Chicago Blackhawks (2010–11 playoff saga)

Lore & Background

The rivalry began in earnest during the 2009–10 season, when the Blackhawks swept the Canucks in the second round of the playoffs, outscoring them 16–8 and exposing Vancouver's defensive weaknesses. Chicago's young core—Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook—seemed to have the Canucks' number, and the series ended with a humiliating sweep that left Vancouver fans simmering. The following season, the Canucks won the Presidents' Trophy and entered the playoffs as Cup favorites, only to draw the Blackhawks again in the first round—a matchup no one wanted.

In Their Own Story

The ice at Rogers Arena was a cauldron of noise and desperation. Game 7, tied 1–1 in the third period. The crowd held its breath as Jonathan Toews stripped the puck from a Canucks defender and fired a shot that beat Roberto Luongo clean—but the post rang like a church bell for Chicago's doom. Overtime began, and the tension was suffocating, each shift a razor's edge. Then Alex Burrows, who had been a thorn in Chicago's side all series, took a pass from Daniel Sedin and fired a shot that trickled through Corey Crawford's pads, wobbling over the goal line like a dying firefly. The building erupted, a primal roar that shook the rafters. The Canucks had survived. For one night, the rivalry's sting was sweet—but the scar remained.

Reader's Guide

Opponent: Chicago Blackhawks. Rivalry peak: 2010–11. What made it personal: The Blackhawks swept the Canucks in the 2010 playoffs, outscoring them 16–8 and exposing Vancouver's defensive cracks, then met them again in the first round of 2011 as the defending champions. The series featured a controversial hit by Raffi Torres on Brent Seabrook that drew blood and a suspension, a Game 6 collapse by Vancouver that forced Game 7, and the unforgettable overtime winner by Alex Burrows—a fluky, bouncing shot that ended Chicago's reign and sent Vancouver into the second round. Fans still reference 'the Burrows goal' as the moment the rivalry peaked, and the 'post' that saved Luongo is a ghost that haunts Chicago fans, a metallic whisper of what could have been.

Did You Know?

• The 2011 series was the first time in NHL history that a Presidents' Trophy winner faced the defending Stanley Cup champion in the first round.
• Roberto Luongo made 36 saves in Game 7, including a critical stop on a breakaway by Patrick Kane in overtime.
• Alex Burrows' Game 7 overtime goal was initially waved off by the referee before being confirmed after a brief video review.
• The Blackhawks had won eight consecutive playoff games against the Canucks before the 2011 series began.