Canucks get point across with their fists
The Vancouver Canucks got their message across loud and clear Sunday by outskilling the skilled and going toe-to-toe with the tough - and in the en perhaps starting a bit of a rivalry with the Blackhawks.
In one of the most important games of the season for both teams, the Canucks came into the United Center and took it to the Hawks in nearly every aspect, including holding their own in a free-for-all in the third period in which everyone grabbed a partner and started a swinging.
"I think they were trying to send us a message," Vancouver defenseman Shane O'Brien said of the fightfest. "They were going to show us that they weren't going to give up, but we've got lots of guys willing to get in there.
"There was a lot of emotion, but that's playoff hockey."
The Canucks walked out of the United Center 4-0 victors and tied with the Hawks for that all-important fourth playoff spot in the Western Conference. They also have outscored the Hawks 11-3 in their last two meetings.
A little bit of a statement there for the Canucks, who just might face the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs?
"Yeah, I think so," said Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin, who scored twice and added an assist while his twin brother, Henrik, notched 3 assists. "We came in knowing it was a possible matchup in the playoffs and we wanted to show ourselves we can win in this building - it's a tough one to play in. Now we've done that."
While the Sedin brothers were providing the skill upfront, goalie Roberto Luongo was a force in the net, stopping all 26 shots he faced in recording his seventh shutout of the season.
"We all see the standings and maybe a possible first-round matchup, so we knew coming in here was going to be a playoff-type game and we were ready for that challenge," Luongo said. "We were ready to go from the drop of the puck," O'Brien added. "We had one thing on our mind and that was to get 2 points ... we got the job done."
And as for the brawling toward the end?
"Hockey's a physical and emotional sport," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said with a smile, "Sometimes boys will be boys."