Just Three Hours Away From Round Two

The count down has begun for the Chicago Blackhawks second round matchup with the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver. Here are The West Madison Times we will give you the players to watch for the 'Hawks and who will be starting for the 'Hawks tonight.

Players to Watch:

Jonathan Toews
It might seem like a given but you must keep your eyes peeled on the Blackhawks young capitan. In Toews' first round matchup he was second on the team in points and lead the 'Hawks in plus-minus. The 'Hawks will need his scoring and his leadership to be successful against the Canucks.

Dustin Byfuglien
He has finally figured it out under the watchful eye of the Samuel Pahlsson as Byfuglien has been a physical and offensive force in the playoffs. Byfuglien had four points in the first round matchup and provided the 'Hawks with a shutdown forward.

Tonight Chicago Blackhawks Lineup

Forwards

Sharp-Toews-Kane
Versteeg-Pahlsson-Byfuglien
Ladd-Bolland-Havlat
Eager-Burish-Brouwer

Defense

Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Campbell
Barker-Walker

Goaltender

Khabibulin

Chicago Blackhawks Have Sights Set On Upseting Canucks

The Chicago Blackhawks have done something that they haven't done in over a decade—win a playoff series, as they disposed of the injury-decimated Calgary Flames. Now, the 'Hawks shift their focus to the No. 3 seed Vancouver Canucks.

The Blackhawks and the Canucks split the season series 2-2, both teams having home and road victories. There is also quite a bit of bad blood steaming back to the series finale on March 29 at the United Center. The Canucks won that game 4-0 but there were several brawls, including a major fight between Canuck defenseman Kevin Bieksa and Blackhawk forward Ben Eager.

Check it out here: Blackhawks/Canucks Brawl

With this bad blood already existing between the 'Hawks and the Canucks, you can already imagine that this should be quite a battle between two very skilled teams.

The player the 'Hawks are going to need to prepare for the most is the Canucks captain and netminder Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been the Canucks' best player all season and in the playoffs with a 96.2 save percentage and a goals allowed average of 1.15.

For the 'Hawks, goaltending will also be key, as Nikolai Khabibulin has willed the young 'Hawks into the second round with two straight spectacular performances against Calgary. Although Khabibulin's stats, 91.4 save percentage and 2.52 goals allowed average, have not been as impressive as Luongo, his veteran presence and Stanley Cup experience will be key in their second round matchup.

On the offensive end, the Canucks have not been very impressive, only averaging 2.75 goals per game; the Blackhawks must take advantage of these low numbers. Players like Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith will be key on the 'Hawks blue line to make sure that the Canucks' offensive numbers stay low.

The Blackhawks offense will need production from all parties, much like in the series with the Flames. Names such as Brian Campbell, Dustin Byfuglien, and Cameron Barker will need to keep finding the scoresheet if the 'Hawks look to contend in this second round series.

The X-factor for the Blackhawks in this series and for the entirety of the playoffs will be center Samuel Pahlsson. Pahlsson has been a positive influence on this young 'Hawks team, especially Dustin Byfuglien, who finally seems to be living up to his potential here in the playoffs.

If the regular season drama between these two teams is any indication, then this second round playoff series should be no different.

Kris Versteeg Named Calder Finalist

The NHL has named it's list of Calder finalists today and once again the Chicago Blackhawks will have a representative in Las Vegas. His name? Kris Versteeg, like you needed to ask. Versteeg has been a surprise for the Chicago Blackhawks as he recorded 53 points in 78 games with the Blackhawks and lead all rookies in assists with 31.

Although Versteeg has enjoyed a strong regular season his postseason thus far has been weak. He has been held scoreless with a minus-4 rating in the first three games against the Calgary Flames. Even with his poor postseason thus far he deserved to get the call to Las Vegas

GAME FOUR PREVIEW WILL BE OUT AT 6:30pm CT

Chicago Blackhawks Forward Patrick Kane Out for Game 3

Coach Joel Quenneville has ruled Patrick Kane out for Game 3 against the Calgary Flames with the Flu. Colin Fraser will take Kane's place in the lineup and Troy Brouwer will likely be bumped up to the first line with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp.

Here is a revised lineup for tonight's game:

Forwards
Sharp-Toews-Brouwer
Ladd-Bolland-Havlat
Versteeg-Bolland-Byfuglien
Burish-Fraser-Eager

Defense
Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Campbell
Walker-Barker

Goaltender
Khabibulin

Chicago Blackhawks Keys to the Game and Lineup

Tonight the Chicago Blackhawks enter the Pengrowth Saddledome marked men. The Blackhawks took both games at home in the United Center and both wins came when trailing. For the Blackhawks the biggest key to the game is to come out of the gate fast and set the tone of the game early.

Calgary is physical and fast team that looks to get a lift from their fans tonight, if the Blackhawks can take the fans out of it early then they better their chance of winning in the Saddledome. Another big key for the Blackhawks will be an individual player and that being Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien has been a better player over the last 10 or so games and his big physical precense will be key to a Blackhawks victory.

Being paired with Samuel Pahlsson hs helped simplified Byfuglien's game and he now realizes what his rol is on ths team. Now that Byfuglien realizes that he needs to be the physical presence in this lineup he has created more scoring chances for his linemates and protected his fellow teammates.

The Chicago Blackhawks Patrick Kane is a game time decision tonight and Coach Quenneville has not said what Kane's injury is but has said if he cannot go then he will be replaced by center Colin Fraser.

Chicago Blackhawks Projected Lineup:

Forwards
Sharp-Toews-Kane
Ladd-Bolland-Havlat
Versteeg-Pahlsson-Byfuglien
Eager-Burish-Brouwer

Defense
Keith-Seabrook
Hjalmarsson-Campbell
Barker-Walker

Goaltender
Khabibulin

Nine Hours and Counting...

Game three between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Calgary Flames is tonight and it looks as though the Calgary Flames may be without their solid defenseman Cory Sarich. Sarich missed game one of the series in with a lower body injury.

Attempting to play in game two Sarich reaggrivated that lower body injury and is questionable to start tonights game, there will be updates all day on his condition so keep it tuned to The West Madison Times.

Check back at 4:30 pm for Game Three's keys to the game and the expected Blackhawks lineup.

Chicago's quest for the Stanley Cup heads to Calgary

After a successful homestand against the Calgary Flames the Chicago Blackhawks will now travel the Flames place of business, the Pengrowth Saddle Dome. The Blackhawks can expect for atmosphere to be very similar to that at the United Center excpet for the 20,000 fans chanting "Let's Go Flames" rather than "Let's Go 'Hawks".

Even though it will be a hostle enviroment in Calgary the 'Hawks must realize that they need to just simplify their game and that the pressure is firmly on the shoulders of the Flames. The Flames have been very strong to begin games but when the 'Hawks intensity rises they have been unable to match them.

If the 'Hawks want to win in the Saddledome they will need to be physical to start the game and match or surpass the intensity of the Flames. The 'Hawks will also need to continue to get traffic in front of the net and hinder Miikka Kiprusoff from getting clean looks at incoming pucks.

The final key to a 'Hawks win on Monday night will be to get pucks on net early and often. In the first two playoff games the 'Hawks were guilty of make two or three extra passes and not getting pucks on the net. If the Blackhawks can get pucks through to Kiprusoff the scoring chances will come.

Although most of the pressure lies on the Flames shoulders the 'Hawks cannot sit back and take a relaxed mentality into the game in Calgary because if they do the Flames could be returning to Chicago with the series tied.