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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jocelyn Thibault didn't have to work too hard to
earn his third shutout of the season.
|  | | Chicago Blackhawks' goalie Jocelyn Thibault stops Vancouver's Henrik Sedin in one of the few times he was challenged Wednesday. |
Thibault faced 27 shots, but none very difficult Wednesday night
as the Chicago Blackhawks earned a 6-0 victory over the Vancouver
Canucks.
He also got help from the goal post. The Canucks' best
opportunity, midway through the second period, was turned away when
Adrian Aucoin just missed.
"I'm playing more consistently because we're playing better in
front," Thibault said. "Before, there were 15-20 scoring chances
a game. Now we've cut that down."
Thibault was only lightly tested, even thought the Blackhawks
played without three of their regular defensemen -- Alexander
Karpovtsev, Kevin Dean and Chris McAlpine.
Meanwhile, the line of Michael Nylander, Steve Sullivan and Eric
Daze clicked for three goals and seven assists. Nylander led the
output with two goals and two assists.
"Our line worked really well tonight," Nylander said. "Eric
opened a lot of room on the ice for us and did a real good job for
us."
Daze, a left wing, replaced healthy scratch Dean McAmmond on the
line and responded with a goal and two assists. Sullivan, who has
worked on right wing with Nylander -- a center -- had three assists.
Chris Herperger, Tony Amonte, and Boris Mironov also scored for
the Blackhawks, who posted their biggest margin of victory and are
5-1-1 in their last seven games.
The Canucks, who scored 11 goals in their previous two games,
generated little offense as they closed a four-game road trip.
"We have to be better in our preparation," Canucks coach Marc
Crawford said. "Quite honestly, we have to do a lot better."
Felix Potvin started in goal for Vancouver, but was replaced by
Bob Essensa at 3:20 of the third period after allowing four goals
on 17 shots.
Nylander opened the scoring 10:39 in, beating Potvin from 15
feet.
Nylander made it 2-0 at 1:44 of the second on a backhander from
between the circles. Nylander fed Sullivan a tip-in attempt that
didn't connect, but Potvin misplayed the loose puck into the slot
and on to Nylander's stick.
Herperger stretched it to 3-0 with 3:00 left in the second on a
deflection that went in off the left post five seconds after a
Vancouver penalty expired.
Amonte made it 4-0 at 3:20 of the third on an attempt from the
corner that slid under Potvin. Mironov slipped down the slot and
connected at 7:42 for a 5-0 lead.
Daze completed the scoring on a tap-in with 8:14 left.
Game notes
Nylander recorded his first two-goal game of the season. He
has 11 goals and 18 assists in his last 27 games. ... Vancouver's
Ed Jovanovski missed the game because of "personal reasons."
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Vancouver Clubhouse
Chicago Clubhouse
RECAPS
Carolina 3
Tampa Bay 2
Columbus 5
Edmonton 2
Pittsburgh 3
Washington 2
Buffalo 1
Toronto 1
Atlanta 1
Minnesota 1
Chicago 6
Vancouver 0
Anaheim 3
Florida 2
Calgary 1
San Jose 0
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