The hope of what could be for the Canucks in the post-season has become what should be. And with that comes cautionary tales
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More hats. More jerseys. More car flags.
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The hype meter has always been high in this NHL season of rejuvenation and redemption for the studious, consistent and resilient Vancouver Canucks, who continue an arduous climb to the regular-season summit.
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And with a playoff-starved fanbase loudly chanting players’ names at Rogers Arena, that buzz in the building is being felt on the bench, on the ice and in the room. The hope of what could be in the post-season has become what should be.
And with that comes cautionary tales.
There’s enough history here of what went wrong — as opposed to so much that went right in the playoffs — to keep pushing preparation so anticipation doesn’t turn to angst in late April.
Canucks winger Brock Boeser was drafted in 2015. It was the same year the Canucks were in a legitimate post-season (non-playoff bubble) series and they fell in six games to the Calgary Flames. They built a 3-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes of Game 6 and then surrendered three in short order.
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Boeser is the longest-serving Canuck and participated in the peculiar 2020 post-season where points percentages when the season was suspended by COVID-19 slotted 24 playoff teams. Bottom-four clubs in each conference participated in a qualifying best-of-five series.
The Canucks topped the Minnesota Wild in the qualifier, took out the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in the opening round and pushed the Vegas Golden Knights to seven games in the second round.
However, something was missing playing in an empty arena.
“It wasn’t true playoffs,” Boeser recalled Sunday. “The style of play was still intense, but it wasn’t even the same with no fans and momentum shifts. All of us who played, don’t actually think like we played in the playoffs.
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“We’ve got to be ready for a new experience. And a better one. It’s going to be awesome. It’s my seventh year here and it was so frustrating the first six.
“It would be March and 11 games left before going home and then just sit and watch playoffs again. Our lineup a year ago was pretty crazy at the end (Jack Rathbone, Akito Hirose, Cole McWard, Aidan McDonough, Vitali Kravtsov).
“It’s why leading up to these playoffs is so important for us to have something to play for and give the city some hope.”
It has been fleeting.
Willie Desjardins guided Henrik and Daniel Sedin during a 101-point season in 2014-15. The twins had a rebound season and played all 82 games. Daniel would collect 76 points (20-56) while Henrik had 73 points (18-55).
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However, they struggled to produce in the playoffs — four points apiece and combining for just three goals — despite Daniel having 22 series shots and 56 attempts and Henrik managing 15 shots and 29 attempts.
Desjardins drew criticism for cutting Daniel’s ice time to 15:05 in a critical 4-2 loss in Game 3 that put the Canucks down 2-1. The winger would log 20:54 and Henrik 20:03 in Game 4, but the club lost again and was on the ropes.
In 2012, the Canucks captured their second-consecutive Presidents’ Trophy but the 111-point juggernaut was swept by the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Kings. They got on an incredible roll en route to a surprise Stanley Cup championship.
“That the beauty of hockey playoffs,” reminded Boeser. “You never know. Anybody can beat anybody.”
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Here’s what awaits in the next seven days:
Kings at Canucks
When and where: Monday 6 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: SN Pacific | Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: Low-event hockey for locals
The Kings have won three-straight games during a 6-3-1 run. Los Angeles has scored 22 points in its last five outings — including a pair of six-goal outbursts and a five-goal night — and getting into a track meet with the SoCal crew is not a good idea. They’ve also given up just nine goals in the last five. Tough test.
Who to watch: Center Anze Kopitar
The ageless captain is 36 and playing like he’s 26. No surprise that a three-game win streak has been sparked by Kopitar’s seven points (2-5) in that span. Tied for team lead with 62 points (23-39).
Stars at Canucks
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When and where: Thursday 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: SN Pacific | Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: Stars’ scoring depth shines
Dallas doesn’t have a player in top-20 scoring but has six 20-goal scorers. That means more problems than just the top line. Tyler Seguin scored Wednesday in a 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury.
Who to watch: Winger Logan Stankoven
Former Kamloops Blazers standout has six goals and 11 points in 13 games since being recalled from the AHL, where he had 57 points (24-33) in 47 games. At 5-foot-8, he packs a gritty game.
Ducks at Canucks
When and where: Sunday 12:30 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Hockey Night in Canada. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: Matinees are a certain madness
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Afternoon games often mess with preparation and players can be out of sync. It usually takes a period to find the legs. The Canucks adjusted in their early starts and sport a 3-1-3 record.
Who to watch: Winger Frank Vatrano
A 30-goal sniper on a 30th-ranked team is something special. Vatrano’s name was in the trade-deadline rumour mill, but he has another year left at a bargain US$3.65 million.
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