Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Posted: 3:06 p.m.
By Tracey Myers
CSNChicago.com
VANCOUVER, British ColumbiaVancouver coach Alain Vigneault summed it up best in his trip to the podium on Tuesday morning.
Theres really not much else to say is there? he said.
No, there really isnt. Its Game 7, its win or go home, its just all about the game now.
Tomas Kopecky is out and Marcus Kruger andor Fernando Pisani could be in tonight as the Chicago Blackhawks face the Vancouver Canucks one more time in this best-of-seven series.
CHAT with Steve Konroyd, Chris Boden during Game 7 tonight
Other than stating a few roster items updatesKopecky and Bryan Bickell (wrist) are obviously out for the Blackhawks and Roberto Luongo is starting for Vancouverneither coach was tipping his hand as to lines and those who may suit up for injured players.
The Blackhawks looked and sounded like a loose group following this mornings skate. Many players said theyre still not feeling the pressure, despite it being first Game 7 for most.
NHL
We have to go with the same mindset tonight as the last three games. Were having fun and pressures on them, Viktor Stalberg said. This city isnt going to be happy if they lose four straight to us. Thats how we feel. Its fun for us. We can go in without pressure and go with it.
Bickells work
The Blackhawks knew Bickell was going to be missing at some point after he had severed ligaments in his wrist during Game 2 of these playoffs. Quenneville said he was happy with what the forward was able to do through the next few games.
WATCH: Hockey Central's Jeremy Roenick and Keith Jones predict Blackhawks will advance
I thought he gave us three solid games and that line was really effective, said Quenneville of the Bickell-Dave Bolland-Michael Frolik combo. We didn't know what to expect when we first put it together but it was a great surprise the first game and they played pretty solid ones after that. But itll give somebody some quality ice time tonight and a good opportunity to play with a couple guys that have been playing well as well.
Official talk
Vancouver GM Mike Gillis was very vocal on Monday regarding the officiating through this series. Gillies pointed to the discrepancy in power plays, which favor the Blackhawks by a good margin.
READ: Bickell has wrist surgery, will miss 6-8 weeks
The Blackhawks talked about it Tuesday.
To be honest I think its a good move by him, Patrick Kane said. You try to get the emphasis on something else and maybe the league or refs start thinking about it but I dont think its going to matter. I think itll be a pretty fair game.
Tracey Myers is CSNChicago.com's Blackhawks Insider. Follow Tracey on Twitter @TramyersCSN for up-to-the-minute Hawks information.