Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 51-22-2-7, 111 points (1st in Northwest, 1st in West)

2011-'12 playoffs: Lost to Los Angeles Kings 4-1

Coach: Alain Vigneault (396-273-89, 11th NHL year, 2nd team)

Top returning scorer: C Henrik Sedin (14 goals, 67 assists, 81 points)

Top returning goalie: Cory Schneider (20-8-1, 1.96, .937)

Key additions: D Jim Vandermeer; D Jason Garrison; D Derek Joslin; D Cam Barker.

Key subtractions: D Sami Salo; C Samuel Pahlsson; D Marc-Andre Gragnani; D Aaron Rome.

Goaltending: Schneider usurped the No. 1 role from former Hart Trophy runner-up Roberto Luongo last season and the Canucks have decided he’s their goalie of the future. Luongo is on the trading block and what they get for him could determine Vancouver’s long-term future as a Cup contender.

Player to watch: C Jordan Schroeder. With second-line center Ryan Kesler lost for at least part of the season following off-season shoulder and wrist surgery, Schroeder, Vancouver’s top draft pick in 2009, may finally get a look. He was a 21-goal scorer for Chicago (AHL) last season and scored 19 points in 30 games this season.

Icing: With conditioning such a concern entering the season, Vigneault indicated he’ll try to balance the ice time more evenly among his four forward lines (David Booth is out 4-6 weeks with a groin injury). . . Anticipating injuries due to idleness, Canucks have nine defensemen with NHL experience on the roster . . . As always, key issue with the Canucks will be finding secondary scoring after the Sedin twins.

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Blackhawks keep clawing back

PHT: The Presidents Trophy holders won't go out of these playoffs easily. Chicago beat Detroit 4-1 to force a Game 6.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Blackhawks top Red Wings 4-1

    The Chicago Blackhawks entered Game 5 needing to defeat the Detroit Red Wings in order to stay alive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In a dominant second period Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the playoffs and catapulted the Western Conference semifinals series back to Detroit for a Game 6.

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