The Canucks season of success

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The Vancouver Canucks have had a surprising season, but not in a bad way like they usually do. Every single expert analysis or anyone to do in the sports world, had the Canucks finishing near the bottom of the league. They were expected to be the bottom of the barrel and not anywhere close to even making the playoffs. Boy, were they ever wrong about that.

Canucks fans were skeptical heading into this year’s season, as even when it seems like we have the right assets, we fall short every year. But sometimes all you need is a year’s time and you’ll be the next big thing, and that is exactly what happened to the Vancouver Canucks. Last year, they were barely able to crack the .500 win percentage, landing themselves 6th in the division at a sad, just sad record of 38-37-7. Were analysts and doubters wrong for second guessing the Canucks? Probably not. But that was until this season when they finally got the respect on their name that they deserve. All you needed to see to know the Canucks were serious contenders, was their home opener with the absolute obliteration of the Edmonton Oilers, defeating them by a whopping 7 goals.

For a long time, the Canucks stood tall at the tippy top of not just their respective division, but the whole entire league. The Canucks were genuinely the best team in the league, led by the best coach in the league, Rick Tocchet. By the end of the season, they slid down the standings ever so lightly, with the major reason being the fact that our star goal-tender and Vezina trophy candidate, Thatcher Demko, had suffered a rough injury that would end up putting him on the long term injured reserve, sidelining him until the playoffs began. The Vancouver Canucks still were able to manage coming out on top of the Pacific division, to win their first Pacific division title since the realignment. They finished with an astonishing record of 50-23-9.

Halfway through the season at the all star game break, the Canucks were 33-11-5 and already only 12 point outs from matching their previous point total. From considered as a contender for the #1 pick, to consider as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, the Canucks were back and better than ever. Arguably one of their more impressive statistics at the halfway mark was the fact that they were 29-0-1 in games that they were leading after the initial first two periods. Let alone, being the only team with 25 or more wins under that stat category as well. At the halfway point, they were leading the league in goals scored in the first period, but by the end of the season they had fallen down to 6th in the league, hich is still pretty impressive if you ask me. The Canucks also found their way in regulation often, as they were tied for third in the league for the least amount of regulation losses this season, with 23.

The signings during the offseason and the mid season trade inquiries were a big part of the Canucks success this year. During the time off, they put pen to paper with Ian Cole, Carson Soucy, Casey DeSmith, and Teddy Blueger. All of these role players have done their part in some way, even when injuries collide with them, they still find a way. Casey Desmith was a huge part of the Canucks ability to maintain the one seed in the Pacific division. DeSmith had to step when the team needed him most, after Vezina trophy candidate Thatcher Demko suffered an unlucky injury close to the mid season mark. DeSmith stepped up and did what he could and picked up 12 wins in 29 games with a .896 save percentage and a 2.89 save percentage. Those numbers don’t tell the whole story though, as he was a big motivator for the squad. Arturs Silovs, who is a young up and coming goal-tender within the Canucks organization, also made some late season appearances and picked up a point in each of his 4 games played, with three of them being much needed wins.

At the trade deadline, we saw how serious and how dedicated the Canucks were to winning and continuing their path to the cup. They made slime bigger moves by shipping out Andrei Kuzmenko, and bringing in Elias Lindholm from the Calgary Flames. He has been a difference maker for the Canucks this year to a great extent. At times, he is not fully playing his best hockey and got caught in some droughts, but once he heats up, he is on fire for awhile and not just for himself and his point totals, but his ability to create plays in tricky scenarios has been magnificent. The Canucks also brought in another member of the Calgary Flames, the big man, the enforcer, Nikita Zadorov. He has been huge for us defensively, laying out his body whenever he can but his mind can get the best of him and he has his slip ups. But him, Dakota Joshua, and Conor Garland on the same team has been a treat to watch as they are some of the grittiest enforcers that we have in the league, even with Garland being a bit tinier than the others. I would say Tyler Myers is also a huge enforcer for us but he is also very costly for the Canucks as well.

The Canucks clinched their playoff spot, and you guessed it, that means Vancouver playoff hockey is so back. It was set in stone that they would be talking on the wild card team, the Nashville Predators in the first round series. At the end of the regular season, Head Coach Rick Tocchet commented on the upcoming playoffs. “Looking forward to it, it’s going to be a fun time for the guys, I want them to enjoy it…It’s going to be exciting… Our fans have been noisy this season so (they’re) just gonna amp it up another level” said Tocchet

The upcoming series with the Nashville Predators have high stakes as does every playoff series, but the Canucks want to prove themselves. Roman Josi vs Quinn Hughes is a huge defensive matchup as they are two of the highest acclaimed defenders in the league. Rick Tocchet spoke to the media about the two stellar defensemen and how their battle will look.  

“They are the same (player), they drive play, they both have the puck on their stick a lot, they both can defend because of that. They are a fourth forward out there, they both break the puck out very well and they walk the blue line REALLY well…In one series you got two of the best defensemen in the league. I’m sure they are game planning for Hughes just like we are game planning for Josi…they are that good.” said Tocchet.

The Vancouver Canucks are ready to slay the dragons once again by taking down the Nashville Predators. As I am typing this outro though, it has been announced that Thatcher Demko is injured and could possibly miss the rest of the playoff series. Casey DeSmith will be playing between the pipes and carry over his success from the regular season, over into the playoffs.

 

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