Albatross of the Blackhawks Hanging on the Vancouver Canucks
Jonathan Toews scoring during the shoot-out
Written by: Larry “The Nucks IceMan” Johnson
Maybe it just feels that way but are the Chicago Blackhawks the proverbial albatross hanging around the Canucks neck?
I thought I would do some research to see if my thoughts were valid or just a fans perspective. With the game in Chicago tonight, I needed to know if this Hawks dominance was going to continue over the ‘Nucks.
As a fan we do seem to live in the moment and forget about what has taken place in the past. Exceptions of course would be playoffs which are forever burnt into one’s memory.
I was surprised to learn the following information which I gathered from various NHL resources. With the Blackhawks seemingly to be in Roberto Luongo’s head and his performances shaky at best, I thought I would start in the season that Luongo arrived in Vancouver. Seems these days a number of my articles are starting with the arrival of Bobby Luo.
To my surprise the 2006-07 season saw the Canucks as the dominate one, winning three of four games and outscoring the Hawks 9-5 in goals. They did not face each other in the playoffs and Luongo played in all the games.
The 2007-08 saw a repeat of the previous season with the same three of four games but the goal scoring started to draw closer, with the Canucks edging the Hawks 9-8. Again they did not face each other in the playoffs.
Canucks - Alex Edler battles with Hawks - Patrick Sharp
In 2008-09 the two teams only faced each other three times and once again the Canucks prevailed winning two of three, but outscoring them 13-7. From what I was witnessing it seemed to me that it was the Canucks that had the Hawks number.
Enter the playoffs where a distinct turning point seems to have been established. After the first three games the Cancuks had the lead in the series 2-1 and then the deciding fourth game. This crushing outcome went to overtime with the Blackhawks winning 2-1.
Most of you will remember that the Hawks won the next two games, 4-2 and obliterated the Canucks 7-5 in the sixth and final game to win the series. It was not so much the score but how the Hawks simply dominated the Canucks in every aspect of the game. Surprisingly the goals were pretty close with the Hawks winning of course in that area 22-19.
The rivalry had begun with a very bitter taste left in the Canucks management, team and fans collective mouths. We’ll get them next year was the rallying cry as the ‘Nucks Nation went into mourning.
These regular season games (2009-10) drew a lot of attention which saw the two teams resume their rivalry which had now been cultivated over the previous three seasons and particularly from the playoffs. The four games ended up been split with the goal differential of one in favour of the Canucks (11-10).
Canucks - Andrew Alberts checking Hawks player
The playoffs started on a positive note with the Canucks winning in Chicago 5-1 but after waking up the Hawks, they went out and won the next three games and were very obviously the better team. Canucks won the fifth game 4-1 but this was just a brief delay in Chicago coming back to win 5-1 and the series 4-2. The goal spread was wider this time with the Hawks 23 to the Canucks 18.
This series was never even close and the Hawks owned the Canucks and particularly seemed to psyche out the core players, what was left of them.
This brings us to the current season and the two games that have been played to-date. The first game on October 20 saw a closely contested affair with the Hawks winning 2-1 in a shootout. On November 20 the Hawks came into Vancouver and spanked the Canucks 7-1 in which Luongo was pulled after four goals and Cory Schneider who didn’t fare much better, giving up another three.
So with tonight’s game in Chicago there will be a large gathering of interested viewers wondering if this albatross will continue to hang around the Canucks and Luongo’s neck, or whether it will be cut loose. I don’t know what to expect even with the Canucks playing some of their best games of lately, so I like you will have to dial in to find out.
As always, you can also find me @twitter.com/nucksiceman.com and @communities.canada.com/VANCOUVERSUN/blogs/fanattic/default.aspx
Related posts:
Filed under: Opinion
