Canucks @ Blackhawks Post Game

In recent times the Canucks games have been won by a good team effort. Last night was definitely a good team game however they had an extra element added to the game. Luongo played stellar. Sure he was a bit lucky but you earn your luck and last night he did that. Posting a shutout with 32 saves was quite the game against the team who everyone was saying had Luongo's number. Along with the last three wins this would should have the Canucks beaming with confidence. As long as they don't let it go to their head this series of games could be the turning point of the Canucks season.

Two huge saves by Luongo in the second to keep the game 0-0. One on the Shark break away and one on Kane 2-1. Chicago was the faster team at that point in the game and Luongo kept the team in it. This was the Luongo we used to see and if he gets back to form watch out. He made key saves throughout the entire game and really earned the shut out. The save with his toe on the PP at the beginning of the third was a game saver.

Good job by Glass and the fourth line to get the team on the board in the 2nd. A gritty performance from those guys was important last night. A good centre ice turnover by Perrault set up the shift. They got the puck in deep and got an ugly goal. Hansen with the tip on a shot from Hamhuis from the point set up the rebound that Glass jumped all over. I noticed Perrault in the first get in deep and lay a good hit on the Hawks defence. This was important in wearing the Hawks D down for third.

As I said in the pre game the winner of the special teams battle would win this game. Credit the PK and Luongo to holding the Hawks to no goals in four chances. The PP went 1/5 which was good enough to win this game. The PP goal came at a perfect time, up 1-0 early in the third that 2-0 goal was pretty much game over.

Because of Chicago's good defence I thought it would be important for the defence to get in on the offence. Hamhuis had an assist on the first goal and Ehrhoff had the PP goal. Getting more production from the point is huge against top end teams. 

Again the top line was +3 combined. This time it was Henrik getting the last goal. It was the 3-0 goal and the last nail in the coffin for the Hawks. This is something that a few games ago I talked about saying that although the Twins were putting up a lot of points there +/- wasn't as good as it needed to be. Since I said that they've had + games every game. This is huge for the team when they are lead by their top line the Canucks will win a lot.

All in all this was a great game for the Canucks that should build a lot of confidence for future meetings between these two teams. If the Canucks meet the Hawks in the playoffs, this is close to the kind of game they need to play. They need to work on having a few less great scoring chances against and have a little bit better of a forecheck going. But with Luongo playing this way I like their chances moving forward.

Follow me on twitter to find out when the Blues Canucks pregame is up tomorrow @bmah03.

Last Salmon Kings game of the weekend tonight.

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