Here's how cool Cody Hodgson is under pressure.

In the critical moment of Tuesday's it-felt-critical game, he got behind the Blackhawks defence on a break-away and just drifted into thought. He thought about how Dale Weise, of all players, told him to go high glove on Corey Crawford, even though Crawford had just made a big glove save on Daniel Sedin. He thought about what trainer Jamie Hendricks told him when, in the second inter-mission, they just happened to out-line the exact scenario Hodgson was experiencing at that moment. About the only thing he didn't have time to think about was the 6,400-word essay his agent, Ritch Winter, had recently posted online.

"It just felt like I had so much time to think," Hodgson said. "Jamie Hendricks had just walked me through the what I should do if I got free coming in off the wing. And then, that's what happened. Hendricks said fake glove and then go glove side, and that's what I chose to do."

In what is becoming a breakout rookie year for Hodgson, his best attribute may be his timing. He proved again Tuesday, he is clutch when the games feel the biggest. Just 4: 08 into the third period, against arguably the Canucks' biggest rival, Hodgson snuck by the Blackhawks defence to score the key goal to jolt his team awake.

"There is something different in games like this and I really want to come through when I'm needed," Hodgson said.

He was needed Tuesday. His goal was against momentum, and tied the game 2-2, giving Hodgson six goals in January, which include two against San Jose, one against Boston and one against the Hawks.

"It was huge," Cory Schneider said. "He's played in some really high pressure situations, like the world juniors. He knows what it's like to play with pressure. It's good to have a guy that when you see him free you have a good feeling he's going to score.

"Cody is one of those guys. He doesn't rely on one move or one thing. He can do it all. It's been a great boost to have him this year and he just seems to get better and better as the year goes along."

Hodgson's goal was the spark the Canucks were looking for, and they got the finish they needed when Daniel Sedin scored with 1: 23 left in overtime for a 3-2 Vancouver win.

It wasn't a great game, but it was a great ending. Overtime was electric, and controversial. Moments before Daniel scored, Viktor Stalberg - who if he wasn't playing the game of his life wasn't far off - was nearly clear on a breakaway before Kevin Bieksa tugged him and Dan Hamhu-is appeared to one-hand slash him just as he shot. Stalberg was in disbelief after he lost the puck at the noncall. The Chicago bench, led by head coach Joel Quenneville, erupted.

"That's a terrible call," Stalberg said. "If they look at that, they're going to see it's a penalty. There's a slash to my hands and I couldn't make the move I wanted. I think it's pretty clear it's a definition of a penalty shot.

"A terrible call."

What was not a terrible call, was the Canucks decision to start Schneider. The goalie was terrific in the second period, while his teammates were not. A series of giveaways, and Chicago stretch passes led to several 2-on-1s and some scoring chances. Stalberg had two of the best opportunities to get one by Schneider. On the first Patrick Kane set him up beautifully while the pair were on a 2-on-1, but Schneider slide across his crease to make the pad save.

But Schneider was to blame for his most dramatic save of the night. With the puck behind the net, he fanned on it, which led to a give-away to Brendan Morrison. Schneider looked like he was on an island, caught behind the net.

Morrison tried for the wraparound but backed off when Schneider dived across his crease in desperation. Morrison fired his wrister, which was weak but on its way into what looked to be a gaping cage. Just before it drifted in, Schneider raised his hand and got an arm on it, making one of the most unlikely saves of the season.

"I just reached and took as much away as I could, but I think it was luck more than anything," Schneider said. "I was not happy with myself. I should not have put my team in that situation. I'm glad it didn't hurt us.

"I didn't really remember what happened. I just blacked out there. I was thinking, 'Thank God, it didn't go in.' It happened really fast. I didn't bother looking at the replay, because it was pretty much my fault."

For the second game in a row against Chicago, the Canucks didn't get a power play. The first period ended in a 1-1 tie. The second started with Vancouver asleep. With 6: 10 left in the middle frame, the Canucks were being outshot 12-3. By the end of the period, Schneider had made 15 stops.

The game had started wonderfully. Alex Edler caught up to Marian Hossa on a partial breakaway and stripped him of the puck. Then, on the same shift, he fired a slapper on net before deftly setting up Ryan Kes-ler for his 14th goal of the season.

It was 1-0 Canucks and Edler has rarely looked better. The crowd was into it too, but were drained during Vancouver's sleepy second.