Canucks vs Blackhawks Betting Line

The Vancouver Canucks travel to Chicago to face-off with the Blackhawks Friday night at 7:00 pm. This is the third meeting of the year between the playoff rivals of last season. The Blackhawks won a 2-1 shootout in October and then ripped Vancouver in Vancouver chasing goaltender Roberto Loungo in a 7-1 rout. That game almost two weeks ago got nasty and left coaches angry and players frustrated adding fuel to an already hot rivalry.

“We basically embarrassed ourselves in front of our fans, and they did everything they could to rub it in our face,” Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. “(It’s) 6-0 and they throw their number one power-play unit when it’s 5-on-3. They have every right to do that. They did it. They were pushing it, and they did.”

’Hawks coach Joel Quennville countered: “I don’t know what’s he’s talking about,” Quenneville said. “I was rolling four lines. I don’t know if that was an insult or not an insult.”

Canucks vs Blackhawks Game Analysis

Home ice will play a key role here especially if Chicago can get to Luongo early. The Canuck netminder has been good but not great this season carrying a 2.72 goals against average into the game while back-up Corey Schneider is down to near 2.00. The starter is likely to be Luongo but look for an upset if you see Schneider between the pipes.

The Hawk’s offense has missed instigator Dustin Byfuglien this season who is annoying opponents while wearing a Thrashers uniform in Atlanta. Nevertheless, Chicago ranks eighth in goals per game. The Patrick’s, Sharp and Kane, are productive with 27 and 24 points respectively. Marian Hossa is out 2-3 weeks with an injury suffered in a collision in practice this week.

On offense, the Canucks can keep pace behind the Sedin’s, who have accumulated 27 points each as of Tuesday night. The difference Friday night is going to be in goal and on defense. The Canucks are ninth in goals against per game while the Blackhawks are only 17th.

Look for a typical wide open western conference game with a nasty edge. These teams do not like each other and the power play chances may make a difference. Chicago is scoring at 21.6% clip but the penalty kill is a woeful 78.6% ranking them 25th of the 30 teams. Vancouver is leading the NHL in power play goals and ranks fourth in penalty kills. If you see Blackhawks in the box and you bet on Chicago, count your money gone.

Pick: Vancouver by 1: Bet at Players Only

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