Vancouver Canucks in March: Their biggest month in years

The puck drops this weekend on the biggest month of Vancouver Canucks hockey in nearly five years.  

For the first time since spring 2015, Vancouver Canucks fans will watch their beloved team hunt for a playoff spot in March.

Head coach Travis Green and his squad enter the March five points out of the Western Conference’s final Wild Card spot at 63 points. The Minnesota Wild hold that playoff berth with 68 points. The Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks are in front of Vancouver in the standings.

Needless to say, the Canucks have a substantial amount of pressure on their collective shoulders. this month. It is arguably the most important month of hockey this team will play in years. The Canucks have not been in playoff contention this deep into a season since the 2014-15 campaign, the last time they were in the postseason.

In the previous three seasons, Vancouver has largely been ignored in the playoff conversation once March rolls around. This year is much different. Despite a bad February, the Canucks are in the race and have a number of key games this month with significant playoff implications.

The first week of March includes a surprisingly important tilt on Mar. 7 with the Edmonton Oilers, who are mathematically in the race despite their poor play recently. The Oilers are two points behind Vancouver in the Wild Card race and a Canucks loss in this match could be a confidence killer.

Between the Oilers’ affair are two games against the Vegas Golden Knights on Mar. 3 and 9, and then a home match with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Mar. 6. The second week of the month provides Vancouver with two very winnable games with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, but the following week might be the biggest of all.

The boys in blue and green will get a match with the Dallas Stars as their St. Patrick’s Day gift. Dallas holds the first Wild Card spot at 69 points but will be coming off what should be grueling tilts with the Wild and Golden Knights prior to this Mar. 17 affair.

One day later, the Canucks square off against the Blackhawks inside the raucous United Center. Led by dynamic forward Patrick Kane, Chicago is currently tied with Vancouver at 63 points but have the experience and offensive firepower to go on a scorching run down the stretch.

Three of their final five games are against Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets and the Stars. The Canucks final full month of the season will be strenuous.

Vancouver hockey fans will be in unfamiliar territory watching their squad chase a playoff spot in March. Whether or not the Canucks clinch a playoff spot is a different discussion. But, how they play in March will indicate if they secure their first postseason birth since 2015.