There were just a few smiles and pats on the back while the team busily packed equipment for a return trip to Vancouver. It was as if the Canucks' impressive 3-0 win at the United Center against the rival Blackhawks was just another game -- which most know wasn't really the case.
It wasn't just another game for Vancouver (14-7-3), which had to be feeling a bit like Charlie Brown trying to boot a football held by Lucie Van Pelt lately where the Hawks are concerned.
It was the Hawks who booted the Canucks from the playoffs two straight years. It was the Hawks who'd beaten the Canucks in the first two meetings this season -- including a 7-1 drubbing at Rogers Arena on Nov. 20 that Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault found to be a bit excessive.
Just another win? Not likely, despite saying that afterward.
It was only one regular-season win, but it was still a measure of revenge for the Canucks - who relished the sight of goalie Roberto Luongo putting a cherry on top with a solid 32-save shutout, his second of the season.
"It's just a game, it's a win," said Luongo, who made a great save on a prime scoring chance by Hawks forward Tomas Kopecky during a power play just 15 seconds into the third period to preserve a 1-0 lead. "It's a big win, obviously. It wraps up the two-game road trip pretty nicely. It's important to rebound after a performance like that against them (last time), but it's a game and now we move on and get ready for the next one."
Vancouver Canucks Beat Hawks
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