ANALYSIS | The Canucks' Playoff Push

Photo Credit: Bob Frid/USA TODAY

The Canucks have clinched a playoff spot, something they haven’t done since the bubble playoffs in 2020. This feat will mean the return of Canucks playoff hockey to the city of Vancouver for the first time in nine years. Will the Pacific Division Champion Canucks get past round one?

Since the Canucks last played a playoff game at Rogers Arena, only two players from the lineup, Bo Horvat and Chris Tanev, still actively play in the NHL. No current roster players were on the Canucks at that time. Nine years without a playoff game in Vancouver was the longest drought in franchise history.

Securing the division title, which they last did in 2013, is an incredible feat. 

“It's cool,” said forward J.T. Miller to The Canadian Press. “We have a lot of reasons to be proud right now about how far we've come. And I feel like in a short amount of time.” The Canucks won the title when they defeated the visiting Calgary Flames 4-1.

“We knew we had some good pieces in here and we've got a great staff, and management did a really good job with putting pieces together. And it hasn't been easy, but we did everything we were supposed to do,” said Captain Quinn Hughes to The Canadian Press.

All season, the Canucks have emphasized the importance of living day to day and staying level-headed.

“I think it's good that we didn't really set any expectations. Our expectations were really more on a day-to-day basis. And it's just nice to see,” Miller explained.

Vancouver has been one of the big surprises of the 2023–24 NHL season. Coming into the Fall, the Canucks were considered potential challengers for a wild-card spot, but behind Pacific Division rivals. Unexpectedly, star performances from top players resulted in a 26-point improvement from 2022–2023, which was the most league-wide. The team went 23–9–3 ahead of the Christmas break and has been consistent throughout, capturing their Pacific Division title with a 50–23–9 record.

“It hasn’t been easy, but we did everything we were supposed to do,” forward Brock Boeser said to The Canadian Press. “And that’s why we came here early to try and set that standard, set those expectations. I think we had that great start to the year and just built off it. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I think we’ve learned a lot.”

Several milestones were also achieved during this historic season. It’s the first time the team has reached 50 wins since the 2011–2012 season, and the first time since 1988 they have had a coach and six players at the NHL All-Star Game. Rick Tocchet has the most wins in his first full season as head coach. J.T. Miller is the seventh player in franchise history to reach over 100 points and has scored a career high 37 goals. Quinn Hughes broke the franchise record for single season points and assists by a defenceman. Brock Boeser scored a career high 40 goals. Thatcher Demko achieved career highs in wins and shutouts. Brock Boeser, Dakota Joshua, Sam Lafferty, Filip Hronek, and Nils Höglander also achieved a career high in points.

The round one matchup against the Nashville Predators for the playoffs was announced on Apr. 17, with the first game scheduled for Apr. 21 at Rogers Arena. An Apr. 21 start would be very unfair to the Canucks, who finished the season on Apr. 18 in Winnipeg and will need some rest. The Predators played their final regular season game on Apr. 15.

The tale of the tape between the Canucks and Predators will have a determining factor for the outcome of this round one matchup. The Canucks won their regular-season series three to zero. Vancouver scores 3.40 goals per game and Nashville scores 3.24 goals per game. 

Vancouver’s top scorer, J.T. Miller, has 103 points and Nashville’s top scorer, Filip Forsberg, has 94 points. Vancouver’s starting goaltender, Thatcher Demko, has a 35–14–2 record with 2.45 goals against per game and a .918 save percentage. Nashville’s starting goaltender, Juuse Saros, has a 35–24–5 record with 2.86 goals against and a .906 save percentage. 

The power play percentage for Vancouver is 22.7 per cent and Nashville is 21.6 per cent. The penalty kill percentage for Vancouver is 79.1 per cent and Nashville is 76.9 per cent. Vancouver went 17–12–4 and Nashville went 21–7–3 after the all-star break.

“I think we’ve just got to look at it as our first time,” Boeser said. “Just with the fans and the momentum shift and all that, it’s something new to us and something I think we’re going to have to embrace.”

“I feel good about facing anybody,” forward Dakota Joshua said to The Canadian Press. “I think this group is a confident one.” The results of the Vancouver–Nashville season series will help going into the playoffs, he added.

NHL playoff experience is something Vancouver’s stars lack. Six current Canucks played for Vancouver in the bubble.

The Canucks swept their season series against Nashville, but all three games took place before the Christmas break and the Predators were one of the NHL’s hottest teams coming out of the all-star break.

Each side will be looking to win a playoff round for the first time in several years. The Canucks beat the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2020 playoffs but lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. The Predators last won a series in 2018, beating the Colorado Avalanche in the first round but losing to the Winnipeg Jets in the second round.

Both teams have elite players, award finalists, and momentum, so it will be no question this series will be an exciting and tight one.

Two of the presumed Norris Trophy finalists will be going head-to-head in this series. Quinn Hughes, the Canucks' captain, has 17 goals and 74 assists in 81 games, leading all Vancouver skaters at almost 25 minutes per game.  Roman Josi of the Predators is the NHL's highest-scoring defenseman with 23 goals and 62 assists in 81 games.

On top of that, both sides have elite all star goalies who can steal a playoff game away from a team. Juuse Saros enters the playoffs as the Predators' top goaltender with a 35–24–5 record with a .906 save percentage. Thatcher Demko is coming off an injury that kept him out of action for a month, but before that he was in conversation for the Vezina Trophy. He finished with a 35–14–2 record with a .918 save percentage.

Tickets won’t be cheap, as upper bowl prices are around $530, and lower bowl prices are around $6,000. Also on Apr. 26, Rogers Arena will host a Game Viewing Party for $15 a person.

If fans want to watch a game in Nashville, Ticketmaster has limited sales to locals only. Only fans from Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia will be able to get tickets through the site.

Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement on the City of Vancouver website that he's "a lifelong fan" of the Canucks and is looking forward to cheering the team on.

"Win or lose, let's make our home team proud and celebrate every game with the unmatched passion and respect that defines our city," Sim said. "Go Canucks go!"

The Canucks' remarkable journey to secure a playoff spot and the Pacific Division title after a nine-year drought is a testament to their resilience and determination. While facing the Predators in the first round presents its challenges, Vancouver's strong regular-season performance, accompanied with the talent and depth of their roster, adds confidence in their ability to compete. With stars such as J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes, the Canucks have the potential to make a deep playoff run. As they gear up for their first postseason appearance since 2020, the city of Vancouver eagerly awaits the return of playoff hockey, ready to rally behind their team with unmatched passion and pride.