D Willie Mitchell can't seem to stay out of the spotlight against the Chicago Blackhawks. During last season's playoffs, the Canucks' shutdown defenseman made disparaging remarks about pint-sized Chicago star Patrick Kane's unwillingness to venture into high traffic areas after the first game, comments Kane mentioned after scoring three goals in the Game 6 elimination of the Canucks. This season it's a clean but wicked check on Chicago captain Jonathan Toews in the first meeting that has the focus back on Mitchell, who stepped out of the penalty box and into Toews with a thunderous but clean hit that left the latter barely able to get off the ice and out with a concussion for two weeks. It sparked the Canucks to a come-from-behind 3-2 win and was the talk of the town as the two prepared to face each other again for the first time Sunday. But Mitchell, who seemed genuinely concerned about Toews' health after the last game and has since spoken to him about the incident, didn't want to talk much about it. "It's just hockey, it was on the ice, it was a clean hit," Mitchell, who didn't leave his feet or lead with his elbow, said Saturday. "Ask Jon about it. He'll tell you that, too."
(Yahoo! Sports)