CHICAGO -- Canucks blueliner Shane O'Brien needed six stitches to fix a bloody gash he took after being high-sticked by Hawks forward Dustin Byfuglien in the second period.

"I know my mom will be probably calling me, making me wear a visor," said O'Brien. "Sorry Mom, on Mother's Day, to scare you like that, but I'm OK."

He didn't even miss a shift.

"I was a little surprised there was no penalty," he said, looking a little beat up around the bridge of his nose. "I was hoping I could still be an underwear model after my career. I think I'll be OK."

Too pretty

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville would have liked his team to chip more pucks past the Canucks' defensive approach instead of trying to force plays.

"I think we were looking for more than what was out there. I think we were looking for pretty plays instead of simplicity," said Quenneville.

But he disagreed when asked if he thought his players thought clinching the series might be easy Sunday night.

"No, I think our approach was fine during the day, going into the game," said Quenneville. "I think we were playing like we had to win this game. We got zapped off the bat and didn't respond well after that. We had excitement in the building we didn't take advantage of."

Canucks' character

The Canucks showed some resolve in avoiding elimination, especially after two porous home games. But blueliner Kevin Bieksa said his team's character should not be in question.

"There's obviously a lot, I don't think anybody ever doubted that part," he said. "I don't think anybody [expected us] to come in here and just fold our chairs."

Bieksa thought Christian Ehrhoff's opening goal just 59 seconds into the game was important.

"Especially on the road, the first goal is huge, it quiets the crowd," said Bieksa, who scored twice. "It gives a little bit of momentum to us and then we can sit back and play our game, which is high-percentage."

Luongo solid

Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo was terrific in Game 5. He stopped 29 of 30 shots and his rebound control was particularly sharp.

"I was fighting to see through the traffic there and was able to gobble them up," said Luongo. "They were coming to me and I was able to get gloves on it."

Luongo's 10 saves in the first period calmed his team down.

"I knew it was going to be important to have a good first period, make a couple of key saves," said Luongo. "I was able to do that and we scored a couple of goals, and that helped us get off to the start we wanted."