The all-star break is over
and the home stretch is here. Every team
has about 30 games left to jockey for position and establish themselves as
playoff teams.
For teams like Calgary and
Toronto and their fan bases this is an exciting time with the hope of a final
surge securing a spot in the Stanley Cup playoff dance for the first time in
years. Even a first round departure would denote a successful season for these
franchises and a trip to the second round would make their fans giddy with
delight. In Toronto they’d likely erect
a bronzed statue of Dion Phaneuf if they win one playoff game.
For teams like Edmonton
and Columbus the rest of the season is about pride for the players and
evaluating talent for the management.
They have no chance of making the final 16 and their fan bases know this,
they’re simply hoping to end the season strong to give their fans hope and if
they can beat a few contenders along the way and play spoiler, it’s a bonus.
The elite teams like Vancouver,
Detroit, Chicago and Boston have higher aspirations, anything short of a trip
to the Stanley Cup would be considered a disappointment. In reality their seasons boil down to playoff
success but every other top team except Vancouver is forced to play hard to the
end because of the strong competition within their own division. They’d like to
get a high seed to avoid a tougher first round foe and to have home ice
advantage for at least the one round.
The Canucks are in a unique
situation with no pressure from teams within their division and a rabid fan
base with eyes only on the great silver chalice, the final 30 games of the
season are a mere formality before the real season begins. Vancouver’s 41 years of futility means Canuck
fans are even more desperate to get to the playoffs for the chance that this is
the year our embarrassing streak ends.
Considering the age of
Vancouver’s core players, the Canucks have about a five-year window to win a cup.
By the time the window closes, this
group has or will own virtually every significant regular season team record and
individual record. Canuck fans are no
longer interested in these accomplishments and with no team pushing Vancouver
from within their division for a top three seed, the race to get to the
playoffs is barely a distraction.
So can we hurry up and get
to the playoffs before someone gets hurt.
Canuck fans can’t wait.
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