VANCOUVER — Vancouver Canucks backup netminder Cory Schneider will carry a personal three-game win streak into tonight's Western Conference showdown against the bitter-rival Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m., TSN, Team 1040).

Schneider's last loss was Dec. 15 in Carolina and, since then, he's been between the pipes for victories over the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning, the latter triumph in a shootout. All three wins were on the road. His last home start was Dec. 1 against Nashville. He surrendered three goals on five shots and was given the hook by head coach Alain Vigneault.

“It didn't go so well, but that was a long time ago,” Schneider said today following the Canucks' full morning skate. “This is a good opportunity for me to get in there and see where I'm at. Hopefully I've prepared well enough to take on this test because, obviously, Chicago, is a fantastic team with a lot of skill. We're going to have our hands full tonight.”

Schneider isn't concerned about rust despite going three weeks between starts. The entire league has been off for a week, he noted, so that evens the playing field.

“I think coming off the all-star break everyone comes back to the same level,” he said. “I'm not thinking three weeks but just about being sharp after the all-star break.”

Schneider is putting together another fine season statistically and will carry a 10-5-0 record with a 2.30 GAA and .927 save percentage into tonight's game.

Meanwhile, Canucks captain Henrik Sedin will attempt to shed his worst slump of the season — four games without a point. He joked today that his three points in Sunday's all-star game bumped his slump, but nobody was buying that.

“I got three points two days ago so I'm back on track,” Henrik winked. “No, I mean, I said it before that as a line we haven't played as well as we can the last couple of weeks. I thought our last game against Edmonton [3-2 shootout win] was a lot better and we were back to playing the way we can. We had a little bit of a talk here this morning and I think we're focused again and we want to prove that we're a good line.”

With the exception of Schneider starting, the Canucks will ice the same 18 skaters who dressed for the Edmonton game. All the lines and defensive pairings look to remain the same.

The Canucks and 'Hawks are dead even in points with 64 but Vancouver has a game in hand and one more victory. Chicago will welcome back captain Jonathan Toews to its lineup after he missed one game with a sore hand. Right-winger Patrick Sharp will also play after missing eight games with a left wrist injury.

“Coming out of the all-star break, it's the home stretch and you want to be a part of that,” Sharp said. “I love playing in this building and I love playing against these guys. I'm excited to be going tonight. In my mind, I'm 100 per cent and once that game starts, there is no thinking about injuries or anything. It's all about winning the game.”

Ex-Canuck fan favourite Brendan Morrison, acquired last Friday from Calgary, will make his Blackhawks debut, centring the second line.

The Canucks and Blackhawks have identical records offensively — both average 3.16 goals per game — but Vancouver is seventh defensively and sixth in penalty killing while the 'Hawks are tied for 19th in goals against and sit a dreadful 28th on the penalty kill. Corey Crawford will start in goal for Chicago. He's 18-12-4 on the season with a 2.86 GAA and .902 save percentage.

ICE CHIPS: The Blackhawks are the league's third best team in the faceoff circle with a 52.4 per cent success rate. The Canucks, after a poor game against Edmonton, are now seventh on the draw at 51.5 per cent ... Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa is tied for third in league scoring with 53 points. Henrik Sedin is tied for fifth with 52 points while brother Daniel is tied for eighth with 51 points.

INJURIES: The Canucks will continue to play without depth forwards Andrew Ebbett (collarbone) and Aaron Volpatti (shoulder). Chicago is missing rambunctious winger Daniel Carcillo (knee).

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