The Canucks and the Blackhawks have met four times in the playoffs. The first of those four meetings came in 1982 with the Canucks unexpected run to the cup. In the Conference Finals the Canucks found themselves playing the Chicago Blackhawks. The series started in Chicago in one of the loudest arenas in the NHL. The Canucks were not intimidated at all winning Game 1, 2-1 in 2OT. The Canucks had a 1-0 series lead and were three wins away from there first Stanley Cup appearance in franchise history.
In Game 2 of the series the Canucks found themselves trailing 3-1, with the Canucks shorthanded for the ninth time in the game. After Denis Savard made the game 4-1, Vancouver Canucks coach Roger Neilson decided to hold up a towel of signs of surrender. The referee wasn't to happy with him and ejected him and a few players who joined in. Neilson was fined 1,000 dollars for his act.The fine did not dampen the Canucks playoff spirits. For Game 3, it was back in Vancouver at the Pacific Coliseum where a sold out crowed greeted the visiting Blackhawks with white towels. The tradition was called "Towel Power is still used today for Canuck Playoff games.
The Canucks went on and won the next three games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals where they would get swept by the Islanders.
The Canucks and the Blackhawks would have to wait a full 13 years to renew there hate for each other. In 1995 it was the Blackhawks who got the better of the Canucks. Chicago would sweep Vancouver 4-0 in the Western Conference Semi Finals.
The Canucks would have to wait 14 years to seek redemption. In 2009 the Canucks hosted the youthful Blackhawks, which featured a handful of players from Western B.C.. Going into the series their was no clear favorite to win the series. Reberto Luongo came into the series on a unbelievable hot streak. In contrast, the Blackhawks were known as the comeback kings of the NHL playoffs.
The first three games was very exciting. Vancouver won games one and three. Going into Game four the pressure was on Chicago. With the Canucks leading 1-0 in the third period of game 4 the Canucks went into a defensive mode to try to hold onto a 1-0 lead. The choice to go into defensive mode was looking like the right choice until Martian Havlat scored a goal to tie the game a 1-1. In overtime, Andrew Ladd (who my Mom taught.) scored the winning goal to give the Blackhawks the Game 4 win and made what was a best of 7 to a best of 3. The Blackhawks ended up winning the next two games and the Canucks season ended with a very sour taste in their mouth.
The following year the Canucks got the match up they wanted in the 2nd Round. The Chicago Blackhawks this time were the better team and were poised for a cup run. However, in Game 1 of the series it looked like the Canucks were poised for a Stanley Cup run. They dominated Chicago at the United Centre on route to a 5-1 win. After game 1 in the series, the Blackhawks started to take control of the series. They won the next three games to take a commanding 3 games to one series lead. The Canucks stanched Game 5 back in Chicago but Chicago rapped up the series in Game 6 to advance to the Western Confreance Finals and eventually be named the Stanley Cup Champion.
For the third year in a row the Hawks and Canucks will battle again in the playoffs. This year it will be a round earlier and this time the Canucks will be the favorite. The Canucks come into the playoffs with the most points, most goals scored and the least goals against. It is the first time that has happened since the Montreal Canadians did that in 1976. The good news for Canucks fans is that Montreal won the Stanley cup that year.
The Canucks are the best team in the league by a long shot. The only question remains is will playing the Blackhawks for the third time in as many years hurt the Canucks or help them. Over the last decade, there has only been a handful of teams that have met in the playoffs three years in a row in the four main sports. The familiarity factor might favor the Blackhawks but on the flip side the Canucks might be due to beat the Blackhawks.
In the end I think the Canucks will prevail in the best of 7 western conference quarter final. Usually over a long seven game series, the best team comes out victorious. If the Canucks can use their depth to their advantage they should be able win the series. However, the Blackhawks are a well coached team coached by Joel Qunneville. If he can use his coaching skills to out coach Alain Vigneault then Chicago might have a chance to pull off the shocking upset but other then that I see the Canucks wearing down the Blackhawks as the series moves on.
My Pick: Canucks in 7
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