Final
Canucks welcome Blackhawks to BC
Feb 4, 2011 - 4:18 PM (Sports Network) - The NHL-leading Vancouver Canucks take aim at a fifth straight victory this evening when they play host to the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena.The Canucks have outscored their opponents 19-3 in their last four games, netting 10 goals in two games since the All-Star break. Vancouver came out of the hiatus with a 4-1 victory at Dallas on Tuesday before picking up a 6-0 triumph in Phoenix the following night.
Roberto Luongo made 23 saves for his third shutout of the season and 54th of his career. It was also his first whitewash since a 3-0 triumph in Chicago on Dec. 3, one in which he made 32 saves to improve to 2-3-1 with a 2.40 goals- against average in his last six against the Blackhawks.
Luongo's victory on Wednesday night improved him to 13-0-5 in his last 18 starts since his last regulation defeat on Dec. 5. Ryan Kesler potted a pair of goals versus the Coyotes to give him six in his last seven games and 30 in a season for the first time in his career.
"It was a great night for the team in general," said Luongo. "We played a full 60 minutes out there and really limited their chances while capitalizing on our opportunities. We took the game over in the second and the third."
Rookie Cody Hodgson won't forget the win anytime soon as the 10th overall pick of the 2008 draft netted his first NHL goal in his second career game. Mason Raymond added a goal and an assist as the Canucks improved to 4-0-3 in their last seven games.
Vancouver leads the NHL with 75 points, two better than the Flyers and seven up on Detroit in the Western Conference.
The Canucks begin a four-game homestand tonight having gone 9-0-4 in their last 13 at Rodgers Arena since their last regulation loss there on Dec. 5.
Chicago has played just once since the All-Star break, besting Columbus, 7-4, on Tuesday. Jonathan Toews finished with a goal and two assists, while Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa both scored and added an assist. The Blackhawks snapped a two-game slide with their sixth victory in nine games, but still sit a point back of the eighth spot in the West.
"We had some penalty troubles again late in the game," said Chicago head coach Joel Quenneville. "We got through it and our penalty killing did a good job. I thought both teams gave up higher quality shots than they would like."
Goaltender Marty Turco is expected to get a second straight start tonight after making 29 saves versus the Blue Jackets. Though he has a career GAA of 1.92 versus the Canucks, he is just 2-4-1 with a 2.54 GAA in his last seven versus them and made just 15 saves in the 3-0 loss on Dec. 3.
Chicago, which won the opener of a six-game swing, had a three-game series winning streak end with that setback and notched a 7-1 victory the last time the two teams met in Vancouver on Nov. 20. Kane led that rout with a goal and two assists.
- CHICAGO: 3
VANCOUVER: 4
Final
Feb 5 12:36 AM - Vancouver Power-Play Goal - Henrik Sedin (12), at 10:09.
Blackhawks 3, Canucks 3 3rd - 9:51Feb 5 12:16 AM - Chicago Goal - Dave Bolland (12), from Bryan Bickell and Brent Seabrook at 7:47.
Blackhawks 3, Canucks 2 3rd - 12:13Feb 5 12:11 AM - CHICAGO: 2
VANCOUVER: 2
End of 2nd
Feb 4 11:39 PM - Chicago Goal - Nick Boynton, from Jonathan Toews and Troy Brouwer at 9:31.
Blackhawks 2, Canucks 1 2nd - 10:29Feb 4 11:19 PM - CHICAGO: 0
VANCOUVER: 1
End of 1st
Feb 4 10:47 PM - Vancouver Goal - Christian Ehrhoff, from Tanner Glass and Aaron Rome at 18:06.
Blackhawks 0, Canucks 1 1st - 1:54Feb 4 10:44 PM - CHICAGO: 0
VANCOUVER: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Feb 4 10:10 PM
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