Photo by Maggie Avila

Game #8-  Chicago Blackhawks (6-0-1)  at Vancouver Canucks (3-2-2) 

Game Time- 9:00 pm Central

TV-CSN Chicago or TSN, RDS2 Vancouver  Radio -  WGN 720 Chicago  or AM1040 Vancouver

In a week that could easily have been called rivalry week the Blackhawks prepare to take on the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Blackhawks started the week on Sunday facing long time divisional rival Detroit Red Wings. Then mid week they faced what could be a new rival in Minnesota especially if the league realigns and finds the Wild in the same division as the Hawks. The Hawks find if not the best, certainly the most heated rivalry has been saved for last.

While the Red Wings are a respected rival and the Wild are a new foe the Canucks are definitely the most vilified rival and with just reasons for every Blackhawks fan. There are so many villains on this team to choose from.

There’s hair pulling, groin kicking, finger biting forward Alex Burrows. Who can forget his hair pulling escapades with Duncan Keith and then he went for round two last year in a regular season game and decided to kick Duncs in his privates while he was down no less. Oh Alex you nasty, nasty boy.

You also don’t have to look to far either to find Zach Kassian who also has done his fair share of thuggish behavior. All the Hawks that played in the AHL on the Rockford IceHogs should be sick of Kassian since he played on the Chicago Wolves and we could see carry over scores that need to be settled. The Hawks also need to be aware of Kassian. He is the second leading point getter of Canucks forwards only trailing Daniel Sedin.

Truth is Vancouver has not hit their stride yet and has pedestrian numbers so far while the Blackhawks have been blazing hot out of the starting gates. The Canucks’ Achilles heel is one the Blackhawks are all too familiar with, namely special teams. Their penalty kill is currently ranked 22^nd in the league. If the Hawks are smart they will try to goad the Canucks into taking penalties and then cash in.

Vancouver is virtually the same team that the Blackhawks and their faithful have come to loath. Their lone pick up in the off season was D man Jason Garrison from the Florida Panthers. While they did not make many changes the addition of Garrison really strengthens the Canucks back end and also provides one killer slap shot from the point on power plays.

While the Canucks top four D men are solid what is surprising is that D men Alex Edler and Dan Hamhuis are also leading the team in assists along with Daniel Sedin. Watch for their defensemen to join the rush and beware the stretch pass as the Canucks have always had great team speed.

Ryan Kessler is out on IR so the forward position is definitely missing an all star but the Sedins are still there and are always a threat every time they are on the ice. It will also be interesting to see who coach Q puts out against the Sedins since Dave Bolland is now centering the second line. Can Andrew Shaw be as much of an irritator as Bolland while maintaining his own control? This could be very interesting to watch.

The big talk all off season and even currently is the Canucks trying to trade Roberto Luongo. The Canucks unable to trade Luongo now find themselves in a precarious position as he is currently in fourth place in the NHL in both GAA and SV%. Interestingly Corey Crawford is not too far behind him in eighth place in both as well. Where is Corey Schneider ranked 32^nd GAA and 29^th SV% which demonstrates why coach Alain Vigneault has been going with Luongo as of late.

Vancouver has already stated Loungo will be starting against the Blackhawks. You would have to think that Crawford will get the call but coach Q may through everyone a curve ball so we will see.

The Blackhawks need to keep firing a Luongo especially high blocker side and try to rattle him early. While the Canucks top four defenders are top drawer they’re third and fourth D pairings are a little suspect. If Shaw, Stalberg and Bickell  can pelt him with shots enough it might wear him down and Viktor Stalberg has the speed to beat their defensemen.

The Blackhawks are coming off their first defeat of the year in a shoot out loss to the Minnesota Wild while the Vancouver Canucks are coming off of 3-0 thrashing of the Colorado Avalanche. Both teams having played on Wednesday.

Last year the Hawks split their series with the Canucks 2-2. This year we will only face them three times, twice in Vancouver and once in Chicago unless they meet again in the playoffs down the road. This will be the first meeting this year between the clubs but I do not anticipate this rivalry and dislike between teams to be any different. That said buckle yourselves in for what should be a great game with a lot of speed,physicality and plain old dislike.

Prediction – In a close physical game the Blackhawks go to OT again but take this one 2-1.

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Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

I think it might be time to have the state of Pennsylvania removed from the Union.  First they gave us the child rape enablers at Penn State and then there was Rick Santorum.  Yesterday the state’s two hockey teams put on a disgusting display of pure thuggery.  As someone who loves the game of hockey I had to turn off the game, it was an absolute joke. I hate both of these teams and they proved why I do yesterday.   The Pittsburgh Penguins completely lost all control and embarrassed themselves.  They were getting their asses handed to them and decided to just goon it up. The Philadelphia Flyers are no choir boys either and are not innocent by any means.

The Penguins are the biggest bunch of hypocrites I have ever seen.  We had to listen to Mario Lemieux cry about head shots and how he wants them outlawed and then we got to watch James Neal’s act yesterday.  Neal left his feet and targeted the head of Sean Couturier  and then later he hit Claude Giroux in the back of the head.  Of course after his hit on Giroux he tried to get right to the Pens bench, what a coward! Wishy washy Brendan Shanahan needs to make a stand and make an example of Neal.

It didn’t stop there either.  Arron Asham gave Brayden Schenn a crosscheck to the throat punched him in the head after a clean hit on Paul Martin.  Asham is a caveman and there no place for him in the NHL  This was absolutely disgusting and he should be suspended for a long long time.  It continued with Kris Letang pulling Kimmo Timonen’s sweater over his head and throwing numerous punches.  For some strange reason Sidney Crosby thought he was an enforcer.  All he did was make himself look like a bush league player.  Craig Adams came to his rescue after he tried to start with Scott Hartnell.  Adams jumped Hartnell from behind and threw several punches to the back of his head and pulled his hair a’la Alex Burrows. 

All of these actions have no place in the game.  The talk of banning fighting is starting to get louder.  With the deaths of enforcers Rick Rypien, Derek Boogaard and Wade Belak over the summer and the violent start to the post season more and more critics will want to remove fighting.  Yesterday’s game and what has happened in the New York/Ottawa series and the Shea Weber incident is not fighting.  Traditional fighting does serve a purpose in hockey.  Rarely does anyone suffer a serious injury during a proper hockey fight.  If it is removed from the game I feel we will see more of what happened in Philly not less of it.  Brendan Shanahan really has his work cut out and needs to make a statement so he doesn’t lose control of his league.  That is, if hasn’t lost it already.

Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Brendan Shanahan laid down the law and gave Duncan Keith a 5 game suspension for his hit on Daniel Sedin. In my opinion this is a bit harsh for a player who has never been in trouble in with the league.  Yes, Keith deserves to be suspended but not for 5 games.  The league must be sick and tired of hearing Mike Gillis, Alain Vigneault and the rest of the Vancouver tribe cry.

If Daniel Sedin doesn’t take a run at Keith, with a high hit, earlier in the game the elbow never happens.  It still doesn’t make the hit right but Keith was provoked.  Another reason for the 5 games was because Sedin was injured.  If that is the case, how come Ryan Kesler isn’t getting a suspension for his high hit that injured Marcus Kruger? Oh that’s right, Kruger isn’t a Sedin.  Where is the phone call to Alex Burrows for kneeing Keith in the groin?  Keith was wrong for his hit but he wasn’t the only guilty one in that game.  The most disappointing thing about all of this is that Keith lowered himself to the level of the Canucks.

Maybe if the Blackhawks as an organization cried to the press something might have been done.  The Canucks have a long history of complaining and crying and it looks like it finally is paying off.  Lets not forget that this is the organization who has a statue honoring a man complaining to the refs.  I will enjoy watching Vancouver do what they do every year in the playoffs; self implode and blame everyone else but themselves for not winning the Cup.

Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

It sure felt like the post season in the United Center last night.  There was more intensity and snarl to the Blackhawks game, but that’s what happens when the Vancouver Canucks come to town.  These two teams hate each other.  These two fan bases hate each other.  It shows up on the ice and in social media and makes for very entertaining hockey.  Both teams showed tremendous skill and both teams had their ugly moments.  Both goalies made huge saves, both teams took their fair share of penalties and both teams showed their displeasure with each other.  In short, it was a typical Blackhawks/Canucks game.  In the end the Blackhawks walk away with their 5^th straight win.  These two teams are going in opposite directions.  The Hawks are playing their best hockey of the season and the Canucks are struggling.  After last night’s game, I would love another post season meeting with Vancouver.  It is so much fun beating these guys and listening to them whine afterwards.

• Duncan Keith is going to get suspended and he deserves to be.  There was no need for the elbow to the head of Daniel Sedin.  It is very disappointing to see Keith sink himself to the level of the Canucks.   I expect Keith to get a 1 game suspension, 2 games tops.  He has no history of dirty play so that should help him out.  On the flipside, Daniel Sedin got what he deserved.  If you take a run at someone’s heads do not cry when that person cleans your clock.  If Sedin has a concussion and has to miss some time then that is karma, no sympathy from me.

• Marcus Kruger did not play in the 3^rd period after leaving with an upper body injury.  Hopefully it is not another concussion.  Concussions have been spreading through the Blackhawks’ locker room faster than herpes on Kid Rock’s tour bus.  Hopefully Kruger won’t miss Sunday’s game against Nashville, a game where winning faceoffs will be very important.

• Speaking of faceoffs, the Hawks were miserable at the dot last night.  Patrick Kane went 3 for 18 that must improve.

• After giving up a soft goal on the first shot of the game Corey Crawford was very good in the net.  He didn’t see much action in the first 2 periods but made quite a few good saves in the 3^rd period.  The defense is playing much better in front of him which is a huge help.  Johnny Oduya has improved the defense by leaps and bounds and it is helping the goalies.

• What Andrew Shaw lacks in talent he makes up for with an incredible knack of being in the right place at the right time.  He is having the run of a life time.  I have no idea how much longer he can keep this up but I am sure enjoying the ride.

• How was Robert Luongo not a star of the game?  He was excellent last night by making 35 saves.  He was the only reason the game got to overtime.

• The Blackhawks power play is a farce.  The Canucks gave the Hawks plenty of chances to bury them but they could product with the man advantage.  While most people where shouting for the Hawks to shoot I was yelling “move your damn feet!”  Once the Hawks get the puck in the zone, which is a chore, everyone stops moving.  You are never going to score goals by just standing and watching.

• The penalty kill unit was fantastic last night.  The Canucks got 3 chances on the power play in the 1^st period but the Hawks were up to the task.  Vancouver only managed 2 shots during their 6 minutes with the man advantage.  With the way Bobby Lu was playing, giving up a power play goal would have ended any shot the Hawks had at a win.

My Blackhawks Player of the Game 

Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Besides being miserable at the dot Patrick Kane was great again.  He reached the 20 goal mark with his game tying goal in the second period.  Say what you want about Kane but this kid lives for the spotlight.  The bigger the game is the better he plays.  Kaner has been on fire of late and is a major factor in the Blackhawks late season surge.

My Turd of the Game

Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

The Canucks make it so hard to pick just one turd out of a locker room full of them.  Alex Burrows is the biggest turd in the game.  One day karma is going to get this guy and I am going You Tube the crap out of it!  Just watch the scrum with Duncan Keith where he takes his usual cheap shots and knees Keith in the groin.  You can add knees to the groin to a resume that includes pulling hair and biting.  He plays hockey like 12 year old girls fight.  I don’t want to hear anybody from the Canucks cry about dirty hits when this guy is on your team.  If you are a fan of this guy and own his jersey go get yourself some professional help.