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Canucks fend off Blackhawks in Game 2

Apr 16, 2011 - 7:36 AM Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Daniel Sedin had two goals and an assist as the Vancouver Canucks held on for a 4-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of a Western Conference quarterfinal series.

The Sedin brothers were held without a point in a 2-0 win in Game 1, but combined for five points on Friday to give the Canucks a 2-0 lead in the best- of-seven-series.

"It was good to get the victory in both home games cause that is a championship team over there," said Daniel Sedin. "We've been staying out of the box and that has been key for us."

Roberto Luongo, who stopped 32 shots in the first game for his second playoff shutout, made 23 stops.

Ben Smith lit the lamp twice while Viktor Stalberg scored the other goal for the Blackhawks, who will hope to get in the win column on Sunday night as the team will play host for Game 3.

Corey Crawford was touched for four goals on 27 shots in the loss.

"We didn't get the win but we'll move forward and look forward to Sunday," said Smith.

Vancouver took a 3-1 lead into the third period thanks to a left point shot from Alexander Edler that hit off a Chicago stick and cruised into the net with 14 seconds remaining in the second frame.

The Blackhawks, though, made it a one-goal game just 1:56 into the third as a Vancouver miscue in its own end saw Stalberg get the puck at the right circle and beat Luongo to the short side with a snap shot.

Crawford made a beautiful stop on a Ryan Kesler wide-open look from down low, but a few minutes later Daniel Sedin got the puck in his own zone, danced through the middle and flicked a wrister into the net halfway through the frame for a 4-2 lead.

Chicago didn't go away and again made it a one-goal game when Michael Frolik blasted a shot on net from the right point that Luongo made a blocker save on, but the rebound kicked out to the left side and Smith slammed it home with 7:10 to play.

Chicago kept up the pressure and had its opportunities, but Luongo came up with the saves to help Vancouver build on its series lead.

Daniel Sedin set up the first Vancouver goal when he sent a pass from behind the net to the front where Jannik Hansen one-timed it home 7:30 in.

Just 30 seconds into the second on the power play, Daniel Sedin gave his team a 2-0 lead when he redirected a left point blast from Christian Ehrhoff.

Chicago made it a 2-1 contest with 5:10 left in the second as Bryan Bickell skated into the zone down the left wing and from the low circle threw it out front with Smith banging it in.

Game Notes

Vancouver forward Mikael Samuelsson missed the game with an undisclosed illness...Henrik Sedin had two assists in the game...Vancouver was 1-for-2 on the power play while Chicago went 0-for-2...The Blackhawks have won three of the four playoff series against Vancouver, including victories in 2009 and 2010 conference semifinal fights.