Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

The Vancouver Canucks Get Closer To A Playoff Spot

04/19/2022 at 5:13am EDT

from Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet,

It was March 31 when Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau gathered players around the dressing room campfire and told them about the good old days when he was a rookie coach with the Washington Capitals and his team went 11-1 in its final 12 games to make the playoffs on the last day of the season.

It sounded like a good story and no doubt was at least a little inspiring for players.

But as a suggestion for what the sagging Canucks might be capable of accomplishing in the final month of this NHL season, it seemed completely detached from reality. The Canucks had just lost eight of their previous 11 games, apparently dooming their Stanley Cup playoff chances.

They lost 3-2 in overtime to the Vegas Golden Knights on April 3, leaving them 12 games to go. On Monday, 15 days later, the Canucks won their sixth straight, handling the Dallas Stars, one of the teams they are chasing, 6-2 at Rogers Arena.

They are five points behind Western Conference wildcard teams Dallas and Nashville, four behind the Los Angeles Kings in the race for third place in the Pacific Division. And Vancoiuver has six games to go, starting Tuesday at home against the Ottawa Senators.

After the final horn sounded Monday, the scoreboard showed a video of Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber: “So you’re telling me there is a chance. Yeah!”

The Canucks’ hope for a miracle finish feels a lot less dumb than it did two weeks ago.

continued

Game highlights are below.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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