Revisiting the Vancouver Canucks 2011 Playoff Run

We finally made it. The Vancouver Canucks have won their first playoff series since the 2019-2020 bubble-run (Covid playoffs), but really it’s been 11 years since the boys won a legitimate playoff series. That came back in 2011, after Alex Burrows infamously ‘slayed the dragon’ in round 1, they would go on to the Cup finals only to fall short to Boston in game 7. 

Vancouver has made the playoffs a handful of times since then, but failed to win a round until now. 

The buzz around the city is palpable, as fans get their first taste of playoffs in over a decade. With this recent wave of success, let’s revisit the 2011 cup run and relive some (not all, for obvious reasons) of those wonderful moments during the Canucks’ best shot at the cup to date. 

Round 1: Alex Burrows lands the final blow against Chicago in game 7. Vancouver took a 3-0 series lead only to lose the next 3 and needed overtime in game 7 to win the series. 

Round 2: The emergence of Ryan Kesler as a playoff superstar. Kesler is widely viewed as instrumental in getting the Canucks past Nashville, their second-round opponent during the 2011 run. The two-way forward earned the nickname “Beast Mode” after racking up five goals and 11 points in the six games it took the team to down the Predators.

Round 3: The stanchion bounce. Kevin Bieksa is the only one on the ice who knows where the puck is, and slams one home in double OT to win the series in 5 against the San Jose Sharks. 

Chills. 

Round 4: Of course, the series against Boston is one to forget. Although that series went to 7 games, the Canucks were barely in it the whole way. Each game they won was by the skin of their teeth, and Boston was handing them blowouts in their wins. Failing to even score a goal in game 7, they lost 4-0 and the Bruins took the cup back to New England. Unfortunately, Canucks fans are best known today for the havoc that ensued after the game. 

But we can help change that. We’ve been given an opportunity to show how passionate Canucks fans can be disruptive but not destructive. Cheer on the boys & if they lose, don’t burn a car. Let’s go Canucks. 

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