Hockey
Playoff Bound – Hopefully!!
The final day for the 2014-15 regular season officially ends Saturday and some of the playoff sports have yet to be decided.
The long run that the Canucks are in are by no means a testament to the season they have had, nor is it a legacy.
Monday was a wild ride t in the Western Conference of the league as two teams have the chance to clinch a berth in this years Playoffs run.
The Wild have the possibility of becoming the 4th team in the Central Division as long as they can grab a win against the Jets.
The Wild can also get in with a shootout win if the Kings manage to lose to the Canucks.
The Canucks who currently sit with a record of 45-29-5 are trying to overcome a two-game losing streak.
The Kings who are coached by Darryl Sutter currently have a record of 39-25-14, and with a regulation win or should the Jets manage to lose to the Wild in regulation.
Entering the game the Canucks sat in second in the Pacific Division, which if all works out for the Canucks could mean a first round home ice advantage.
Both the Kings and Jets have 92 points entering the game and the Kings hold the second wild card by having more regulation/O/T wins.
While the Canucks are still missing #1 “tender” Ryan Miller, there is no questioning the ability of Lack, but it’s about what’s up front that counts.
The one player that has had a stellar season for the Canucks (for my money) is rookie Bo Horvat who has at least 10 goals in his rookie season.
Following the game Bo mentioned “this was one of his biggest game so far this season and he was pleased with the way in which his line played.”
This feat has not been accomplished since Daniel Sedin managed to do it in the 2000-01 season, so the Canucks were over due for something to happen.
After playing 65 games Bo ranks 1st among rookies in faceoff win % and has also taken the third most draws among rookies.
Let’s not count the Sedin’s out given the magic they have the ability to perform night in and night out.
This game had it all and given the fact the first goal was scored by the Kings in the first 1:13 of the game, the rest was all Jonathan Quick.
Regardless of how he played, if it wasn’t for the play at times for Eddie Lack the Kings would have clearly won in regulation.
O/T saw exception 4 on play at both ends and shots on goal in O/T saw the Canucks manage 4, while the Kings only managed 2.
This was one game where the fans never left and even in the O/T they were still in their seats, with no one leaving.
This is clearly a battle of the goalies and when all was said and done – Eddie was the lucky one who even managed to grab the #1 game star.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475663
Thanks to the media relations department of the Canucks for the info.
For more info visit: http://canucks.nhl.com/