HockeyCanucks-Blackhawks rivalry still runs hot

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Chicago captain Jonathan Toews has played well in Vancouver during the regular season, but saves most of his damage for the playoffs. (Daniel/Getty Images)

Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into Saturday's featured game.

This week's work: Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

The Script

The Canucks and Blackhawks have played each other 21 times in the last two seasons and while some of the main combatants have moved on, it won't take much to stoke the fire in this rivalry.

West coast fans don't need to be reminded that the Hawks eliminated the Canucks in each of the last two playoffs. In fact, many can still see Dustin Byfuglien in their sleep.

The big winger-turned-defenceman, who lived in Roberto Luongo's kitchen, is gone. So is Andrew Ladd, who tormented Ryan Kesler, and Ben Eager who launched himself at anything in a whale.

Still around, however, is Dave Bolland, the only player in ten years to make Daniel Sedin lose his mind, and of course Patrick Kane and Jonathon Toews, who terrorized the Canucks in three games in Vancouver last spring.

At this point the Canucks must simply seethe at the sight of a Blackhawks sweater regardless of who's wearing it. That their chief western adversary went on to win the Stanley Cup further fuels the animosity because the Canucks think they're a better team. The rivalry rocks and the games they play are often great.

By the way, in the 21 games over the last two seasons, Chicago has won 13 and lost eight.  This season the Blackhawks beat the Canucks 2-1 in Chicago.

In the Spotlight 

Both teams could say the same thing about the start to their season: that they are pretty happy where they are in the standings considering they have so much more to give.

A sure sign they aren't quite up to speed is both teams' play 5 on 5. In those situations, Vancouver has scored 31 goals and given up 33, while Chicago is worse with 38 goals for and 45 against.

The Canucks haven't had as much trouble at home, where they are 6-0-1 and one of only two teams (St Louis being the other) without a regulation home loss. But they have been living off a power play that has scored in 11 of 18 games and has two or more goals in seven of them.

On the hot stove

One of the Hawks having a tougher time than most finding his game is Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith, who has just one assist in his last eight games and is minus-8 for the eight games of November.

Keith wasn't alone in his struggles on defence, so the pairs have all been changed and he's no longer with long-time partner Brent Seabrook. Keith is playing with Nick Boynton, Seabrook is alongside Nik Hjalmarsson, and Brian Campbell is playing with journeyman Jason Cullimore. The new pairs had given the Hawks some balance but they may change after last night's 7-2 loss in Calgary.

Alain Vigneault has been flip-flopping right wingers on his first two lines, not so much as a form of strategy, as much as desperation to get one of the wingers going.  Alex Burrows is still working into his game following shoulder surgery and has scored just once in eight   games. Mikael Samuelsson has dressed for every game but he's scored just three goals and has been mistake prone.

The Canucks are currently trying to arrange a Swedish national team snub to get Samuelsson back on his game!

Outtakes

A newcomer to this rivalry but not to Vancouver is veteran goaltender Marty Turco. He was torched in Calgary last night but still has remarkably good numbers against all three western Canadian teams. Turco has a lifetime record of 52-22-6-2 against Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. He's 19-7-2 against Vancouver with a 1.88-goals against average and .929 save percentage. Chicago's back-up Corey Crawford has never played against the Canucks.

Quietly, Alexander Edler has become Vancouver's top defenceman. He has 13 points, sixth highest total among defencemen. More importantly he plays against all the top lines and has had only one minus game in the last nine with six of those on the road.  

From the stat pack

Chicago stars Patrick Kane and Jonathon Toews haven't done much in Vancouver during the regular season, but in the playoffs they've been lights out.

In six regular-season games at the Canucks' rink, Kane has just one goal and no assists, while Toews has two goals and three assists. In six playoff games, Kane has four goals and seven assists while Toews has three goals and seven assists.

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