[Strutz]

There is still the draft lottery system to consider though before determining the actual order teams will draft from. There are also still 8-9 games to go for most teams so standings will likely change from what they are today.

But I'm not even thinking about that until the season is officially done and we are eliminated. There is still the possibility of making the playoffs. Slim, yes, but I am clinging to my optimism.

[N_Fiddledog]

Strutz Strutz:

There is still the draft lottery system to consider though before determining the actual order teams will draft from. There are also still 8-9 games to go for most teams so standings will likely change from what they are today.

True. But myself, at this point, I'd prefer not to do the improbable and make the playoffs. Proceeding beyond the first round would be beyond improbable. It would be miraculous.

(Although...perhaps with puck-moving defencemen like Hughes and Teves who are waiting to play in the wings we become all we need but I doubt it.)

If we were to make the playoffs we wouldn't be eligible for the draft lottery. As you know winning the lottery can give you one of the top 3 choices. Those choices are choice this year. Any one of them has a chance of helping you immediately. Picking fifth the chance is less but there are still top grade picks and the type we need (secondary scoring winger, puck moving power-play quarterback defenceman.) And this year there's a BC Boy who will fill a need we have on D. He's figured to go on some mock drafts about 5.

From 5 to 7 you're still sitting pretty this year. The 2019 draft in Vancouver is loaded to the top 10. After 7, if you get pushed back to pick to 10th by the three lottery winners you start to drop a level but there are still good possibilities. In fact, at that level there are right handed D possibilities and we need one of those. So, the higher we pick the better our chances of getting something like our RHD with a prospect in a trade if we want to go that route.

Personally, I think this draft is the one that matters. If things go well that's it. We're on the road to not just playoff contention but cup.

Or we could, numerically at least, blunder into the first round of the playoffs and lose our shot at say Kappo Kakko - the scoring winger phenome who would look so good as the winger Bo needs.

[N_Fiddledog]

In my fantasy we finish the season with nothing but single point overtime losses showing how close we are but not quite getting there. Anaheim and the 3 teams that just passed us on the leader board go on winning streaks and zip past us. We draft ahead of them, fifth.

[Hyack]

Calgary at Vancouver

75

Flames (46-21-7) at Canucks (32-32-10)

The Calgary Flames will try to increase their lead for first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference when they visit the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Saturday.

The Canucks, five points behind the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference with eight games to play and a game in hand, seek their fourth straight victory and longest winning streak this season. Vancouver is 4-0-1 in its past five games after going 4-10-3 in its previous 17.

Canucks forward Brock Boeser has nine points (three goals, six assists) in an NHL career-best eight-game point streak.

Baertschi was cleared to play after missing 22 games with a concussion.

Hughes skated Saturday for the first time since signing his entry-level contract March 10, after an MRI confirmed he has a bone bruise, not a fracture.

Horvat has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past six games.

Game time 7:00pm PT

[Hyack]

Columbus at Vancouver

76

Blue Jackets (40-30-4) at Canucks (32-33-10)

Sergei Bobrovsky will return after missing one game with an upper-body injury to help the Columbus Blue Jackets try to move closer to a Stanley Cup Playoff position when they play the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Sunday.

The Canucks fell six points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card from the Western Conference after a 3-1 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Canucks forward Brock Boeser has 10 points (four goals, six assists) during an NHL career high nine-game point streak.

The Canucks did not skate Sunday, but Baertschi is expected to return after missing 22 games with a concussion.

Pettersson has five points (one goal, five assists) in a five-game point streak.

Game time 7:00pm PT

[Strutz]

Ummm... that would Columbus we are playing tonight...

[N_Fiddledog]

This one looks like a good setup for my OTL wishful thinking.

[Strutz]

Nope, we're going to win!

[Hyack]

Anaheim at Vancouver

77

Ducks (31-36-10) at Canucks (32-34-10)

The Anaheim Ducks will try to avoid being eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention when they visit the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Tuesday.

The Ducks, who are 3-1-1 in their past five games, will be eliminated if they lose to the Canucks, if the Arizona Coyotes defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, or if they defeat Vancouver in a shootout and Arizona gets one point against Chicago.

Defenseman Josh Teves will make his NHL debut for the Canucks, who are seven points behind the Avalanche with six games remaining. Vancouver has lost two straight games after going 4-0-1 in their previous five.

Canucks forward Brock Boeser has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past 10 games.

Pettersson has five points (one goal, five assists) in his past six games.

Horvat has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past eight games.

Game time 7:00pm PT

[Hyack]

L.A at Vancouver

78

Kings (28-40-8) at Canucks (32-35-10)

Quinn Hughes will make his NHL debut and the Vancouver Canucks will try to avoid being eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention when they host the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena on Thursday.

The defenseman, the No. 7 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, signed his entry-level contract March 10, one day after his season at the University of Michigan ended, but has been sidelined by a bone bruise.

The Canucks, who have lost three straight, will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss; Vancouver is nine points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference with five games remaining.

Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games and scored his 93rd NHL goal Tuesday, tying Mattias Ohlund for most by a Vancouver defenseman.

Horvat has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in his past nine games, and is two goals from 100 in the NHL.

Game time 7:00pm PT

[N_Fiddledog]

The goal where Boesser lifted in Hughes's pass off a rush and a rebound was pretty spectacular.

$1:

Hughes dazzles in debut

...rookie named 3rd star in thrilling Canucks win


When the Detroit Red Wings drafted forward Filip Zadina sixth overall at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Canucks assistant GM John Weisbrod quietly pumped his fist in excitement.

"That's a home run," exclaimed GM Jim Benning after the Canucks drafted Hughes next, at seventh overall.

"You can take a deep breath there," added Judd Brackett, director of amateur scouting.

Other than Rasmus Dahlin, who went 1st overall to the Buffalo Sabres, the Canucks had their pick of defencemen at seven and Benning wanted Hughes from the get-go.

"We love Quinn Hughes," Benning said in an interview shortly after leaving the stage in Dallas. "I love the way he skates, the way he can get back and beat the first forechecker and get the puck up ice and go the other way. I'm so excited for our fans right now. I didn't think he was going to be there, but I'm so happy that he was because with Boeser and Pettersson and Gaudette and all our skilled forwards, to add a guy that can carry the puck and do what he can from the backend is so exciting."

Last night, Vancouver got its first taste of what Benning was talking about as Quinn Hughes made his NHL debut.

First things first, the loner lap. The 19-year-old did it in style, without a helmet.

Hughes received a massive ovation during his first ever shift, skating alongside Luke Schenn in the 1st period, and fans were rowdy every time he hit the ice or touched the puck all game.

Early on, it was about getting his feet wet and getting into the flow of the game. Hughes leaned on Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson for guidance.

Neither Brock, Petey or anyone in Rogers Arena expected what came next.

After Alex Edler tied the game 1-1, Hughes wheeled into the Canucks zone down the right side. Kings forward Trevor Lewis tried to keep up, but Hughes, already step ahead heading behind the LA net, banked the puck to himself off the back of the net and reversed course, twirling out in front and getting a shot off. He was stopped, but Boeser was there to net his 26th goal of the season.

Are. You. Joking.

There's video of the goal at the link.

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancou ... -306246358

[Strutz]

Quinn Hughes was very impressive to watch last night for sure. Without a doubt a very talented young player with a bright future ahead.

[Hyack]

Dallas at Vancouver

79

Stars (41-31-6) at Canucks (33-35-10)

The Canucks, who are 1-3-0 in their past four games, were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday.

The Dallas Stars can clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a win against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena tonight.

Canucks forward Brock Boeser has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in his past 12 games.

Virtanen is day to day with a lower-body injury, according to coach Travis Green.

Horvat has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his past 10 games, and is two goals from 100 in the NHL.

The Canucks' newest addition, Quinn Hughes, got on the scoreboard in his first NHL game with an assist on Brock Boeser's 2nd period goal against the Kings, he was also voted the 3rd star of the game.

Game time 7:00pm PT

[N_Fiddledog]

Hyack Hyack:

The Canucks, who are 1-3-0 in their past four games, were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday.

OK...so now we can talk some serious Tank talk then. Tank as in tanking, as in it's time to tank.

I still want to see the boys playing high-scoring exciting games. I just want them to lose them in the last minute and be drafting 5th at the end of the season.

First we need to tank the next four games (we're playing strong teams so there's no shame there.) Then we need Buffalo, NY Rangers, Anaheim, Edmonton and Chicago to win like crazy.

And as an added bonus maybe we should win the draft lottery. Is that too much to ask?

[Strutz]

Hyack Hyack:

The Canucks, who are 1-3-0 in their past four games, were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday.

Well, as much as I held out for that slim chance, I'm ok with that. I honestly did not have huge expectations for this season.

However, given the talent of our youth on the team I likely will have higher expectations for next season to, at the very least, make the playoffs.

Looking forward to tonight's final home game and to see who wins the player awards. Hoping the guys give the home fans a good game.