Throwback Thursday: Game 5 between the Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks

Here’s the second installment of our 10-week Throwback Thursday series, counting down to the Hawks’ home opener on Thursday, October 5. Up next: the 2008-09 season and Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

One of the best things you can experience as a sports fan is watching your favorite team go from up-and-coming to legitimate title contender, that initial season when a team asserts itself among the league’s elite is sheer bliss for fans. There’s no specific bar to be cleared, no burden of expectations to be met. The Nashville Predators’ fans got to enjoy that ride last season.

For the Hawks, that season was in 2008-09. After narrowly missing the playoffs the year before, Chicago…