by MATTHEW SEKERES , The Globe and Mail

The fisticuffs were easy to explain: Blackhawks forward Dustin Byfuglien subtly punched Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo after crashing the net. Goaltender abuse is the easiest way to start a melee in the NHL, so the violent aftermath on March 29, during a 4-0 Vancouver victory, was predictable.

But that the coaches, who once worked together for the St. Louis Blues, would involve themselves in the theatrics - during a regular-season NHL game between teams in different divisions no less - was a little strange. Chicago's Joel Quenneville was screaming at, and gesturing toward, Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, who glared back, palms open, as though he were asking: you want a piece of me?

"I talked to Joel about half-an-hour ago, and everything seemed fine," Vigneault said yesterday as his team prepared to face Chicago in their Western Conference semi-final playoff series. "I'm not sure [why Quenneville was so incensed that day]. You'll have to ask him. I'm such a likable guy."

Truth is, there was plenty of blame to be assigned that night, especially during a third period in which 90 penalty minutes were piled up.

Adam Burish took a run at Vancouver forward Henrik Sedin, which drew the ire of Canucks defenceman Shane O'Brien, who tried to go through two officials to get to the offending Blackhawks player. On two occasions, Ben Eager lifted Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa off his feet and drove him into the ice during a prolonged fight that ended with Bieksa's T-shirt ripped to shreds. And then there was Canucks super pest Alexandre Burrows pulling the hair of defenceman Duncan Keith.

It was a night professional wrestling promoter Vince McMahon, if not NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, would have been proud of. Yet, outside of the three-ring third period, it was a fabulous Hockey game. There was some terrific end-to-end action, some enormous (and clean) body checks, a penalty shot and a goal from Vancouver's top line that was worthy of the Louvre.

In short: It was a playoff-intense game just a few weeks before the playoffs, and now the Canucks and Blackhawks get to do it again - at least four more times.

Game 1 is expected to be tomorrow at GM Place in Vancouver.

"It proved that we could win in that building," Canucks forward Ryan Kesler said of the explosive game at the United Center, which evened the season series between the teams at 2-2. "It was a spirited affair that kind of got out of hand, but I don't know if you'll see that sort of stuff in the playoffs."

Prior to March 29, the Canucks had lost twice to Chicago (home and away) and recorded a 7-3 home-ice victory in February, when the Hawks were rumoured to have been "Roxied," a reference to The Roxy, a legendary Vancouver nightclub, that has gobbled up many a visiting team (particularly young ones).

But focus shouldn't be an issue for either team in this series. The Canucks are in the second round with home-ice advantage for the first time since 2003; the 'Hawks advanced past the opening round for the first time since 1996.

*****

NHL: ROAD TO THE FINAL RUNS THROUGH VANCOUVER

Vancouver - The Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks begin their NHL Western Conference semi-final series on Friday, a sexy matchup featuring the last two Stanley Cup champions.

The Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks, who face off in the other West semi-final, cannot claim the recent success of their conference counterparts, but there is one historical trend working in their favour: Seven of the last nine times the Canucks have qualified for the NHL postseason, they have either faced the eventual conference champion or won the West themselves.

Some evidence the road to the final goes through Vancouver:

* 2007 Canucks lose in semis (4-1) to Anaheim; conference champion: Anaheim

* 2004 Canucks lose in quarter-finals (4-3) to Calgary Flames; conference champion: Calgary

* 2003 Canucks lose in semis (4-3) to Minnesota Wild; conference champion: Anaheim

* 2002 Canucks lose in quarters (4-2) to Detroit; conference champion: Detroit

* 2001 Canucks lose in quarters (4-0) to Colorado Avalanche; conference champion: Colorado

* 1996 Canucks lose in quarters (4-2) to Colorado; conference champion: Colorado

* 1995 Canucks lose in semis (4-0) to Chicago Blackhawks; conference champion: Detroit

* 1994 Canucks win conference final (4-1) over Toronto Maple Leafs; conference champion: Vancouver

* 1993 Canucks lose in semis (4-2) to Los Angeles Kings; conference champion: L.A.

Matthew Sekeres

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