On Wednesday, they defeated a first-place-overall team for second time in five nights, toying with the Nashville Predators in the first period when Vancouver outshot them 17-4 and built a 2-0 lead that grew into a National Hockey League victory.

Last Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings were leading the Presidents’ Trophy race until they were somehow, unbelievably, inexplicably handled 3-1 by little Vancouver.

By going 15-2-2 the last six weeks and winning these recent games so impressively, dispatching Stanley Cup contenders as if they were pocket lint and treating them the way the Conservatives treat British Columbia—that annoying, foreign hinterland land west of Canada’s Rocky Mountain border—the Canucks can’t possibly be underrated by anyone any longer.

In other words, they’re doomed. What will fuel them now that they have earned everyone’s respect? They have un-dissed themselves. What now for motivation?

Well, there is that Presidents’ Trophy thingy.

Partly because the Red Wings and Predators went pointless in Vancouver, the Buffalo Sabres top the NHL standings with 101 points. The Canucks are only five behind and closing faster than Britney Spears’ career.

Vancouver Canucks. Presidents’ Trophy winners?

Note: Thanks to Kukla’s for the news link and ESPN stats for the graphic of NHL standings.