All-Star Hawks focused on game Tuesday vs. Canucks

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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:38AM

OTTAWA — There were no post-All-Star Game parties for Blackhawks forwards Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane to attend Sunday.
Immediately after the game, the two met with the media, packed quickly, headed to the airport and left for Chicago.

It was time to get back to work.

The Hawks start their stretch run with a daunting nine-game road trip that begins Tuesday against the rival Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. Kane and Hossa will travel with the Hawks to Vancouver, where they will practice Monday evening.

‘‘It’s always hard to play in that building,’’ Hossa said. ‘‘It’s going to be real important with how we start the trip. It’s really going to direct how we really go. It’s a huge game after the break. I think everybody is looking forward to it, especially Dave Bolland.’’

It will be the first game between the teams since Bolland called Canucks stars Henrik and Daniel Sedin ‘‘sisters’’ on a radio show.
Canucks coach Alain Vig-
neault responded by saying Bolland had a ‘‘birdseed’’-sized brain and ‘‘a face that only a mother could look at.’’

Bolland hasn’t commented about the situation since.

‘‘I don’t think there were words that were exchanged,’’ said Henrik Sedin, who also played in the All-Star Game. ‘‘It came from one player. That’s what it was.’’

Sedin and Kane said it will be a major adjustment going from All-Star festivities to a hate-filled matchup.

‘‘They have a great team; it’s a tough opponent,’’ Sedin said. ‘‘I don’t know if there is any team that’s a perfect
opponent. We’re going to have to play our best game on Tuesday.’’

The Hawks will split the nine-game trip into three-game segments, returning to Chicago for a night or two after each one.

‘‘That’s important and
really good for the players and the team,’’ Hossa said. ‘‘It kind of breaks up the trip. It’s going to be a good measurement of where we’re at.’’