As the Vancouver Canucks enter the final month of the regular season, they’re faced with an almost impossible task.
Vancouver basically has to win all of its remaining games and hope that the Minnesota Wild split their final eight contests if the Canucks want to qualify for the playoffs. The ‘unofficial” magic number is five as any combination of five Minnesota wins or Vancouver losses will eliminate the Canucks.
According to moneypuck.com, Vancouver has a 7.3% chance of making the playoffs as the team begins a three-game homestand this week.
That’s the margin of error Vancouver is facing.
For most of Canuck Nation, it’s tough to fathom how a team that finished first in the Pacific Division last year with 109 points and was one game away from the Western Conference Finals in all likelihood will be on the outside looking in when the post-season starts in three weeks.
Yet when you look at the adversity the team has faced this season, their current plight is understandable.
“We’ve dealt with a lot. We’ve been through a lot of adversity in different forms this year. I’ve never been with a group that has dealt with this much yet we are still fighting for a playoff spot. Guys are still sticking together and sticking up for one another, so it’s good to see those characteristics that we’ve kind of molded throughout the year,” said Kiefer Sherwood.
Jake DeBrusk said it's not something he's experienced before.
“Personally, in my eight years in the league, this has been a different one. I don’t think there’s any team in the league that has faced the adversity that we have inside this room. Even just from the beginning of the year," he said. Losing Hughes, Hronek, Demko…the other injuries…losing Miller. Those are just excuses though. We’ve been part of a lot of one-goal games and that’s on us to get the results we want."
According to NHLinjuryviz.com, the Canucks have 181 man-games lost due to injury that works out to a CHIP (cap hit of injured players) of $9.75 million per game. And those numbers don’t take into account players missing time due to ‘personal reasons’ which was the case with J.T. Miller for 11 games.
Even with Miller’s absence not being part of the equation, Vancouver’s CHIP is seventh in the league.
There are still positives according to the team. Many believe that adversity makes you stronger and it’s something that’s not lost on Sherwood.
“You have to learn how to deal with adversity to be great. Growth comes out of your comfort zone and I think we’ve been challenged in a lot of different ways this year. There’s no failure – only feedback. I came across that quote the other day and I thought it was appropriate for our group. We are learning a lot about ourselves,” said Sherwood.
For some, adversity can also be viewed as an opportunity. With so many man-games lost to injury, it’s opened up ice-time for the likes of “D-Petey” Elias Pettersson, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Aatu Raty and Victor Mancini and provided them with valuable experience moving forward.
The month of April will also be viewed as an opportunity for Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet and the organization to see who continues to compete and who might check out.
“These eight games you’re going to see. I’ll give you an example: Dakota (Joshua) is starting to play a little bit better. These eight games are big for him and he can use that (momentum) going into next year. These eight games are important to me to see who’s all in and who’s not,” said Tocchet.
OVERTIME:
* According Tocchet, don’t bet on Phillip Chytil (concussion) returning to the lineup this season. “He has good days and bad days but it’s different from his last concussion as the bad days aren’t as bad,” said Tocchet. Chytil, who has a history of concussions, has been out of the lineup since taking a hit from behind from Chicago’s Jason Dickenson in a game on March 15. Meanwhile, forward Elias Pettersson (upper body) has skated and could return prior to the end of the season while Nils Hoglander (undisclosed) has begun practicing in a non-contact red jersey.
* Tocchet’s contract status is becoming a story in itself. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, “the Canucks are indicating that if Tocchet is coaching next season, it will be in Vancouver on his club option or with an extension.” Tocchet’s name has been linked with the Philadelphia Flyers coaching job. The Flyers recently fired head coach John Tortorella and Tocchet’s name has come up as a potential replacement, which apparently hasn’t gone over too well with the Canucks organization. Tocchet played 11 seasons for Philadelphia and is a member of the team’s Hall of Fame.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob “the Moj” Marjanovich writes about the B.C. sporting scene for Black Press Media. This column is brought to you by:
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- Legends Pub in Richmond. Where the legends go to watch the game.
