Music: {allcanada} CANUCKS (29-20-3) AT BLACKHAWKS (33-18-3)

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

{allcanada} CANUCKS (29-20-3) AT BLACKHAWKS (33-18-3)

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

8:00 PM ET

CANUCKS (29-20-3) AT BLACKHAWKS (33-18-3)

TV: SN, CSN-CH

Season series: Forward Jannik Hansen had a hat trick and goalie Ryan Miller made saves on 24 of 25 shots against to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a win in the first game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Canucks forward Bo Horvat assisted on all three goals by Hansen.

Canucks team scope: Vancouver is 3-5-0 in its past eight games, including a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Monday, and plays seven of its next 10 on the road. The Canucks still hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference but the Wild and Los Angeles Kings are gaining ground. Vancouver (61 points) is three points ahead of each with a game in hand on the Kings. Forward Nick Bonino sustained a lower-body injury blocking a shot in the second period against the Wild and didn't return. He was spotted after the game wearing a walking boot and didn't practice Tuesday. Shawn Matthias took shifts at center in practice but coach Willie Desjardins said Bonino could play. Center Henrik Sedin didn't practice but is expected to play.

Blackhawks team scope: Chicago had to settle for a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes at United Center on Monday. The point made this the Blackhawks' first stretch of more than two games with a point since Dec. 14 to 21 (3-0-1). They're 10-9-1 in the past 20 games and again failed to get the second point against a team outside the Stanley Cup Playoff picture. Since Jan. 1, the Blackhawks are 4-5-1 against such opponents. Their power play has fallen off again too. Chicago, which didn't practice Tuesday, is 1-for-13 on the man-advantage in the past six games (7.7 percent), including 0-for-4 against Arizona. Injured forward Kris Versteeg (hand) might play and goalie Corey Crawford is likely to start.

Team Stats