Luongo Gets Shutout For Canucks, Some Revenge Against Chicago

Added on Dec 04, 2010 by J Merrill in

NHL

Twenty four hours after Vancouver Canucks coach was accusing the Blackhawks of running the score up on them the last time they met, Roy Luongo comes up with a huge game and helps blank the Hawks. Luongo made 32 saves for the second time this year and 53rd overall, leading the Canucks to their fourth straight victory, 3-0 over Chicago on Friday night.

When you add in the goals by Tanner Glass,Christian Ehrhoff and Henrik Sedin, they had more then enough for the win. Stanley Cup champion Chicago suffered its eighth regulation loss at home, matching its regular-season total from last season. The Blackhawks are 6-8-0 at home after going 29-8-4 last season at United Center.

This rivalry is only getting hotter. The Hawks have eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs for two straight years. “These are fun games to be part of,” Luongo said. “We always get up for games against the Blackhawks, so it’s nice to get the win, especially after our last one.”

Luongo was in vintage form, and looked real strong between the pipes in front of the sold out United Center. Even though Chicago out shot the Canucks 32-18, and Chicago controlled a good portion of the game, it was because of Luongo they won. “That’s what we need from him every night,” Glass said. “He’s a heck of a goalie when he’s on and he was stellar tonight. Tonight we gave up more chances than we usually do, but that’s why Lou makes the big bucks.”

Sedin ended his 11 game scoring drought on Friday as well. He hadn’t scored since November 4^th. Last season he led the NHL with 112 points last season on 29 goals and 83 assists. “A win in Chicago, it’s always fun,” Sedin said. “Maybe more fun because we’ve played a lot in the playoffs the last couple of years.”

24 hours before the game Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault was in the press blasting the Blackhawks for running the score up on them the last time they met. The Hawks trounced them 7-1, and Vigneault felt it was unsportsmanlike like.

After the game itself he said “We basically embarrassed ourselves tonight in front of our fans, and they did everything they could tonight to rub it in our face — 6-0 and they throw their No. 1 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.”

On Friday morning he still felt pretty strongly about it all. “I think it’s every team’s right to do what they want,” he said. “Obviously, we weren’t very good. Five-on-three you sent Kane and Toews on the ice. They have every right to do that. They did it. And that’s it.”

Quenneville has since said that was just the next line up and Boynton and Stalberg do not normally play on the power play, and he was reminded of that by the press.”C’mon, be serious here, let’s go,” Vigneault shot back. “Toews and Kane, it’s 6-0 going into the third. What do you think? Let’s be serious.”

Blackhawk Coach Quenneville disagrees with all of it, and thinks he thinks he should take another look at it all. “I just know our intentions were just the opposite of what we got accused of from my point of view.”

The Blackhawks are now 2-1 against the Canucks, and will play the Calgary Flames (11-13-2, 24pts) on Sunday at home. Vancouver (14-7-3, 31pts) will face St. Louis (12-9-3, 27pts) at home as we well.