A rookie Pavel Bure helped lead the Vancouver Canucks to an 8-3 game six win over the Winnipeg Jets 28 years ago today.

Vancouver had themselves quite a regular season with the Canucks posting a 42-26-12 record placing first in the NHL’s Smythe Division.

Offensively a 21-year-old Trevor Linden scoring 31 goals and 75 points leading the way for Vancouver, while Cliff Ronning (24-47—71) and Igor Larionov (21-44—65).

Vancouver was matched up against Winnipeg in the first round and got down early. After four games, the Jets built themselves a comfortable 3-1 series lead.

For Winnipeg, it may have been too comfortable as Vancouver launched an impressive comeback. Game five saw Vancouver win 8-2, and two nights later, 28 years ago today, Bure’s hat trick lead the Canucks to victory.

Vancouver capped off the series with another impressive win — a 5-0 shutout — to complete the series comeback. Tom Fergus and Bure both had eight points by the end of the series, while Linden and Jim Sandlak each had seven.

Vancouver matched up with the Edmonton Oilers in the second round, falling to them in six games.

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