Canucks begin road swing in the Windy City

CHICAGO (NEWS 1130) – The Vancouver Canucks can push the winning streak to three games Sunday afternoon as they take on the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. (SNET, 4pm)

This game marks the beginning of a six game road trip that will take the team to Minnesota, Philadelphia, Detroit, Florida, and Tampa Bay after the weekend. It’s a stretch that could define what kind of team this truly is by the time they return home to face the Edmonton Oilers on Boxing Day at Rogers Arena.

It has never been an easy task during the Toews/Kane era Blackhawks at the United Center – Chicago is where it should be on home ice, sporting a record of 11-3-1 on home ice so far this season. After a solid start away from Rogers Arena, the Canucks have stalled on the road, with only two wins in the last eleven games in opposing rinks.

The biggest story surrounding the Blackhawks these days is the play of Patrick Kane. The Chicago sniper is currently riding a 25 game point streak into Sunday’s action. Kane has put up 39 points during that stretch, and is the longest in the NHL since Sidney Crosby went on a 25 game run back in the 2010/2011 season.

It will be quite a task for the banged up Vancouver blueline. Dan Hamhuis is out for two months after surgery, and Luca Sbisa remains out. Yannick Weber should draw in to the lineup, while Andrey Pedan was recalled from AHL Utica, and skated Sunday morning with a handful of other Canucks at the United Center.

The Canucks do carry the edge in the season series. The first matchup between the two featured an offensive explosion from the Sedin twins in a 5-2 win on November 21st. That was also Chicago’s only loss to a Pacific Division team this season.

Vancouver also won its last game at the United Center – it came in 4 on 4 overtime last season.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today