago into this game. The Canucks have also lost four of their last six in the Windy City.

Roberto Luongo was pulled after stopping 16 of the 20 shots he faced versus the Blackhawks, falling to 11-9-1 with a tie and 2.33 GAA in his career when facing the club. However, he turned aside 18 shots in a 7-2 triumph in Calgary on Wednesday.

"It was an important two points for us, being a divisional game," said Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault after his team moved a point ahead of Colorado for first place in the Northwest Division.

Mason Raymond posted his second career hat trick versus the Flames and added an assist for a career-high four points. His first three-goal game also came versus Calgary on Dec. 27, 2009. but he only has two assists in 12 career games versus the Blackhawks.

Daniel Sedin, Alexandre Burrows, Jeff Tambellini and Dan Hamhuis also found the back of the net for the Canucks, who have won three straight games after a season-worst 0-3-1 stretch. Henrik Sedin recorded two assists to surpass 600 career points in 751 games.