The Chicago Blackhawks have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals with a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators on Monday night at Bridgestone Arena. The win secured a 4-games-to-2 win in their first-round series and a meeting with the Vancouver Canucks in the Conference Semifinals for the second consecutive season. Chicago will host Games 1 and 2 of the series, with dates and times to be determined.
Combined with last season’s run to the Western Conference Finals, the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs mark the first time since 1995 and 1996 that the Blackhawks have advanced to the second round of the postseason in back-to-back years. The Western Conference Semifinals will be the fourth all-time Stanley Cup Playoff meeting between Chicago and Vancouver, who advanced with a 4-games-to-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
The Blackhawks defeated the Canucks 4-games-to-2 in last year’s Western Conference Semifinals, a series in which Vancouver held home-ice advantage. Chicago swept the Canucks 4-games-to-0 in the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals, and Vancouver won the inaugural postseason meeting between the two clubs with a 4-games-to-1 win over the Blackhawks in the 1982 Campbell Conference Finals.
Chicago and Vancouver split the 2009-10 regular-season series, each winning two games in regulation, and each earning a win on the road. The Blackhawks defeated the Canucks 1-0 on Nov. 22 at General Motors Place and 6-3 on March 5 at United Center. Vancouver posted a 3-2 win on Oct. 21 at United Center, and a 5-1 win on Jan. 23 at General Motors Place.