Top 5 moments of the Canucks 2020-21 season
It was quite the season for the Vancouver Canucks.
Their 52nd season in franchise history saw ups and downs, false hope and major changes. Unfortunately, there was no playoff hockey for Canucks fans.
Heading into the season, the Canucks were projected to be a team that was going to be on the playoff bubble. That’s what they were. The Canucks finished 18th in the league and five points out of a playoff spot.
There are lots of decisions that will be made this offseason but let’s take a look back at the season that was for a bit. Let’s take a look back at the top five moments of the Canucks 2021-22 season. There are plenty to choose from whether they were individual goals, saves or a series of events.
#5: No blocker, no stick, no problem for Thatcher Demko
The Canucks took on the New York Rangers on November 2 at Rogers Arena and ended up coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in overtime. J.T. Miller scored the winner.
However, the big story of this game and many games from this past season was Thatcher Demko.
The goaltender from San Diego California was rightfully named the team’s MVP this season. He was making big saves pretty much every game and gave the chance the Canucks to win even when they were being outplayed.
There are lots of Demko saves to choose from but this one is probably the best.
In the wild sequence where the Rangers were threatening on the power play late in the third period. New York looked certain to score and Demko lost his stick and his blocker while robbing Artemi Panarin.
He robbed the Rangers star again with this insane scorpion pad save. Oh yeah, he was without a blocker and stick.
No matter how many times you watch it, you must be in awe of how Demko made that save.
#4: J.T. Miller’s coast to coast goal against the Arizona Coyotes
Miller was the driver of the Canucks offence all season.
He had a year of personal milestones as he hit the 99-point mark which was ninth in the NHL. Miller was racking up the assists and scoring plenty of goals. Every time he was in the offensive zone, he tried to create scoring chances.
Out of all of Miller’s goals, this one was probably the best. Against the Arizona Coyotes on January 8, he starts behind his own net and just goes coast-to-coast to put the Canucks up 4-1. He made it look easy and the Coyotes’ defenders had no answer.
This is definitely the Canucks goal of the season. Seeing Miller just rush up the ice from behind his own net to score is a treat to watch.
Now, will Miller still be a Canuck next season? We’ll find out this summer.
#3: The skate returns as the Canucks rout Calgary Flames
The flying skate was is synonymous with the Canucks run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994 and it is still a very popular jersey among the fans.
The skate was brought back for the first of three times this past season on February 24. It was going to be a tough test for the Canucks as the Flames came into the game with a 10-game win streak.
Vancouver ended that streak in big fashion as they crushed the Flames wearing the black skate jerseys 7-1.
Miller led the way with four points which included a penalty shot goal. The other Canucks big names also showed up on the scoresheet. Elias Pettersson got two goals and an assist and Bo Horvat scored a pair while Quinn Hughes got a couple of assists.
The Flames didn’t have any answers for the Canucks as it looked like they were in control for the entire game.
The Canucks were also 3-0 when they wore the flying skate during the season. Could we see it back again next season?
#2: The Boudreau bump
Bruce Boudreau brought new life to the Canucks when he took over as head coach in early December.
Once he arrived, the Canucks were more fun and energetic. They looked more fun to watch with his aggressive forechecking system. Players like Brock Boeser, Pettersson and Horvat were scoring again.
The special teams also improved. Before Boudreau was hired, the Canucks power play was 20th in the NHL at 17.4% and the penalty kill was dead last in the league at 64.6%. From Boudreau’s hiring on December 5 to the end of the season, the power play was second in the NHL at 26.7% and the penalty kill was 11th at 80.5%. The Canucks finished the year with the penalty kill at 30th in the league with 74.9% and the power play at ninth with 23.5%.
The team went on a seven-game win streak after Boudreau was hired. It started with a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings and ended with a 2-1 shootout loss in LA on December 30. The Canucks did not lose in regulation under Boudreau until January 11 as they lost 5-2 to the eventual President Trophy winners Florida Panthers in Sunrise.
Boudreau’s motivation and outgoing personality also brought new life to the locker room. He will be back for next season and here is hoping he can replicate his second-half success with the Canucks into a full season.
#1: Changes were made
December 5, 2021, was a big day in Canucks recent history.
No, they were not playing a game on that day but it was still a big day.
It was a day of long-overdue changes. Out were general manager Jim Benning, assistant general manager John Weisbrod, head coach Travis Green and assistant coach Nolan Baumgartner. In came Boudreau and Scott Walker (who won’t be back next season, unfortunately) and Jim Rutherford as president of hockey operations and Patrik Allvin came in later.
The firings came a day after the Canucks lost 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a game in which “Fire Benning” chants were heard and a jersey was thrown onto the ice.
After Benning’s eight seasons, it was time for a change and it was about time. The team was doing very poorly with an 8-15-2 record after an aggressive Benning offseason.
Rutherford and Allvin came in with plans to make the team a Stanley Cup contender, not just a team that can sneak into the playoffs and their comments have been a breath of fresh air. Rutherford brought in some smart people for the front office. Derek Clancey, Emilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato were brought in as assistant GMs and Rachel Doerrie was brought in for the team’s analytics department.
With them, there is hope with the Canucks again. Can Rutherford and Allvin deliver this offseason? We shall see.
What were your favourite moments of the Canucks 2021-22 season? Let us know in the comments below, in the Facebook comments or on Twitter.