On May 11, 2009, in the Western Conference semifinals, the Vancouver Canucks had a 5-4 lead at 12:15 of the third period at the Chicago Blackhawks. Then the Blackhawks scored three goals in 3:17, and the Canucks were eliminated in Game 6, having given up 11 goals in their last two games.
On May 11, 2010, in the Western Conference semifinals, the Blackhawks scored twice in the opening 2:36 of the second period in Vancouver, cruising to a 5-1 victory that eliminated the Canucks in Game 6.
This time, the teams meet in the quarterfinals: The Canucks the owners of the Presidents' Trophy, and the Blackhawks the owners of the 2010 Stanley Cup.
Their paths to the postseason were different. Their rosters are different.
Will the result be different?
No. 1 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 8 Chicago Blackhawks
Wednesday, April 13 Chicago at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Friday, April 15 Chicago at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
Sunday, April 17 Vancouver at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19 Vancouver at Chicago, 8 p.m.
*Thursday, April 21 Chicago at Vancouver, 10 p.m.
*Sunday, April 24 Vancouver at Chicago, 8 p.m.
*Tuesday, April 26 Chicago at Vancouver, TBD
*If needed
All times Eastern
If Daniel Sedin isn't the league's most valuable player this season, perhaps he can take solace in simply being its best: 104 points, carefully removing the Art Ross Trophy from his brother Henrik's locker and putting his own name on it. Daniel led the NHL in power-play points and his 41 goals was a career high.
The Sedins and Alex Burrows are one of the top lines in the NHL, and one of the reasons for that is because Ryan Kesler's group can handle the top line assignment of the opponents while thriving offensively themselves. Kesler's 41 goals were legit, to the point where some said he should have been the MVP.
The Manny Malhotra injury hurts their depth a bit, but the Canucks have capable grunts beyond the top lines.
Were it only the same story for the Blackhawks.
Chicago has gotten an MVP season from Jonathan Toews (76 points), the best offensive season of Patrick Sharp's career (71) and 27 goals from Patrick Kane, along with a solid offensive season from Marian Hossa that was broken up by injury. But the story of this team has been how the replacements for their summer cap casualties haven't performed up to standards, leading to lots of ice time for the top two lines.
Troy Brouwer will return from injury for this series, which helps; Dave Bolland is still out with a concussion.
Is this the deepest Vancouver blue line in franchise history?
The acquisitions of Dan Hamhuis (22:40, 23 points) and Keith Ballard rounded out a group that includes the underappreciated Christian Ehrhoff, Alex Edler, Kevin Bieksa and the Oft-Injured Sami Salo, which we believe is actually now his legal name. Aaron Rome waits in the wings to fill in.
Duncan Keith, last year's Norris winner, led the defense with 26:53 per game on average but just wasn't the same player this season for whatever reasons. Ditto Brent Seabrook. Brian Campbell had 27 points in 65 games and was a plus-28, while deadline acquisition Chris Campoli was averaging over 20 minutes a night. Niklas Hjalmarsson in the playoffs was, if memory serves, adventurous last season.
The Keith/Seabrook battle against the Sedins could turn the series.
This is Roberto Luongo's chance for redemption, to prove all the critics wrong. Oh, wait, sorry, accidentally cut-and-pasted that from our 2010 Olympic coverage ...
This is Roberto Luongo's chance for redemption, to prove all the critics wrong. Oh, wait, sorry, accidentally cut-and-pasted that from our 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs semifinals coverage. ...
This is Roberto Luongo's chance for redemption, to prove all the critics wrong. And the fact that Dustin Byfuglien isn't there blocking out the arena lights in front of him means there's a very good chance he'll do it.
Corey Crawford started 55 games as a rookie, which is 20 more than Antti Niemi started last season for Chicago. He is, without question, one of the primary reasons the Blackhawks didn't suffer the indignity of missing the playoffs, posting a 2.30 GAA and four shutouts. That said, his next playoff game will be his first.
This is the song the Canucks will play as they run through a sunny field at the end of the playoffs, dancing and smiling and hugging:
In other news: That dude made his guitar appear out of thin air.
Meanwhile … there was zero chance we we're linking this up in the preview. A Puck Daddy classic:
Alain Vigneault has found himself on the chopping block a few times during his tenure, at least in the eyes of the media. But to his credit, he's endured; working to better connect with the players, managing a stacked roster and leading the team through some significant injuries on its blue line. That said, he's never been out of the conference semifinals.
Joel Quenneville, of course, has. And he's had to manage this team through significant injuries up front and a reconstruction of the team's depth due to the salary cap. He can adapt his coaching style to any opponent. If there's one criticism this season, it's that he's ridden his stars too much as far as ice time goes. But that was out of necessity.
Vancouver had the NHL's best power play, clicking at 24.3 percent in 296 chances. Their PK was third overall at an 85.6 percent clip, in 313 times shorthanded. Daniel Sedin led the NHL with 42 power-play points. (Corey Perry fans will immediately use that against him in Hart Trophy debate.)
Chicago was fourth in the NHL on the power play at 23.1 percent in 277 chances, but their PK was underwhelming: 25th overall at 79.5 percent in 255 times shorthanded. That could be a significant problem against the Canucks.
This fetching blonde with the girl next door smile is available on Shop NHL for …
…oh, wait, they're actually selling a 17x40 banner for The Guardian Project for $30? Nevermind.
This is going to go one of two ways. Either the Blackhawks create some chaos by outplaying Vancouver on the road in the first two games, planting seeds of doubt as they return to that Chamber of Chelsea Dagger horrors in the Windy City; or the Canucks are going to confidently eliminate the defending champs, exposing them as a pale imitation of the teams that haunted them for the last two postseasons.
In many ways, having Chicago in the first round is the best and worst thing that can happen to Vancouver.
Prediction: Vancouver in seven. The Blackhawks give them a series scare, but the Canucks' depth and defense comes through for a series win that catapults them onto their Cup journey.