Chicag-O-ed

Chicag-O-ed (shih-caw-gohd): To be defeated by an organization or team from Chicago, not having scored any goals; devoid of offensive output.

Bryan Bickell celebrates his goal with Jonathan Toews and his promotion to the 1st line (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

Last spring, the Vancouver Canucks found themselves knee-deep in trouble with big names from Chicago in their second round series with the Blackhawks.  Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Nikolai Khabibulin, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, the list scrolls down.  But on a wet, cold November night in Vancouver, it was rookie goaltender Antti Niemi making headlines.  ‘Hawks coach Joel Quenneville even labelled the performance ’spectacular’.  “What an effort.  What a game. That was a goalie win. Hopefully you get 5 or 6 of those over the course of the season, and that was one.”

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville: "I thought our 'D' played real well, but he (Antti Niemi) was spectacular."

Niemi finished the game stopping all 30 Vancouver shots for the shutout, meanwhile Roberto Luongo turned aside 16 of 17 shots.  The Canucks had the edge in play, particularly in the second period.  But Henrik Sedin’s great chance in the slot was deflected by Niemi’s glove hand, and Alex Burrows’ chance found his left pad.

They say you have to be good to be lucky, and that was the case with 6:19 remaining in the third period when Alex Edler blasted one off the post.  With a head of steam, he backed up the defense and sizzled one, but it was as close as the Canucks would get to beating the Finn.  “Maybe the most confident (I’ve felt) in the NHL today,” Niemi shared.  “I don’t know why, but I didn’t worry about anything else, just make the next save.”

GM Place lets out a collective gasp as the puck barely rolls wide of the net (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

Ryan Kesler, though, didn’t have the mindset to marvel at the Blackhawks defensive effort.  “They had nothing all night, then get a cheesy one in the third.  It hits a couple legs and goes right on (Bickell’s) tape for a tap-in from the blue.  It’s frustrating.  I definitely thought we should have won this one tonight.  We dominated the game.”

It was small consolation to the Canucks that they ended Patrick Kane’s 9 game point streak.  Kane started the play that led to the only goal, but was not credited with an assist on the play.

Daniel Sedin was reunited with brother Henrik and RW Alex Burrows Sunday.  The Canucks (12-11-0) are hoping he starts to regain his stride Thursday when they host the Los Angeles Kings (13-9-2).