"With 13 games on the docket tonight, it seems silly to pinpoint one that towers over the others to the point that it deserves a huge chunk of the Daily Dose's attention.

For better or worse, I'm silly enough to do just that, though. While there's no denying that every contest is worth the same up-to-two points for every team involved, there are certain games that take on added meaning.

(Example: Honestly, I thought that the Boston Bruins-Buffalo Sabres game in which Milan Lucic bowled over Ryan Miller was too easy a narrative. Sometimes the best stories are the simplest ones, though, and if you follow the trajectory of both teams it's tough to deny that it was a pivotal moment in their seasons.)

CHI-CANUCKS SHOWDOWN

Anyway, it's probably reasonable to say that Tuesday's game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks is as big as a game can get on January 31. It's likely the Canucks' most challenging emotional obstacle since that manic game against the Boston Bruins."