Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat still holding out hope for playoffs
By Zach Laing
4 years agoVancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat is one of the many NHL’ers holding out hope for a continued NHL season — one that may see the Canucks playing in the playoffs.
The stoppage, of course, due to the COVID-19 pandemic has pumped the brakes on what has been an unsuspected, but successful season for the Vancouver club.
On a conference call Friday with other Pacific division captains Connor McDavid, Mark Giordano and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Horvat had this to say:
“Either go by points percentage, or play more regular-season games,” he said. “Obviously, to make it completely fair, you’d want to play more regular-season games to get in. But if we’re going to start playoffs right away, that would put us in on (win) percentage but it’s tough to make that call — that’s for sure.”“It definitely makes it harder because there’s nothing like being in game shape — it’s totally different — and to be in your best shape is a huge advantage,” said Horvat, who relocated from Vancouver to his new off-season home in London, Ont. 10 days ago with his pregnant wife, Holly, who’s expected to deliver the couple’s first child in July. – The Province
If the playoffs were to start tomorrow and things would be based off points percentage, Vancouver would square up against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs. The Canucks would finish the year third in the division.
But if more regular-season games would be played out, Vancouver would be right back to where they found themselves on March 12 — tied for the last Western Conference wildcard spot with the Nashville Predators, who hold the tie-breaker.
NHL front offices have suggested jumping back into playoffs with a 24-team format, while some top players have brought forth the idea of playoffs in July and August.
On Twitter: @zjlaing
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