Blackhawks Have History On Their Side Against Vancouver

Added on Apr 11, 2011 by J Merrill in

NHL

As a Chicago Blackhawks fan, I am relieved that Dallas lost to Minnesota to get the Hawks back in the running to defend the Stanley Cup, but I have to admit I was a little nervous when I saw what the first round had in store for the champs. The Hawks have to look forward to very strong Vancouver Canucks team who happened to be the first team to cross 100 points this season, and ended up with 54-19-9, 117 points and the Presidents Trophy. The Canucks have just about every edge going for them with home ice advantage and momentum, but the one things the Hawks have going for them is history.

The series kicks off Wednesday night at the Rogers Centre in Vancouver, but you can bet that when they take the ice they will be thinking about their last two trips to the playoffs. Each time the Canucks went home with out advancing. Everyone is planning on the level of intensity being through the roof, especially if someone reminds the Canucks of the Hawks record in Vancouver. Chicago is 5-1 at Rogers Arena in the past two post seasons. They won there once this season by a 7-1 margin. Blackhawks’ Coach Joel Quenneville says the rivalry is quickly becoming bigger then both teams. He said “The rivalry becomes part of the culture. They’ll be excited to knock us off after the last two years.”

Most of the Hawks are still just breathing a sigh of relief, and are just looking forward to having a clean slate. Of course the Hawks want to win every game they play, but the pressure is a little less going into this game compared to the last few MUST wins that ended their last week of the season. Patrick Kane said he is hoping the Canucks haven’t forgot about the last two years, “I’m sure they’re kind of thinking the same thing. Hopefully we can get in their heads a little bit and maybe steal one or two in Vancouver.”

The Hawks have also showed some mettle when playing the Canucks. The last two years that Hawks sent the Canucks home after being down 1-0 after the first game. Each time they came back to defeat the Vancouver, and in the second game they were able to beat them handily. Quenneville concluded by saying that they are in such a good mood after being given the second chance that it should give the Hawks some momentum even though they lost. He said “I can’t express my jubilation and enthusiasm and excitement. It’s at a different level, and I would expect our team to be at the same plane. The excitement level should take it to a new high.”