Big Game, Big Win Against the Blackhawks

It's still early in the NHL season, but that doesn't mean the games played now don't mean much.  The Chicago Blackhawks have had the Vancouver Canucks number in recent memory.  However, last night's shutout of the 'Hawks was a huge win for the Canucks and their march to the playoffs.

Chicago has beaten the Canucks twice earlier this season, at a time when the 'Hawks were not playing expecially well.  They were clearly adjusting to new teammates, linemates, and a Stanley Cup hangover.  But lately they 'Hawks have been playing better and are reasserting themselves as one the premier teams in the NHL.  I still believe that despite their many changes and question marks in goal, the path to the Cup finals in the Western Conference goes through Chicago.

So having said that, the Vancouver Canucks had to win last night.  Their opponent had knocked them out of the playoffs two years in row, and then started this campaign with another two wins, one an absolute thrashing in Vancouver.  If the Canucks had not come out and played at least a solid and competitive game then the questions would surely have grown in the locker "Can we beat these guys?"

Well the answer to that question is yes.  But don't get the wrong impression.  The challenges for the Canucks are still prevalent.  They need to continue to get consistent efforts from all their lines and solid goaltending from Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider.  Having Schneider riding shotgun this season will certainly prove beneficial later in the year as he can shoulder more of the burden than last years backup Andrew Raycroft, thus leaving Luongo fresher for the playoffs. 

One area that still leaves me a little unsure of is the defence.  Mainstays like Kevin Bieksa and Christian Ehrhoff are playing up to expectations, and new acquisition Dan Hamhuis seems to be settling in after missing a few games.  The other new Canuck, Keith Ballard, still has not made the impact management thought he would due to some injury problems and the resulting mediocre play.  But the Canucks are at least solid enough and have enough puck movers to allow Ballard to get his game in gear.  Also, the play of Andrew Alberts continues to be a bonus in my mind.  Not much of a factor last year, and in my opinion a bit of a liability when on the ice, Alberts has been able to log some crucial minutes, allowing the Canucks to move obnoxious and defensively challenged Shane O'Brien.  Moving O'Brien is addition by subtraction, but also Alberts' play is nice bonus.

Moving forward the Canucks still need to play the tough teams well and build more and more confidence and momentum throughout the reas of the season.  One step down though, beating their nemisis the Chicago Blackhawks.