SAMI SALO"THE FINNISH POWER"

It will be a game-time decision whether injured defenceman Sami Salo is in the Canucks' lineup for Game 5 versus the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Vancouver Canucks could have one significant lineup change tonight when they face the Chicago Blackhawks in the pivotal fifth game of their Stanley Cup playoff series.

Key defenceman Sami Salo, who has been nursing a mysterious lower body injury for the last week, took the full morning skate today while Ossi Vaananen, who replaced Salo the last two games, stayed out for extra work. Salo is a "game-time" decision.

The Canucks and Blackhawks are tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven second-round Stanley Cup playoff series. Faceoff off time tonight is 7:30.

"I don't know yet," a coy Salo replied when asked if he was healthy enough to play. "I'll go do a little rehab now and see how things go. I'll have to talk to the doctors and coaching staff. We'll see. I want to play every night. You try to push yourself to get back in the lineup as soon as you can. Watching is the hardest part because you can't do anything."

Canuck head coach Alain Vigneault was equally coy about Salo's status. Asked why Vaananen remained on the ice with extra skaters Jannik Hansen, Rob Davison and Jeff Cowan, Vigneault wouldn't bite.

"If Vaananen does play, he only plays 8-9 minutes a game so a little extra work doesn't hurt," said Vigneault.

Meanwhile, the Canucks all concede they need to put more shots on Blackhawk netminder Nikolai Khabibulin.

In their last three games, the Canucks have averaged 19 shots per outing. Not surprisingly, they have lost two of the three. Clearly they haven't been spending enough time in the Chicago zone testing .

"I thought we played all right defensively [in Game 4] but we definitely didn't create enough offence and that's something we have to do," agreed veteran centre Mats Sundin, whose line with Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler generated just one shot in the 2-1 overtime loss. "Our line has to be more creative. That goes for our whole team but definitely our line."

The Canucks also had just one power play in Game 4 after having 18 in the first three games of the series (and scoring on five of them). They weren't pressuring the Blackhawks into making mistakes.

"Give Chicago credit," said Vigneault. "They played a sound, structured game that didn't give us a lot of room."

epap@vancouversun.com

ICE CHIPS

Defenceman Willie Mitchell, who led the Canucks in plus/minus during the regular season (plus-29), is a team worst minus-3 in the playoffs... Blackhawk defenceman Duncan Keith is plus-6 while forward Patrick Kane is minus-4... Chicago winger Martin Havlat is the leading playoff scorer producer on either side with 10 points (four goals, six assists)... Mats Sundin has nine shots on goal in his six playoff appearances.

INJURIES

Canuck forward Pavol Demitra (upper body) remains out while Sami Salo (lower body) will be a game-time decision... The Blackhawks continue to lead a charmed life with no reported injuries. They have missed just one-man game in the playoffs when winger Patrick Kane was out with the flu.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Canuck forward Ryan Kesler can be a difference maker with his hitting, skating and abrasiveness so look for him to set a tone tonight.

Talented Blackhawk captain Jonathan Toews has yet to make his mark in this series but how much longer can the Canucks keep him in check?