The Chicago Blackhawks have a chance to capture the second Presidents' Trophy in franchise history Monday, when they visit the Northwest Division-leading Vancouver Canucks. Chicago, which has a five-point lead on Eastern Conference regular-season champion Pittsburgh, can clinch the league's top seed with a victory and a regulation win over the Penguins by the Ottawa Senators. The Blackhawks are 9-0-2 in their last 11 games, with their last regulation loss coming against the Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks on March 29.
Vancouver, which clinched a postseason berth with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, can wrap up its fifth consecutive Northwest title by earning one point. Saturday's triumph extended the Canucks' home winning streak to seven games, as the club has not lost at Rogers Arena since dropping a 3-1 decision to the division-rival Minnesota Wild. Chicago and Vancouver split the first two meetings, with each team posting a shootout victory at home.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NHL Network, CSN (Chicago), Rogers Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver)
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (34-5-5): Despite the fact only one of the last nine Presidents' Trophy winners has gone on to win the Stanley Cup, coach Joel Quenneville wouldn't mind owning the hardware. "We'd like to win that," he said. "Pittsburgh won again, so we'll do what we can do." Center Brandon Pirri won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the American Hockey League's leading scorer. Pirri recorded 22 goals and a career-high 53 assists in 76 games with Rockford. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut in 2010-11, appearing in one game, before notching two assists in five contests with the Blackhawks last season.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (25-13-7): Vancouver's blue line took another hit as defenseman Keith Ballard suffered a back injury in Saturday's victory. Ballard joins Kevin Bieksa (groin) and Chris Tanev (ankle) on the sideline. Derek Joslin figures to make his Canucks debut should all three remain out. "I know my role," Joslin told the Vancouver Sun. "I know I'm here to fill in and I just have to be ready when my name is called." Frank Corrado is expected to be recalled from the American Hockey League as insurance. The 20-year-old, who was selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, has yet to make his NHL debut.
OVERTIME
1. Vancouver has struggled offensively of late, scoring one goal in each of its last three games.
2. Chicago has won only two of its last eight visits to Vancouver.
3. The home team has won each of the last four games in the all-time series and six of the last eight. Each of the six contests won by the home club has gone beyond regulation (four overtime, two shootouts).
PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Canucks 2