The Vancouver Canucks will make the Playoffs.
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The Vancouver Canucks are almost there. Wrap up this road trip above .500, and come home to taste the blessings of the second half that the NHL schedule makers have endowed upon you.
Vancouver might have been discontent with a difficult first half to the season. But they are blessed with the perfect second half schedule — and I mean perfect. They have the perfect schedule and their competitors have significantly worse schedules.
Almost everyone is healthy, and although that might cause roster space issues, the Canucks will take the upgrade. Ryan Miller is back and Jacob Markstrom is now a proven netminder, and a strong goaltending duo is always a part to a strong team.
The players are here. If they maintained a .500 record with that many injuries, you can bet that they can stay above .500 with Brandon Sutter, Luca Sbisa, and Miller back in the lineup. But what about the schedule? It is a schedule that will have the Canucks in the Playoffs this year after months of injured hockey.
Next: Schedule Advantage #1