Canucks Schedule: From frying pan, into the fire in trio of tough test

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Some recollections stick like gum to your shoe.

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Always annoying. Hard to remove.

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The Vancouver Canucks know what could have occurred last season, even amid an injury-filled, drama-infused, and sour campaign that crushed their soul and post-season pursuit. Despite all the distractions, they finished seven points shy of the final Western Conference wild-card berth because they couldn’t get it done in overtime.

The Canucks tied for the most setbacks in extra time with 14, and had they prevailed in half of those encounters, they would have made something of a season that most want to forget. That inept overtime odyssey led to a summer summit to right the wrongs. After all, the Canucks had enough talent with a puck-possession whiz in the elusive Quinn Hughes and others with wheels and finish.

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However, overtime is ensuring Grade A scoring chances without losing possession. No shots that either drift wide or saved and possibly leading to losing an offensive-zone faceoff. If that means endless circling in the neutral zone to find the right mix of players and opportunities, so be it.

The Canucks deployed a three-forward set Oct. 26 at Rogers Arena in a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers. Kiefer Sherwood tipped Brock Boeser’s shot home for this second of the night and came to one conclusion post game.

“We practised that stuff in camp, it was nice to play it in a game,” said Sherwood. “Every little detail matters. Last year we lost too many in overtime. It’s good we’re making it work.”

The Canucks have won their first two overtime encounters this season because of an off-season meeting of that minds to diagram a new approach to the five-minute extra session. They were foiled Sunday in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche, but there has been significant progress.

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“We spent a lot of time on it this summer,” said Canucks assistant coach Brett McLean. “And we spent a couple of days in training camp and had a big meeting on that subject. We presented the facts of last season and how we lost too many points in shootouts and the overtime.

“We’ve got a strategy for it and I really appreciate how the guys have bought into it. Getting those (power play) points this early in the season has really kept us in a good spot. We wanted to stress how important those points were and, so far, it’s working.”

So is deviating to a more methodical and controlled approach in overtime. It’s winning the opening faceoff and controlling tempo. It’s a shift in strategy from a gung-ho approach, but the buy-in is there because results are there.

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“We even got it in the pre-season, and when guys see it work, it obviously helps,” summed up McLean.

Here’s what awaits the Canucks in the next seven days. I was 2-1-0 with predictions last week:

Canucks vs Jets

When and where: Tuesday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

What to watch: The Jets are built for the playoff grind and every confrontation is usually tough. It’s why a 6-2 hammering of Winnipeg on March 18 at Rogers Arena to keep the Canucks’ fleeting hopes alive was impressive. Especially getting to Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Don’t expect that Tuesday. The Canucks will have to grind one out.

Who to watch: Left winger Kyle Connor. Call the gifted and opportunistic sniper a “Canucks Killer.” He has 37 points (16-21) in 27 career games against Vancouver. Eight of his past dozen meetings have been multi-point efforts and he scored a natural hat-tick, and added an assist, in a 6-1 romp at Rogers Arena on Jan. 14, 2025. Connor was seventh in NHL scoring last season with 97 points (42-56) and has 17 points (8-9) this campaign.

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Prediction: The Jets are 13th offensively, but much better at shutting it down. They were third in goals against per outing (2.50) and third on the penalty kill (89.5) heading into a Sunday test at Anaheim where they fell 4-1 to the high-flying Ducks. Connor notched his ninth goal. Jets rebound and prevail 4-2 here on Tuesday.

Canucks at Carolina

When and where: Friday, 4 p.m Lenovo Center
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

What to watch: The Hurricanes can hurt you in many ways because they’re a product of demanding coach Rod Brind’Amour, who looks like he could still play, and have enough horses to get the job done. They doubled the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 on Saturday despite being without injured defencemen Jaccob Slavin, Shayne Gostistbehere and Jalen Chatfield. The Canes are 11-4-0 and have won four straight.

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Who to watch: Left winger Andrei Svechnikov. He’s on the first line with Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho. The speedy and skilled duo has already combined for 31 points (16-15) but Svechnikov is the wild card. He snapped a one-timer under the crossbar Saturday and has seven points (4-3) in the past seven games after being held without a point in his first eight. “I know what kind of player I am and what I can do, and I’m just ready for that moment,” he said.

Prediction: Hurricanes are also 5-1-0 at home. Canucks were blanked 2-0 in Carolina on Jan. 10, 2025, and had just 14 shots. Going against flow. Canucks get it to overtime but lose 3-2 in a shootout.

Canucks at Tampa Bay

When and where: Sunday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m. | Benchmark International Arena
TV: Sportsnet Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

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What to watch: The Bolts know the playoff road runs through Sunrise, Fla., where the Panthers have proved their nemesis with first-round whippings of Tampa en route to a pair of Stanley Cup titles the last two seasons. What does that mean for the Canucks? Maybe the Bolts look past Vancouver with the streaking New Jersey Devils coming to town.

Who to watch: Right-winger Nikita Kucherov. The mercurial Russian often looks like he’s going through the motions, but will then burst through neutral zone or set up shop at side of the net and deliver the goods. Had 14 points (7-7) through first his 13 games including three power-play goals. Led NHL in scoring last season with a whopping 121 points (37-84), including eight power-play goals and nine game-winners.

Prediction: Bolts are ranked 17th offensively and 19th on PP, but shut it down with top-rated penalty kill (89.6) and ninth-rated defence. Gut feeling says Canucks get the goaltending and opportunistic greasy goals to shock Tampa 3-2 in overtime.

bkuzma@postmedia.con

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