After going through a COVID outbreak that saw over 20 players and staff test positive, the Vancouver Canucks have won their first two games over the division-leading Toronto Maple Leafs.
Before the game on Sunday, many predicted that the Canucks would get steamrolled by the Leafs and it was hard not to see why. You couldn’t blame them if they did get blown out in those two games but the Canucks are on a winning streak that has lasted longer than the European Super League.
The best part about the last two games is not just the wins but that the Canucks have not been boring.
The team has shown a lot of heart and determination against the division’s best team. You could give a lot of the credit to Braden Holtby, who has been lights out since the restart. He has looked like the goaltender that won the Vezina and Stanley Cup with Washington, especially during Monday’s game.
https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1383953008019480580
It was also nice to see Tanner Pearson get on the scoresheet (though he can thank David Rittich) and the same with Brandon Sutter, and Quinn Hughes after what they and their families have gone through with COVID.
Although they were outplayed, it was nice to see the Canucks have some fight in them and how they made sure that they weren’t going to go down easy.
According to The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn, the Canucks playoff odds were at 6% before the two games but those numbers have now skyrocketed to 25%.
The Athletic’s Thomas Drance also pointed out that the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens have been on a slide recently and the Canucks playoff odds could go up to 42% if they sweep the Ottawa Senators.
Cue Lloyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber saying, “so you’re saying me there’s a chance.”
#Canucks needed something improbable.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 21, 2021
- The Flames and Habs flat lined.
- A massive COVID-19 outbreak
- Braden Holtby stood on his head in 2 straight vs. Toronto.
Now they have 4 straight vs. OTT. Win all 4 and they'll have a 42% playoff odds, per @domluszczyszyn. 👀
But in all seriousness, even if the Canucks manage to sweep Ottawa, the playoffs still look very unlikely. It would be a tall order to ask a team coming off a COVID outbreak and playing 19 games in 32 games to make the playoffs.
Even if they don’t, it’s going to be a wild ride. Hopefully the Canucks can keep up the compete level that they had in the last two games and make it last for a while. Teams like the Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Dallas Stars have all started strong out of the gate after a COVID outbreak but then have had their wheels fall off.
I’m not sure how long the Canucks can keep up this compete level for but so far it has been entertaining to watch this team, and hopefully it can continue for a little while longer.