BLACKHAWKS (43-25-7) AT CANUCKS (27-34-13)
TV: 8 p.m. ET, SN, WGN, NHL.TV
Season series: The Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks split their first two games, with each winning on home ice. Daniel Sedin had a hat trick and four points and twin brother Henrik Sedin had a goal and four assists to lead the Canucks to a 6-3 win at Rogers Arena on Nov. 21. The Blackhawks won 4-0 at United Center on Dec. 13, with Corey Crawford making 30 saves.
Blackhawks team scope: Chicago needs one point to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the eighth straight season after a 4-1 win at the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Scott Darling, who made 23 saves, has started five straight games, the last four after Crawford was sidelined with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Darling is expected to start again. Crawford did not make the trip and remains day-to-day. "We think he's going to be ready [for the playoffs] and we think he's close, but we still don't see him on the ice, so I can't answer that [with certainty]," coach Joel Quenneville told the Blackhawks' website. "But we expect him to be ready." Forward Marcus Kruger (left wrist) returned against Calgary, playing for the first time since Dec. 17. He centered the fourth line, helped Chicago go 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and finished plus-2. Andrew Ladd, who had three points (two goals) against the Flames, has five goals and eight points in 12 games since being re-acquired in a trade Feb. 26.
Canucks team scope: Vancouver has lost seven straight games and 11 of its past 14. It's the Canucks' longest losing streak since they lost seven in a row from Jan. 27-Feb. 8, 2014, during John Tortorella's only season as coach. The franchise record is 10, set in 1997-98. Vancouver, which has been shut out in four of its past five games, didn't practice Saturday. The Canucks played their past three games on the road in a span of four days, including back-to-back losses at the Nashville Predators on Thursday and St. Louis Blues on Friday. Injuries, inexperience and fatigue appear to be big problems, but Henrik Sedin bristles at that suggestion. "I don't want to say that," Sedin told The Province. "This is the NHL, and even though we have young guys, that's no excuse. If you're here, you have to be prepared and play. It doesn't matter how old you are. The younger you are, the more energy you should have." Backup goalie Jacob Markstrom started against the Blues and allowed four goals; Ryan Miller will likely start against the Blackhawks. Center Markus Granlund (upper body) and defenseman Christopher Tanev (lower body) are day-to-day.
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