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Tuesday, 12 April 2011 11:30

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Note: We will be previewing seven of the first-round match-ups today. Our preview of the Penguins-Lightning series will run tomorrow.

(1) Canucks vs. (8) Blackhawks

Canucks Leading Regular Season Scorer: Daniel Sedin (right), 104 points (41 goals, 63 assists).

Blackhawks Leading Postseason Scorer: Jonathan Toews, 76 points (32 goals, 44 assists).

Canucks Regular Season Statistics

Blackhawks Regular Season Statistics

Canucks with Stanley Cup bling: Mikael Samuelsson.

Blackhawks with Stanley Cup bling: Dave Bolland, Jonathan Toews, Troy Brouwer, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Tomas Kopecky, Patrick Sharp, Brian Campbell, Jassen Cullimore, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook.

Something worthwhile about the Blackhawks: The Canucks were eliminated from each the last two postseasons by the Blackhawks..

Something useless about the Canucks that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: The first shutout in Canucks history was recorded by former Penguin Dunc Wilson. He led Vancouver to a 0-0 tie with Vancouver, Oct. 27, 1971.

Something useless about the Blackhawks that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: The first playoff sweep of the Penguins was staged by the Blackhawks. They won a quarterfinal series, 4-0, in 1972.

Former Penguins on the Canucks: Mikael Samuelsson, RW.

Former Penguins on the Blackhawks: Marc Bergevin, director play personnel; Denis Bonvie, professional scout; Scotty Bowman, sneior advisor hockey operations; Marian Hossa, RW; Norm Maciver, director player devlopment, Jeff Taffe, C.

Who needs to be the difference for the Canucks: Ryan Kesler, Maxime Lapierre, Chris Higgins, etc. The Blackhawks don't have the depth they had during last season's Stanley Cup run, especially at forward. Soy they'll rely a lot on forwards Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and others. It'll be up to the Canucks' solid crew of defensive forwards to hound them up and down the ice and prevent scoring chances.

Who needs to be the difference for the Blackhawks: Duncan Keith (above), Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brian Campbell. The Canucks have one of the best collection of top six forwards in the NHL with the Sedin twins, Kesler, Samuelsson, Alex Burrows and Mason Raymond. The Blackhawks have one of the best collection of top for defensemen. Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson and Campbell have the skating ability to keep up with Vancouver's fleet forwards. They'll need it to limit the Canucks' fire power.

Best Canucks YouTube Video We Could Find: Pavel Bure's winning goal in the third overtime of a 4-3 win at Calgary in Game 7 of a 1994 Eastern Conference quarterfinal:

Best Blackhawks YouTube Video We Could Find: Sticking with the overtime goal theme, Kane winning the Stanley Cup for the Blackhawks in Game 6 of last season's Stanley Cup Finals:

EN Prediction: The Blackhawks have had the Canucks' number the past few postseasons, but this is a much different, stripped-down Blackhawks team. First and foremost, Chicago's goaltending is a question mark with Corey Crawford making his postseason debut. For all his struggles, Vancouver's Roberto Luongo is far more established than Crawford. Second, Vancouver's depth offers a huge advantage as well. Third and finally, the Canucks will be motivated for this having been on the wrong end of a few playoff series with Chicago in recent years. Canucks 4-1.

(Photos: Sedin-Harry How/Getty Images; Keith-Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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