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Tuesday, January 27, 2004

CANUCKS 3, BLACKHAWKS 2 

The Canucks weren't too flashy tonight; they just got the job done. They didn't overlook the Blackhawks and play crappy (the Canucks first game on the road trip is a playoff rematch against the Blues). They stormed out of the gate and outshot the Blackhawks 11-2 in the first period.

The Chicago Blackhawks lost their 18th in a row (0-17-0-1) on the road. The play-by-play guys joked about how the Blackhawks only do TV broadcasts of their road games (none of the home games) back to Chicago, and that only seven households probably watch the games.

Still sharpening his play after coming off the back injury, Magnus Arvedson had two goals. Daniel Sedin got two assists, and brother Henrik had one as the Sedins have really stepped up their play as of late. Sami Salo also got an assist, his mean slap shot tipped in by Arvedson on the first Canuck goal (tied the game). The all-Swedish second line is stepping up where the Mattress Line left off, though there was a gap inbetween where Jason King fell off the wagon and the Sedins cooled off.

The second Canuck goal came on a brutal play by Blackhawk goalie Craig Anderson, who made a terrible decision to try to poke-check Todd Bertuzzi, who breezed in from the penalty box, behind the Chicago blueliners, chased down a pass from Henrik Sedin, and put it in past Anderson, who fled the net for the attempted poke-check.

The Chicago Blackhawks have brutal goaltending and really miss Jocelyn Thibault. Craig Anderson wasn't too sharp, as show by the poke-check on Todd Bertuzzi, who scored in the final minute of the second period. Canucks 18-0-0-0 when leading after two periods.

Scoring goals for the Canucks tonight: Magnus Arvedson twice (6), Todd Bertuzzi (15)

The Canucks have a five-game road trip coming, one that will visit Saint Louis, Washington, the New York teams, and New Jersey. The Canucks are 28-14-7-2 (65 points), three points behind the blazing-hot Colorado Avalanche. Three head-to-head matchups remain this season against Colorado, and the games may decide whether the Canucks make the playoffs as a number four seed or a first/second/third.

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