J.T. Miller says his 90+ point season ‘doesn’t mean s***’ if Canucks don’t make the playoffs

Even as his career-best season continues, J.T. Miller remains focused on his Vancouver Canucks making the playoffs.

The 29-year-old forward became the fifth player in club history to record five assists in a game as the Canucks defeated the Arizona Coyotes 7–1 on Friday, but he reiterated the importance of playoffs above all else after the game.

“I try to feel like I’m never satisfied,” Miller told reporters on Thursday evening. “I’ve got an amazing opportunity since I’ve been here. I get to play in every situation, which is something I’ve worked for my whole career.

“But, that being said, it doesn’t really mean s*** to me if we don’t play in the playoffs,” Miller added. “It’s great, but I’m not in this for the personal gain.”

Hearing Miller’s comments felt a little like déjà vu in the wake of @Elias Pettersson’s media availability after the Canucks’ 5–4 overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights two days earlier.

“We feel good now, we’re four in a row, but it doesn’t mean s*** if we don’t continue on this wave and [keep] playing good hockey,” Pettersson said on Tuesday. “We’re still behind, we still gotta win games. Just thinking of the next one.”

Pettersson scored a critical goal on Thursday as the Canucks picked up two crucial points to fuel their drive toward the final Western Conference playoff spot. With seven games remaining, the Canucks sit five points back of the Dallas Stars for the second Wild Card position.

Coincidentally, Vancouver (37–28–10) and Dallas (42–27–5) will face off against each other at Rogers Arena next Monday in a key matchup that could either give the Canucks new life or entirely snuff out their playoff hopes.