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

Oilers Play Spoilers and Canucks Clinch From Couch

Canucks Nation was abuzz all day Tuesday after a huge Canucks come from behind shootout win over the reeling LA Kings.  The win put the Canucks firmly in control of their own destiny and, even though they picked up a loser point, put the Kings in a spot of trouble.

However, the season wasn't over yet and the Canucks hadn't officially clinched, after all.  They could clinch with another win on Thursday versus the lowly Arizona Coyotes.  Or, with a little help from the out-of-town scoreboard, they could clinch beforehand.  There were multiple scenarios that would put them in.  The least likely was the Spoilers, err.. Oilers beating the Kings in regulation.

Canucks followers, myself included, basically ignored that possibility.  The Los Angeles Kings had only lost in regulation ONCE in the last 27 games against the Oilers.  The Oilers are having a terrible season even by their standards.  The Kings thumped the Oilers 8-2 in their last meeting. You could basically chalk up 2 points

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

Canucks Playoff Poll

Canucks fans, let me know what you think the Canucks chances are for the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs for my next blog post.

Will the Canucks make the playoffs?

Yes or no?

Can they beat the LA Kings in the 1st round?

Yes or no?

Can they beat the Calgary Flames in the 1st round?

Yes or no?

IF they get to round 2, what are their chances to beat Anaheim?

Yes or no?

Winnipeg?

Yes or no?

Minnesota?

Yes or no?

How far do you see the Canucks going?

a) miss the playoffs
b) lose in 1st round
c) lose in 2nd round
d) lose in Western Conference Championship
e) lose in Cup final
f) WIN THE STANLEY CUP!

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Canucks Trump the Kings in Crucial 4 Pointer

The Canucks came into the Staples Center for a key battle against the Los Angeles Kings with both teams jockeying for playoff position in the NHL's tight Western Conference.  Still smarting from a blowout loss at home to the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets and having been owned by the Kings in recent years, things didn't look good early on as LA took a 1-0 lead 7 seconds into their first power play of the game.  Usually a 1-0 lead is all the Stanley Cup Champions need to cement a win. Especially at home. Especially, especially against the Vancouver Canucks.

But not today.

No today, would be different.  The Canucks came alive

Canucks Face Do or Die vs Arch Nemesis

Dating back to Round One of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the LA Kings have absolutely owned the Vancouver Canucks.

Yes, the Canucks have had difficulty with all of the California based teams in recent years, but the LA Kings it seems, have proved to be kryptonite to the Canucks Superman

Latest Loss to Cup Champs has Canucks Fans Calling for Rebuild

Latest Loss to Cup Champs has Canucks Fans Calling for Rebuild

We all saw it, we all know what happened.  It was ugly.  What made it even uglier was the fact that the Vancouver Canucks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the defending Stanley Cup Champions raising the hopes of the hometown faithful.  Only to have it ripped away like velcro on a kids running shoes.

The Chicago Blackhawks responded with 4 unanswered goals in approximately 8 minutes in the second period on their way to a 5-2 win.

Cue fan angst.  Cue widespread panic.  Cue unruly mobs and general pandemonium.

If you've listened to the call-in shows or seen the

Canucks 2012-2013 Aftermath

Here's my take on the end of the Canucks season.  I've given it a couple of days.  I've digested it.  I've calmed down.  Much like Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis intimated in his end of season media address about not making emotional decisions, I didn't want to write this in the heat of the moment in a heightened emotional state.  You won't read a hysterical rant about the Canucks' terrible play and the absolutely abysmal and game-affecting officiating throughout their 1st round series with the San Jose Sharks.  For that, you can read my twitter feed leading up to and immediately after whatever that was that Kelly Sutherland thought he saw

Sporting Vancouver 1st Round Playoff Prognostications - Eastern Conference

After a lock-out shortened regular season we finally get down to business...the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us.  This year's shortened season produced some new entrants in the NHL's tournament.  After a 9 year hiatus the Toronto Maple Leafs finally