from Scott Burnside of ESPN,

Over the past eight games the Vancouver Canucks have been exactly what many observers thought they would be this season: a decent team, not a great team, one that could challenge for a playoff berth but likely fall short.

The Canucks' loss to red-hot Minnesota Monday night continued a win-one-lose-one pattern that has seen them descend to the very edge of the playoff bubble. Ryan Miller allowed five goals on 18 shots to take the loss and is now 2-5 in his last seven appearances.

Over that period Miller has allowed 21 goals. With the Wild goaltending situation stabilized behind Devan Dubnyk and Jonas Hiller on a tear for the Calgary Flames right now, the Canucks have the kind of team defense and goaltending that seems destined to see them end up just where many thought they would at the start of the season: contemplating the playoffs from the outside looking in.

read on for including LeBrun on the West, Strang on the Flames and Custance on the Sharks...