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Vancouver Canucks Schedule Analysis: Great Playoff Chances

By David Joun

Apr 15, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks fans celebrate forward Bo Horvat (53) goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller (1) (not pictured) during the second period in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks fans celebrate forward Bo Horvat (53) goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller (1) (not pictured) during the second period in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Prust (9) celebrates his goal with defenseman Luca Sbisa (5) and forward Brandon Prust (9) against Calgary Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller (1) (not pictured) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

Schedule Advantage #2: Easy Games Ahead

I get it. No games are easy in today’s NHL. But look at the quality of opponents ahead on the Canucks’ agenda, compared to their competitors’ — the San Jose Sharks, the Anaheim Ducks, the Calgary Flames, even the Nashville Predators, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Winnipeg Jets.

The Canucks have only three games remaining against the “powerhouse teams” of the West, that is, the Dallas Stars, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the L.A. Kings. That is the least of all the teams mentioned above. The Sharks, the Avalanche, and the Flames have to play five games against the powerhouse teams, and the Ducks and the Preds have to play eight games against them. The Jets have seven upcoming.

If we expand that three-team powerhouse list to the top five teams (include the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues) of the West, the comparison favours the Canucks even more. The Canucks only have six games against West’s top-five, while the other six teams average 10 games against them.

Next: Schedule Advantage #3

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