Dave Bolland's power play goal at 14:55 of the third period Saturday secured Chicago's 4-2 win over Vancouver in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. The Blackhawks will carry a 3-2 lead into Game 6 in Chicago Monday night.

Sami Salo scored on a rebound with 1:13 left in the third period Thursday, offsetting a Chicago rally and giving Vancouver a 5-3 win over the Blackhawks. Vancouver survived a third-period meltdown to win the opening game of the second-round playoff series -- the first to get under way around the NHL. Roberto Luongo took a shutout into the final period, but the Blackhawks scored three times to tie it and create a chance for what would have been a stunning victory. Salo, however, gathered up the puck in the high slot after Nikolai Khabibulin had stopped the original shot from Steve Bernier and easily slipped it past the Chicago goaltender. Khabibulin was immediately removed for an extra attacker and Ryan Johnson took advantage by scoring into an empty net with 16 seconds to play. Vancouver will host the second game in the best-of-seven series Saturday. The Canucks built their lead on a first-period power-play goal from Pavol Demitra and second-period tallies by Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesl

Detroit center Pavel Datsyuk, last year's Selke Trophy winner, was selected Tuesday as a finalist for the NHL's top defensive forward award in 2008-09. Datsyuk, Philadelphia's Mike Richards and Vancouver's Ryan Kesler were named the finalists for the Frank J.

Roberto Luongo stopped 20 shots and set a franchise record for shutouts in a season Thursday when the Vancouver Canucks beat Los Angeles 1-0. Luongo's eighth shutout of the season -- the 46th of his NHL career -- along with Ryan Kesler's second-period goal (power play), gave the Canucks first place in the Northwest Division. Vancouver has 98 points and one regular-season game remaining, coming Saturday at Colorado.

Robert Luongo turned away 26 shots and Daniel Sedin scored twice Sunday, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Luongo's shutout was his seventh this season. Sedin also contributed an assist.