2010 NHL Playoffs Bracket: Analyzing the Blackhawks-Canucks Round Two Matchup

Speaking of the playoffs, the Canucks have only made it into the playoffs 24 times since its inception and only nine times to the second round.

Good news is that three out of the nine have occurred in the last four years.

This tells you that this group of players is close to getting past the second round, and who know how much further.

The core players are pretty much in the prime of their playing lives, so this is as good a time as any to exploit the concept of taking a deep run into the playoffs but first—Chicago.

You have to think that these two teams know each other extremely well after doing battle last year.

This year’s version should be a war of attrition.

Each team has a good hate on for the other, so there will be lots of hitting, shoving, pushing, and trash-talking to fill a dozen series.

In hockey time, waiting a week between games for players is an eternity. Just guess what is has been like for the Canucks fans. 

One day shy of a week ago, which feels like last year, the 'Nucks eliminated the LA Kings.

In the mean time, the bumps, bruises, strains, and aches have been healing away, which should leave the Canucks in good health going into the series with the Hawks.

Chicago in turn, has been at war with the Nashville Predators, who at times had the edge physically, and could have very easily won that series.

Some of the Canucks' walking wounded look ready to return, which is good news for the penalty kill, with the addition of Ryan Johnson. It will also add some depth on defense with Aaron Rome.

Johnson should get a medal just for going back out there.

How about they outfit him in complete body armor, head to toe.

Physical Matchup

Physically, nothing much has changed from last year’s contestants, except the Hawks have more big bodies to bang the Canucks around with.

Just roll out the second through fourth lines from Chicago, and you get the likes of Colin Fraser, Troy Brouwer, Dave Bolland, Bryan Bickell, Adam Burish, Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfulien, and Ben Eager when he returns (injured—day to day).

Canucks have some grit and toughness on the fourth line with “The Ripper” (Rick Rypien), Tanner Glass, and Darcy Hordichuk, but how many minutes will they play?

If you go through lines one through three on the 'Nucks, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Steve Bernier, and Mikael Samuelsson play an abrasive style, but have a tough time matching the size of the Blackhawks.

The Hawks are a team that has been built for the tough grid in the playoffs; the Canucks more for the regular season.

Advantage—Hawks.

Defense

On defense, the Canucks are more mobile than they were last year, with the addition of Christian Ehrhoff and Aaron Rome. They also added a depth player with size and toughness in Andrew Alberts at the trade deadline.

I said from the day Alberts was added that he would come in handy during the playoffs.

This is one thing that Alberts does well, and that’s the ability to move bodies. It will come in handy when it’s time for Dustin Byfulien to be displaced from in front of Roberto Luongo.

Last year, the Canucks had no one that could handle Byfulien.

Chicago’s defense has the mobility, puck movement, power-play shooters in Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook

With Cam Barker gone, they have a hodge-podge of NHL journeymen in Brent Sopel and Nick Boynton, with the smattering of inexperienced playoff players like Niklas Hjalmarsson, Shawn Lalonde, and Jordan Hendry.

It will be left up to Sami Salo and Alex Edler to be the shutdown pair for the 'Nucks, and if Shane O’Brien can keep that Irish temper under control, and play with the toughness that he has displayed in the past, then he and Kevin Bieksa will add some much-needed grit.

What all Canucks supporters are waiting for is Edler to have more games like Game One against the L.A. Kings.

Once again I say, most physical game of his career.

Christian Ehrhoff will have to step his game up a notch in this playoff. He has struggled with the banging, and is prone to give-a-ways in the defensive zone.

Offense

Up front I think—and don’t tell the Hawks I wrote this—their young forwards are going to be a handful. 

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, and Andrew Ladd, with the addition of Marian Hossa and John Madden, can all fly and score.

Okay, but you all know where my loyalty lies.

The Canucks can match this speed and talent with Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Mikael Samuelsson, Mason Raymond, Kyle Wellwood, Pavol Demitra, and yes, even the new-and-improved Steve Bernier. 

The key this year is the emergence of Canucks’ Henrik Sedin (Hart Trophy nominee), and let’s not forget Brother Daniel. These two, along with Mikael Samuelsson, are a much better line than last year’s version.

If the Canucks' second line can take up the scoring on the road, then—boy, I never thought I would be saying this—advantage: Canucks.

Goaltending

In goal, it looks like the Hawks will continue with Antti Niemi, who has a total of six playoff games to his credit. His playoff stats are impressive with a GAA of 2.15 and a Sv% of .921.

In this series, he will face a much better offensive team that will create a lot of traffic in front and finish better than Nashville did, 5-on-5 and on the power play.

Antti, can you say "uncle"?

Roberto Luongo has had an inconsistent year and playoffs up to the first-round Game Three. From Game Four through Six, his goals-against went down to 2.67 from 3.33.

His Sv% of .893 is not Luongo-like, but what’s different this time around is WHEN he made the saves.

The key saves not only turned around some games but the series itself, as I wrote in Reflecting on the Canucks-Kings Playoff Series .

This is a real tough one to pick, but if Lou can build on his Game Four through Six play and in particular Game Six, control his emotions in the crease (out Byfulien, out!), then advantage: Canucks.

Coaching Experience

Although Joel Quenneville has more playoff games with the Colorado Avalanche and with the St. Louis Blues, what I have seen through Alain Vigneault’s maturation, leads me to call this one a tie.

The Seventh Player

The fans should be a saw-off. 

Each city has its respective Hockey Nation, load, proud, and hockey knowledgeable. Each city is pumped, and will rock its arena with ear-splitting volume.

IceMan’s Prediction

The Hawks' size and speed deeply concerns me, but 40 years of cheering for the Canucks are ingrained in me.

It will be a long and bitter fight, but the 'Nucks will not have forgotten last year’s crushing defeat, and will prevail in six at home to feed the fan frenzy.