Vancouver Canucks shutout defending Champions Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 in Game 1 – NHL Play-off Update
The Vancouver Canucks with the help of Roberto Luongo managed a 2-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the sold-out Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Luongo put on his play-off face and conquered the first post-season match against the defending Stanley Cup champions converting all 32 attempts in rejections.
Luongo made this his second career shutout during the play-offs. His first was back in 2009 against the St. Louis Blues. The young Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford managed the net well, making 31 saves, as he excelled in his first post-season debut.
Presidents’ Trophy Winners and Western Conference top seed, the Canucks are trying hard not to repeat history and are desperate to change it this time around. They have lost twice consecutively in the past post-seasons after winning game 1 against Chicago
then losing in a six-game series.
It is hardly unlikely that Vancouver will lose, since this has been the best season for them in their 40-year history and Chicago just is not the same team it was when they won last time. The Hawks are without their mainstream players like Dustin Byfuglien,
Andrew Ladd and Kris Versteeg who have been traded off to other teams.
Christopher Higgins and Jannik Hansen gave the home team an early lead midway through the first period. The capacity crowd roared with joy knowing that an early goal extension is always a good sign. Hansen had an amazing moment after gaining a breakaway
lead. Brent Seabrook and Henrik Sedin gave the only penalties of the first 40 minutes, but both teams were able to kill the power-play chances.
After Higgins and Hansen put their team up ahead, the defensive ends on both sides went into a lockdown mode. Vancouver just tried to maintain their lead and stopped whatever attempt the Hawks had at the net.
The Blackhawks had over six minutes of an added man advantage but were not able to capitalise. Both teams meet again on Friday for game two of the quarter-final which Vancouver will host before moving on to Chicago for game three.
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