Chicago Blackhawks (25-46-6, 8th in Central)
at Vancouver Canucks (34-36-7, 6th in Pacific)
(Thursday, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena)
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Those who have crossed competitive paths with Jonathan Toews can tell a good story.
What’s woven into each lasting memory of the Chicago Blackhawks’ captain is how he embraced the moment to execute when everything was on the line.
With the unrestricted free agent facing an uncertain playing future — long-COVID symptoms and chronic immune response syndrome sidelined the centre for 27 games this season before his return Saturday — a meeting with the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday at Rogers Arena takes on special meaning.
Toews, 34, is no longer that once formidable force, but the Winnipeg native has never lost a desire to deliver.
On Tuesday in Calgary, he started the scoring sequence on the opening goal as the rebuilding Blackhawks won for just the second time in 10 games in a stunning 4-3 triumph over the Flames.
It was just the 30th point this season for Toews (14-16), who missed the entire 2020-21 season with the immune condition.
“There are definitely moments when it’s hard to remember what it feels like to really enjoy the game, playing with passion,” Toews told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday. “But you just stay with it.
“The last few months where I’ve been away from the team, it always gives you perspective to notice what you take for granted and the things that you miss when you’re not playing. My passion is still there and it will always be there.”
Ethan Bear can easily recall what it’s like to defend against Toews.
The Canucks’ defenceman was with the Oilers when they were upset by the Blackhawks in the qualifying round of the 2020 post-season bubble experience in Edmonton. Chicago won the best-of-five series 3-1 and Toews swung momentum when the clubs were deadlocked at one win apiece.
In Game 3, the Blackhawks prevailed 4-3 as Toews scored twice, including the winner with 1:16 left to snap a 3-3 tie. He would finish that post-season with nine points (5-4) in nine games.
“He was a beast,” recalled Bear. “We thought we were just going to roll over them (Blackhawks) and that team was a team. They played together and played for each other. And a lot of it was because of Toews.
“It was so cool to see his leadership upfront. When you’re competing against a guy like that, all you have is respect and look up to him and wish you could play with him.”
Captain Serious indeed.
The legendary Toews’ quest for success reached an epic level in the 2011 playoffs.
In the opening round against the President’s Trophy-winning and heavily favoured Canucks, the eighth-seeded Blackhawks trailed 3-0 in the series when Toews made his famous post-game statement to this reporter in the United Center.
“We haven’t exposed them (Canucks) for who they are yet,” was his rallying cry. Bold. But it worked.
Toews almost kept the Canucks from “slaying the dragon” in a riveting Game 7 overtime triumph when he scored a short-handed goal with 1:56 remaining in regulation time. Alex Burrows then delivered in the extra session for a 2-1 exhale.
It allowed Vancouver to take the next post-season step en route to the Stanley Cup Final, instead of facing a roster reconstruction in the off-season.
So, for everything Canucks that could be talked about before puck drop Thursday — a four-game losing skid, loss of focus, a pop-gun power play and a lack of energy in a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken to test coach Rick Tocchet’s patience — the best chatter is a fitting Toews’ salute.
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