loading...
Canwest News Service
The Vancouver Canucks were undone in the second round of last spring's NHL playoffs by a young but highly talented group of Chicago Blackhawks.
The Hawks played in Edmonton on Saturday, but we look at five players who were particularly deadly to the Canucks' playoff fortunes:
Patrick Kane
The baby-faced assassin was quiet for stretches in the six game series, but his hat-trick in series-deciding Game 6 did in the Canucks as they tried to come back in the third period of a 7-5 loss. He ended up with six goals and one assist to finish tied for the series lead in scoring with Martin Havlat.
Kane has picked up where he left off last season when he scored 25 goals and 70 points. He led the Blackhawks in scoring, with 8-13-21 in 20 games, and is certain to be selected to play for the U.S. at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Dustin Byfuglien
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Hawks winger's continual running of Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo was one of the factors that turned the series in Chicago's favour. He also chipped in with two goals in Chicago's 4-2 win in Game 5 in Vancouver.
Although Byfuglien was right on his pace of the last couple of years, with 7-2-9 after 20 games, he's been disappointing for the Hawks this season. His minus-4 is a sore point and his play has been quiet through the first quarter. You're also likely to see North Delta native Troy Brouwer standing in front of the net on the power play instead of Byfuglien — a clue that coach Joel Quenneville isn't thrilled with his play.
Duncan Keith
The skilled defenceman is a key to the Hawks' free-flowing game and he was outstanding against Vancouver last spring, both on the power play and killing penalties. He had five assists in the series and finished a plus-2.
This season, with the lure of a spot on Canada's Olympic team, the Penticton resident has been even better. He has 5-13-18 in 20 games and is on his way to a breakout offensive season. Not surprisingly, Keith and defence partner Brent Seabrook appear to be good bets to play for Canada.
Brian Campbell
The smallish Campbell had a target painted on his jersey for most of the series and the offensive D-man absorbed huge hits from Vancouver forecheckers. But it didn't bother Campbell, who still revved up Chicago's offence with his skating and ability to move the puck. He finished the series with 1-4-5 and a plus-6. This season, Campbell has been so-so, although he has 1-10-11 and is a plus-5.
Dave Bolland
At his agitating best the shut-down centre killed the Canucks, while adding four goals in the series. Two of them were go-ahead goals in games that the Hawks won. Playing against the Canucks' top offensive lines, he finished a plus-3.
It looked like the future couldn't be brighter for the 22-year-old heading into this season. He'd signed a new five-year deal that will pay him an average salary of $3.375 million per season. But earlier this month the Hawks announced that Bolland needed back surgery for a herniated disc and would be out three to four months. Bolland, who was coming off a breakout offensive season of 19-28-47, had 2-4-6 in 13 games for Chicago this year.
The Hawks will miss him, but the Canucks won't.
2010 prospects
Chicago's possible Olympians:
D Duncan Keith (Canada), D Brent Seabrook (Canada), D Brian Campbell (Canada), C Jonathan Toews (Canada), RW Patrick Sharp (Canada), D Dustin Byfuglien (U.S.), RW Patrick Kane (U.S.), D Niklas Hjalmarsson (Sweden), C Tomas Kopecky (Slovakia), G Antti Niemi (Finland). TV: Sportsnet Radio: TEAM 1040
The setup
After scoring 13 goals in their past two games against the Colorado Avalanche, the Canucks now get to see if the sudden offence is for real against one of the NHL's top teams.
Canucks last game
Coming off a six-day break, the Canucks found themselves down 2-0 early, but out-played Colorado in the last two periods to score five unanswered goals for a 5-2 win on Friday.
'Hawks last game
The Blackhawks, who played in Edmonton late Saturday night, hammered the Flames 7-1 Thursday. Patrick Kane celebrated his 21st birthday with 1-1-2 as the Hawks won their fifth straight.
