Rusty Canucks feeling fortunate

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - The Canucks, showing some rust from their nine-day layoff, realized they might have been fortunate to pull out the Game 1 victory over the Blackhawks on Thursday night.

"We might have got away with one last night and we've got to make sure it doesn't happen again," Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo said Friday.

The Canucks won 5-3 despite blowing a 3-0 third period lead and allowing the Hawks to make it 3-3 going into the last two minutes.

"It was two teams that both probably feel they can play better," Henrik Sedin said. "They played a lot better in the third period so I know they going to come out strong (today)."

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault thought his team had a game-sharp practice on Friday.

"Almost to a man, our players know we can play better," Vigneault said. "We had a better practice than game yesterday. We plan to put a better game on the ice, but we know they want to put a better game on the ice and we'll be ready for it."

The Canucks were well aware of the Hawks' speed, skill and quick-strike ability, and saw it first hand in the third period.

"We knew that's the type of team that had because they came back a few times in the Calgary series, but sometimes you have to go through it to feel it," Luongo said. "Bottom line is we got the win.

"There's no letting up, especially with these guys. The talent they have, the speed, they're relentless. It's going to take 60 minutes to win hockey games against them."

No suspension: The Canucks thought Ben Eager should be suspended for his open-ice hit on Rick Rypien in the third period of Game 1.

The NHL thought differently.

"It was a cheap hit, a late hit," Rypien said.

"There was no major penalty and there were two referees out there on the ice," Eager said. "If I see that hit, I'll take it again. That's how I play."

Funny guy: Like him or not, the Canucks' Alex Burrows has a good sense of humor.

When asked what he said to Hawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin in Game 1, Burrows said: "I reminded him last night he was on waivers a few months ago, that's about it."

How did Khabibulin respond?

"I got a few shots in my back," Burrows said.

The loss Thursday extended Khabibulin's winless streak against the Canucks to 0-11-1, which dates back to 1998.

Not to worry: Sammy Pahlsson, Martin Havlat, Matt Walker and Dave Bolland didn't practice Friday.

"They're resting," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "They're all fine and they'll play."