It can never be easy, can it? It seems like just yesterday the Vancouver Canucks were sitting pretty in second place in the Pacific Division with a playoff berth almost guaranteed. Now, a season previously full of excitement and optimism for Vancouver suddenly seems in danger of derailment. After a devastating blown lead against Columbus on Sunday night, the team has slumped to a three-game losing streak and is 4-7-1 in its last 12 games.
According to The Athletic, Vancouver's chances of making the playoffs were more than 90 percent just a few weeks ago. That figure has now dipped to 64 percent. MORE: See where the Canucks fall in our latest NHL Power Rankings So should Canucks fans start to panic? Well, the team's success earlier this season was mostly down to two things: an elite power-play unit and good goaltending.
The good news is that the power-play is still one of the very best in the league. During their slump, the Canucks have scored at least one goal on the power play in eight of 12 games, converting 32 percent of their opportunities. That's exceptionally good special teams play.
They've also averaged over three goals a game in that stretch, which is right around what they were averaging throughout the whole season up until that point. The goaltending, on the other hand, has been suspect. Jacob Markstrom's injury has been a huge blow to the team, with his backups struggling to cope.
Thatcher Demko simply hasn't been at his best after being thrust into the starter's role, giving up weak goals against Ottawa on Thursday and Toronto on Saturday. New addition Louis Domingue wasn't much better on Sunday against Columbus, giving up three goals in the third period to allow the comeback. It's unfair to blame everything on the goalies, of course.
Vancouver's skaters have been outshot 421-371 over the past 12 contests. Markstrom started six games of those games, Demko started five and Domingue started one. As always, lady luck has also been involved.
The Canucks have had more than their fair share of bad bounces, including one that led to Columbus' game-winning goal on Sunday. Still, the sooner Markstrom returns, the better. In the meantime, the rest of the team has to figure out how to get back on track before it's too late.
It still has a good chance of making the playoffs considering its talent on the roster, but Nashville, Winnipeg, and Phoenix are all lurking. It's been four long years without a playoff appearance in Vancouver, and to let this season slip away would be a painful blow to a young and promising group of players..
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