Who's in for Clinchbeard?

Ok.  Here we go.  The Vancouver Canucks have officially clinched a playoff spot, and as is tradition in hockey markets amongst players and fans alike, its time to grow a playoff beard.

A playoff beard is a beard that you start growing at the start of the playoffs and don't shave until your team is eliminated or, ultimately, raises the Stanley Cup.  The longer your scruff, the longer your team has survived in the playoffs.  Call it superstition or call it support, or, nowadays, call it a fashion statement, it has been a Canadian tradition for many, many years.

A clinchbeard is basically the same thing, except you shave and start growing your beard when your team clinches a playoff spot.  In the Canucks case, that was last night when the lowly Oilers surprised the LA Kings with a regulation win.  The Kings, even if they win out

The Canucks Playoff Chase As it Stands on Good Friday

The Canucks appear to be in good shape to get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year after missing last year.  With 4 games to go in the regular season, the Canucks hold down 2nd place in the Pacific Division and sit 4 points up on 3rd place Calgary and 5 points clear of the 4th place Los Angeles Kings. However, last night's regulation loss to the Blackhawks couples with LA's win over Edmonton, makes things even more tricky for the Canucks.

The Canucks currently hold the 1st tie-breaker (ROWs) on both Calgary and LA.


The remaining schedule for Vancouver looks like this:

@Nashville (WIN 5-4 in shootout)
@Chicago (LOSS 3-1)
@Winnipeg
Los Angeles
Arizona
Edmonton

Compared to Calgary and LA, the Canucks have the toughest remaining schedule