Vancouver Canucks 2016-17 Schedule: Top 5 Notable Games

Apr 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Vancouver Canucks players celebrate after their game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; The Vancouver Canucks players celebrate after their game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
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Feb 19, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins watches from his bench against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins watches from his bench against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

BONUS GAMES

A few other games of note:

First, Tuesday, March 11th at home versus the iconic Montreal Canadiens, who always put on a good show when they come to town. Might the behemoth centerman Logan Brown be in the opposing lineup? If the Canucks draft Pierre-Luc Dubois in the first round of this year’s draft and he cracks the opening day roster (unlikely but still possible), there will be some solid battles between the two pivots. Some scouts have Brown ranked as high as No. 5, so there’s a potential debate about who is the better face-off tactician.

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Second, on Saturday, March 11th the Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, stop by Vancouver on their way to defending their title. Sidney Crosby! Evgeni Malkin! Phil Kessel! Kris Letang! What’s not to like?

If the Canucks are in the thick of things come March, look for the California roadtrip — games against Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Jose — from the 2nd to 5th to be a gruelling test of their mettle and a true taste of the playoff hockey to come. Luckily the trip is sandwiched between two of the season’s lengthier home stands, so the Canucks will be well-rested for those tougher match-ups.

So, once again the Vancouver Canucks will travel more than the majority of the teams in the league but luckily they get a good variety of match-ups against both Western Conference teams outside their division, as well as Eastern Conference teams they used to not see for long periods of time — before the re-formatting of the league, that is.

Next: Vancouver Canucks Roundtable: The Final Draft Debate

Playing in the tough Pacific division will never be easy, what with the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks, not to mention the up-and-coming Flames and Coyotes. The Edmonton Oilers won’t be bad forever, as hilarious as that would be, so in order to keep pace with all the solid teams, the Canucks will need to improve their overall play (I know: an understatement, to be sure).