Do or die for Canucks in Game 6

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo pauses for a moment during third period NHL hockey action against the Chicago Blackhawks in game 5 of the western conference semi-final at GM Place in Vancouver, Saturday, May 9, 2009. The Blackhawks won the game 4-2. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

The Chicago Blackhawks will try to end their Western Conference semifinal series on home ice when they host the Vancouver Canucks tonight in Game 6 at United Center.

The Canucks and Blackhawks had alternated wins over the first four games of the series, with Vancouver taking the odd-numbered tests. However, Chicago became the first team to win back-to-back meetings in the series by taking Games 4 and 5 to grab a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven set.

Chicago is now just one win away from making its first trip to the conference finals since 1995. However, if the Canucks can succeed in the must-win situation tonight then the clubs will meet on Thursday in Vancouver for a decisive Game 7 battle.

The Blackhawks were 24-9-8 at home during the regular season and are 4-1 as the host in the playoffs. Vancouver is 3-1 as the guest in the postseason and had a 21-15-5 record on the road this season.

After notching an overtime win on home ice in Game 4, the Blackhawks recorded a 4-2 decision in Saturday's matchup at General Motors Place in Vancouver. Dave Bolland's power-play goal with 5:05 left in the third period lifted Chicago in Game 5.

Bolland once again helped the Blackhawks come back in this series after he assisted on both the tying and game-winning goals in Game 4.

Dustin Byfuglien had two goals for the Blackhawks, who scored the final three goals of the game after falling behind 2-1 midway through the second period. Nikolai Khabibulin made 19 saves to earn the victory.

"(Byfuglien's) had a great series, a great playoffs," said Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville. "It started the last 10 games of the year, (and) it seems like he's playing his best hockey. He's a force out there. You notice him out there, and he's been a big factor."

Byfuglien has six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in 11 playoff games after going pointless in the first four tests against Calgary in the opening round.

Ryan Kesler and Mats Sundin each tallied for the Canucks, who lost at home for the second time this series. Sundin also registered an assist, while Roberto Luongo allowed all three goals on 29 shots in the loss.

The Canucks lost despite having defenseman Sami Salo back on the ice for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury early in Game 1. Salo logged 20 minutes, 36 seconds of ice time and registered four shots on goal.

The Blackhawks and Canucks have met just twice in the postseason and each team has won a round. They last met in 1995, when Chicago swept Vancouver in four games during the conference semifinals.

Neither the Blackhawks nor the Canucks have made it to the conference finals since the mid-1990s, but that will change for one club with the outcome of this series. Chicago made it to the West finals last in 1995, where it lost to Detroit in five games. The Canucks were last participants in the conference finals in 1994, when they made it to the franchise's second Stanley Cup Finals before falling in seven games to the New York Rangers.

The Canucks and Blackhawks met four times during the regular season and split the series with two wins apiece.