Vancouver Canucks: Why fans should buy their hot start

After an 0-2 start, the Vancouver Canucks are surging with victories in six of their last seven. And fans should believe that this team is for real.

The Vancouver Canucks followed up a perfect 3-0 homestand by grabbing six of a possible eight points on their four-game road trip.

It all started with a 4-3 comeback shootout win against the St. Louis Blues last Thursday. After being shutout 1-0 against the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver rebounded with a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers.

On Tuesday, the Canucks entered the third period down 2-0 against the Detroit Red Wings. Bo Horvat paced the comeback, netting a hat trick as Vancouver pulled away with a convincing 5-2 victory.

And so, the Canucks sit third in the Pacific Division with 12 points. They’re only two back of the Vegas Golden Knights, who’ve played two extra games. Vancouver is also just three points behind the Edmonton Oilers.

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Sure, the Blues are the only elite team that the Canucks have played up to this point. But this revamped team is finding different ways to win games, and they’ve displayed plenty of character through the first three weeks.

And that’s why fans should be taking this team seriously.

Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko have formed a superb goaltending duo. The Canucks have allowed just 19 goals through nine games, second-fewest in the NHL.

When trailing after two periods, Vancouver won just five games last season. The Canucks were able to erase two-goal deficits in St. Louis and at Detroit. They’re already at two comeback wins when trailing through 40 minutes.

And finally, the Canucks aren’t relying on their “big three” of Horvat, Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser to do all the scoring. Newcomer J.T. Miller shares the team lead in scoring with Pettersson at 10 points apiece. Quinn Hughes and Alexander Edler each have six points, while Brandon Sutter has chipped in with five of his own.

So you have a tremendous goaltending tandem in the crease, a handful of statement comeback wins, a repaired blue line and much-needed secondary scoring. Right now, the Canucks look better than ever under head coach Travis Green.

Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks are struggling to win games unless John Gibson stands on his head. The Oilers lack scoring behind their top line. The Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks have major goaltending concerns that could cost them dearly down the road.

The Canucks aren’t showing any fatal flaws that hurt their chances of reaching the playoffs. After Vegas, they look to be the most complete team in the Pacific Division. Put it all together, and fans have every reason to believe that these 2019-20 Canucks are going to be a legitimate playoff contender.