Canucks at Blackhawks
THE STORY: A great deal has changed since the Vancouver Canucks outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games during last season's Western Conference quarterfinals. Although the then-Presidents' Trophy-winning Canucks skated to the Stanley Cup Finals while the Blackhawks watched them on television, the teams have seen their fortunes flip to start this season. Chicago has yet to lose in regulation (5-0-2) at the United Center, while Vancouver has settled into mediocrity in both the Northwest Division and the conference in general. Despite the changes, the bitterness between the two rivals most certainly remains as they head into Sunday's game in the Windy City. "The rivalry is definitely in place,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “When you play them three years in a row in the playoffs there’s something going on there. I’m sure it will make for a first exciting game of the (series.)" All told, the Blackhawks and Canucks have played each other an amazing 31 games since the start of the 2008-09 season. For those of you keeping score, Chicago won 16 of those contests. Fast-forward to the present – the Central Division-leading Blackhawks saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a 5-4 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. For its part, Vancouver has dropped two in a row and four of its last six (2-4-0).
TV: 7 p.m. ET, RSNV, WGN
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (6-7-1): Vancouver's six-game road trip isn't going according to plan. After opening with a decisive 5-1 triumph over division foe Calgary, the Canucks' offense has gone limp in a pair of losses. While studs Henrik and Daniel Sedin have routinely proven their worth this season, new acquisition David Booth was demoted to the third line after failing to score for the 14th game this season.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (8-2-3): Stanley Cup hero Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa have turned it up a notch. In the team's last three games, Kane has scored two goals and set up five others while Hossa has collected two goals and four assists. Kane joins captain Jonathan Toews with 12 points in 16 career games versus the Canucks. Hossa has recorded the same total in 21 contests.
OVERTIME:
1. Vancouver's Alex Burrows netted his fifth goal of the season Friday, but left the contest against the St. Louis Blues with back spasms after being checked from behind by Chris Stewart. Burrows is questionable for Sunday's game.
2. Former Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith is questionable to return for the Blackhawks after missing two games with a hand injury. The top-tier blue-liner suffered the injury while blocking a shot against the Nashville Predators on Monday.