Wednesday February 11 - Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks - 5:00 p.m. - Sportsnet, TSN1040
Vancouver Canucks: 29-20-3, 61 points, fourth in Pacific Division
Chicago Blackhawks: 33-18-3, 69 points, third in Central Division
The Jekyll-and-Hyde Vancouver Canucks will try to get themselves back into the win column when they face the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Wednesday night.
This two-game road trip is a bit deceptive, since the team will head home for a single game against the Boston Bruins on Friday before traveling to Calgary on Saturday. Really, this week is four games in six nights in four different cities: no easy task.
No surprise: another key body will also be out of action tonight—Nick Bonino. Brad Richardson also seems to be no closer to returning, so there's a hole to fill at center.
Shawn Matthias has been generating lots of chances off the wing, and had goals in his last two games, so the timing for this move isn't great. But he's a big body who should be able to win some draws. Thinking of him back at centre, I'm remembering how close he was to playing himself off the team in preseason. He has taken a real step forward while playing the role that has been asked of him, and will most likely be rewarded for that on his next contract.
On the Chicago side of the fence, here are their line combinations for tonight. Kris Versteeg is getting back into action after missing more than a month with a hand injury.
Corey Crawford is expected to start for the Blackhawks, while Dan Murphy says Eddie Lack steps in for Vancouver after a sub-par outing from Ryan Miller against Minnesota on Monday.
The Canucks have won their only meeting with Chicago this season. Remember Jannik Hansen's hat trick when Vancouver earned a 4-1 win at Rogers Arena back on November 23rd?
The rivalry isn't what it once was, but the players who are still around on both teams do remember:
Canucks Tried for Kane
As I'm sure you know by now, Evander Kane has become a Buffalo Sabre. I'm surprised that the deal went down so quickly but I can see how the timing benefits both teams. Winnipeg gets some immediate help for its playoff push in the form of Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford, while Buffalo further solidifies its commitment to finishing at the bottom of the standings.
Pierre Lebrun says the Canucks were in it until the end:
Sounds like Zach Bogosian didn't get included until late in the proceedings.
Though it sounds like the Jets were looking for some immediate help, LeBrun also suggests that the sticking point was the Canucks' unwillingness to include Bo Horvat or Jake Virtanen in the deal.
Stars Slag Sedins
When the news broke yesterday that Dallas Stars forwards Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin had been beaking off about the Sedin twins, I didn't pay much attention. It's not like this is the first time we've heard about these sorts of comments.
What did surprise me was the impassioned defense of the twins that came down from
Adam Proteau of
The Hockey News.
It's rare to see a media outlet outside of Vancouver support the Sedins' contributions to the game, so this is noteworthy:
I’ve got news for everyone involved with that disgraceful exchange: you should be so lucky to have the Sedin Twins representing your team. The fact you would dare say they’re the example of how two brothers shouldn’t behave in the NHL is a giant flashing sign pointing out your colossal ignorance on the topic.
The Stars organization has addressed the issue today:
When Proteau called the Sedins "modern-day Jean Beliveaus – nearly regal in their aura," it made me wonder why they've never been nominated for a Lady Byng Trophy.
Henrik has never been higher than seventh in the voting—in 2009-10, the year he won the Hart. Daniel ranked eighth in 2010-11, the year he won the Art Ross.
Funnily enough, hockey's ultimate gentleman Beliveau never won the Byng either.
It makes me wonder if the Sedins' legacy will begin to grow as they enter the twilight of their hockey careers, or if sentiments like Benn's and Seguin's will continue to rule the roost.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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