GDT: Chicago @ Vancouver - May 5th

[langway05]

:hawks: @ :canucks: Preview

(Best-of-7 series tied 1-1)
TV: VERSUS (HD), CBC (HD), RDS (HD)

Big story: -- Chicago was on the verge of giving away the series, trailing 2-0 early to the Canucks in Game 2 after getting smoked 5-1 in Game 1. But the Hawks got it together and clawed back for a 4-2 victory that evened the series. It was the first time the entire postseason that the Canucks had been dominated at 5-on-5. If the Blackhawks can match their level of play on Wednesday, they should be able to take back home-ice advantage in this series.

Who's hot?: -- Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook has a goal and six assists in his last four games after being held without a point for the first four games of the postseason. … All of the Canucks' big guns have been firing throughout the postseason, but Mason Raymond has a pair of goals and an assist in the first two games of this series.

Injury report: -- There are no new injuries for either team entering Game 3, and it's likely that the Canucks and Blackhawks will ice the same lineups as they did in Game 2.

Stat pack: -- In last year's second-round matchup between these teams, the Canucks took Game 1 and blew a two-goal lead before losing Game 2. In this year's matchup, the Canucks took Game 1 and blew a two-goal lead before losing Game 2. If you believe history repeats itself, the Canucks won Game 3 last year.

Puck drop: -- "We were better in the first game, they were better (on Monday) night. We're going to do everything we can (Wednesday) night to be better. Obviously we had an opportunity to make that game 3-1, but we let it slip. We're going to have to deal with it and get better." -- Canucks coach Alain Vigneault

 

[hockeykid87]

I am really hoping (expecting) a bounce back after that last game. They know they can't sit back and watch the hawks come back. Hopefully coach AV knows this by now...

 

[plubers]

Go :hawks:

 

[northendhockeynut]

GO :hawks: GO​

I've got a feeling tonight's game could be a "north-south" barn burner with lots of :goal:s

 

[timber09]

The Canucks have to stay away from a racehorse hockey game - slow it down and play a good forchecking game like they did in the first and early in the second - they will be OK but its anyones game when they start running all over the place. Exactly why Chicago scored the go-ahead goal late.

 

[canucksfreak19]

GO :hawks: GO​

I've got a feeling tonight's game could be a "north-south" barn burner with lots of :goal:s

If it is then it will almost certainly be a Blackhawk night. Hopefully the Canucks can come back with a solid team effort along the lines of game 1.

Go :canucks: Go.

 

[DogfoodSoup]

Will be interesting to see if having the last change will make much of a difference, should be a good game.

 

[Boom Boom]

It will also be interesting to see how the officials call the goaltender interference during this game....

 

[DogfoodSoup]

Was Richard Loney told he only had 12 seconds to sing the US anthem? That seemed awfully quick and I wasn't very impressed. Chicago had done a good job with the Canadian anthem and it would've been nice to see the same gesture returned.

Game on!

 

[DogfoodSoup]

The Canucks are buzzing away, if they can get one quick then I think they're good for at least two and probably three in a row. I'm a bit concerned with the wide open style of the game so far that even if they do score a couple goals they'll start to tire late in the second or early in the third allowing Chicago a chance to come back and dominate the play. By the way, where the hell are all the posters in this thread as the game is on? Everyone glued to their TV?

 

[Orca Pod]

And, after total domination, the Canucks are rewarded with a 2-0 deficit at the end of the first.

 

[zunato]

And, after total domination, the Canucks are rewarded with a 2-0 deficit at the end of the first.

I wouldn't say total domination, but they were taking it the Hawks good.

 

[DogfoodSoup]

I wouldn't say total domination, but they were taking it the Hawks good.

I agree with you, there have been several times where the Hawks evened up the play but for the other 18 minutes and 30 seconds the Canucks seemed to dominate

 

[zunato]

Good period by both teams. Burrows makes up for the bad penalty with that late goal. Third period should be a good one.

 

[KaneToews8819]

Cant wait for the third, lets go hawks.

 

[kmitchel]

Wasn't as impressed with the Canucks in that period as I was in the first but somehow we got it to within one.

 

[BYOB]

I for see OT tonight. Canucks are looking really good, just have to stay out of the box and it should be theirs.

 

[canucksfreak19]

How many Canucks fans are more comfortable being down 1 going into the third than being up 1?

I called my brother at the end of the period and we were talking about Byfuglien. I'm surprised that he hasn't gained the reputation of Burrows, Ott, etc., and why the refs aren't looking at him more closely. The slash on Henrik was pretty obvious, if I'm AV I'm talking to the refs every chance I get to raise awareness about his play. With that said Byfuglien's doing his job very well, and getting away with penalties to boot is making him even more effective.

Been an good game so far, hope for more of the same here in the final 20.

 

[DogfoodSoup]

The third should be very entertaining, I can see Chicago getting a penalty or two for just looking at someone, hopefully the Canucks can make the most of their opportunities.

 

[DogfoodSoup]

How many Canucks fans are more comfortable being down 1 going into the third than being up 1?

Funny I was thinking the same thing and fell almost certain that the Canucks at the very least tie the game if not win it out right in the 3rd. Guess that's based on the way they played most of the season but still an odd feeling against a skilled and dangerous Hawks team.