The Canuck Way
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Vancouver Canucks: 3 takeaways from shutout win over Anaheim Ducks

By David Quadrelli

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 25: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammate Luke Schenn #2 after scoring during their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena February 25, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 25: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammate Luke Schenn #2 after scoring during their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena February 25, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 25: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammates after scoring during their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena February 25, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 25: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammates after scoring during their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena February 25, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Team wants to make the playoffs… badly

The Canucks needed this win. They needed to win in commanding fashion, too. They could not win in overtime or shootout. The team was near rock-bottom after the shut out defeat Saturday night. They needed to show one another that they are willing to do whatever it takes to win and that they are all in on the race for the playoffs.

Whether you’re on #TeamTank or #TeamPlayoffs, you have to understand how badly the Canucks players want to make the playoffs. Just listen to this clip from Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. They put out a similar message — they are in it to make the playoffs.

Pettersson said, “We just want to make the playoffs.” There is a similar feeling in the Canucks dressing room. They want to win, but more importantly, they want to win for each other.

After losing eight of their last ten games prior to last night, the playoffs were looking slim, but after yesterday, the mantra may have changed with the Canucks.

Don’t get me wrong, the Canucks chances of making the playoffs are extremely low, they need to hop over more than a few teams in the standings in order to get there, and will need to string together more than just a few wins.

But as more and more of the Canucks’ players get healthy, the team will look to get their swagger back down the final stretch of the season. Jacob Markstrom has shown he’s here to stay and that he can backstop the team to wins.

Bo Horvat netted two goals last night, and with Tanner Pearson arriving soon, the likely future captain of the team will look to make this the start of a hot streak for both himself and the team.

I’m not saying I expect the Canucks to make the playoffs, but last night’s performance showed us that they want it — badly. With more of their injured players slated to return, (Alex Edler will travel with the team on their upcoming three-game road trip) the players are going to do everything in their power to get there.

Next. Trade deadline day recap: Vancouver Canucks part ways with Gudbranson and Dahlen. dark

The Canucks will look to build off their big win from yesterday, when they take on the Colorado Avalanche — a team ahead of them in the playoff race — Wednesday night from the Pepsi Center in Denver.

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