Sunday January 22 - Chicago Blackhawks 4 - Vancouver Canucks 2
The Vancouver Canucks came within 78 seconds of collecting at least one point at the United Center on Sunday, but ended up suffering just their second regulation loss of 2017 after a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Here are your highlights:
It has been awhile since we saw the Canucks truly outclassed by an opponent. Those two games before Christmas against Winnipeg and Calgary were duds, but those looked more like poor showings by the Canucks than seeing the team really outplayed by the opposition.
I'd have to give that distinction to Washington, though, when they shut out the Canucks 3-0 at Verizon Center back on December 11. That was the game where Sven Baertschi received his notorious healthy scratch and ended up being seen as a bit of a turning point for the team's fortunes.
My point? Like Washington, Chicago is one of the top teams in the NHL. Considering the preseason projections that they'd be hanging out in the cellar, it's an achievement for the Canucks to be dancing in the middle of the standings with about two-thirds of the league, but there's still some separation between the "good" teams and the "others."
Jonathan Toews has endured a lot of criticism this year, especially for his offensive production. Anybody who watched Sunday's game would wonder what the fuss was about.
Toews was named the game's first star thanks to his four-point night. He was in on every Chicago scoring play, picking up a goal and three assists despite a relatively humble 16:07 of ice time.
For all the new blood being introduced into their lineup this season, the difference-makers for the Blackhawks on Sunday were decidedly old-school. Richard Panik's only in his second year in Chicago but other than that, the Blackhawks side of the box score looks like it could have come straight out of their peak rivalry years with the Canucks, from back in 2009 or 2010.
• Jonathan Toews: 1-3-4
• Richard Panik: 1-1-2
• Patrick Kane: 1-0-1
• Marian Hossa: 1-0-1
• Brian Campbell: 0-1-1
• Niklas Hjalmarsson: 0-1-1
The Blackhawks Harlem Globetrottered their way through the first period, dominating puck possession and outshooting Vancouver 18-9. Panik and Kane beat Ryan Miller 3:03 apart late in the period, giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead that it looked like they could build on over the final 40 minutes.
Did Chicago let up, thinking it was going to be easy? The never-say-die Canucks clawed their way back into the game in the second, limiting the Blackhawks to just four shots on goal and earning two power-play opportunities while taking just one penalty themselves. Vancouver didn't score, but no further damage was done.
Still, I was not expecting a third-period comeback.
Before I get to the goals, I want to give Troy Stecher props for some strong defensive work early in the third period. It was a desperation play, but when Patrick Kane turns on the jets, he's tough to catch. I was impressed to see Stecher get back far enough to lay out in an attempt to prevent a Kane chance on a partial breakaway. It turned out to be nothing, as Kane ended up having an issue with his stick, but who knows what might have happened if Kane had had more time.
Stecher also showed fantastic determination on Vancouver's first goal, hurling himself across the blue line to keep the puck in the zone and help set up his second goal of the year—on the power play!
The Canucks did not record a power-play goal during the three-game homestand—though they only had five opportunities.
Chicago rookie defenseman Michal Kempny took the holding penalty on Brandon Sutter that set up Stecher's goal. Forty-six seconds later, No. 6 was left staring at the puck as Bo Horvat powered around him to tie the game.
Kempny did not see another shift for the rest of the game.
With the game tied, it looked like the Canucks were going to be able to force overtime and collect at least a single point. The Canucks won 16 of 26 faceoffs in the third period and Brandon Sutter was a beast in the circle all game long, going 18-for-21 for an 86 percent success rate on the night. He was 11-for-13 against Jonathan Toews, who struggled all night and won just eight of his 24 draws.
But Toews probably couldn't have cared less about his faceoff numbers when he potted what proved to be the game-winning goal with 1:18 left to play in the third period.
If Edler's not able to play on Wednesday, Jordan Subban's next in line...
Toews did beat Sutter on the faceoff at centre ice after his goal, so the Canucks weren't able to muster even a single shot before Marian Hossa's empty-netter sealed the deal with 24 seconds left to play.
The Canucks now head to Denver for their date on Wednesday with Avalanche, still with just five road wins on the year. And the Blackhawks improved their home record to an impressive 18-5-4—one of just four teams along with Pittsburgh, Washington and Columbus to have more home wins than Vancouver's 17.
I'll leave you today with a couple of positive notes. The first one comes from Utica:
Bachman went 3-0 last week, giving up just three goals in two wins over the St. John's IceCaps and a shutout over the Syracuse Crunch. The Comets are now riding a six-game winning streak, which has improved their record for the season to 18-16-5-1—two points over .500, just like their parent club.
Finally—this feature ran on Hometown Hockey yesterday but I like the local angle.
The Canucks have been doing a fantastic job with community outreach this season. It looks good on them—and helps build fans for life when they offer up these once-in-a-lifetime experiences to Lower Mainland children.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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