The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> are fighting for their playoff lives.
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It seems like before every single game, you see a post like this:

https://bsky.app/profile/noahstrang.bsky.social/post/3llheppwss22d

Okay, but what about an OTL?

According to Noah and MoneyPuck, there is a 17% swing in playoff odds for the Canucks with Friday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets started the season off as one of the greatest stories in the NHL with their defiant play in the wake of tragedy. Keeping with MoneyPuck's odds, prior to Friday's matchup, the Blue Jackets had a 16% chance at the postseason, whereas not long ago, they looked like they had all but locked a spot up.

The Jackets have gone 2-7-1 in their last 10 games, which is not a way to squeak into the playoffs. Just like most games at this time of year, it felt like a must-win for both teams.

Not only was this a huge match up for each team, but Zack Werenski and Quinn Hughes will go head-to-head as two Norris front runners. It is likely a two-horse race between Werenski and Cale Makar, with Hughes missing games due to injuries. However, it is undisputed that two of the three best defenders in the league this season went head to head Friday night.

Quinn Hughes would end the night with a pair of assists, whereas Werenski had the one. That's it; Hughes is better. If he doesn't win the Norris, it's rigged. The proof is in the pudding.

Shot: 

https://bsky.app/profile/trentleith.bsky.social/post/3lli42lgyk22w

I was far from the only one to notice that the in-house DJ had some... unique taste. I gotta say, though, even this strange mashup of Mickey Mouse and Baby Shark is better than half of what we hear inside Rogers Arena, even if that is an incredibly low bar to clear.

Chaser: 

https://bsky.app/profile/trentleith.bsky.social/post/3lli5lq3egc2w

Big yikes from me, dawg.

Do you know who crushed it tonight, though? The in-arena PA announcer, who was also inexplicably a child. The hype that kid brought was sweet.

Honourary mention to the kid who looked like he was 13 years old but sang the anthems like he was a 55-year-old who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. The kid has pipes.

Get to the Hockey, Trent

Okay, okay, chill.

Boy, was that one hell of a game. The game had ebbs; it had flows. I may even go as far as saying it even had eddies. It started with the Canucks mopping the floor with the Jackets in the first period. It all started with Linus Karlsson scoring his second NHL goal off a beautiful one-touch pass from Kiefer Sherwood.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbGpzN3lwYjNrNHFleG14a2wxaWkzaHZqejl5eHMxbzN1YmVkcjQ1MCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/78FzndVhS6xPS3c49R/giphy.mp4

Sherwood has done a good job getting to the front of the net, and I don't want to sound like that guy, but it's true: get to the front of the net, and good things will happen. The real skill on this play came from Sherwood, who threaded a one-touch pass right across the crease to Karlsson's stick.

This isn't the last time we will hear about Sherwood tonight. He ended the night with three points and 10 hits – just a classic Sherwood game. Every hit he throws breaks the current record for the most hits in a season.

6: 6 in 6

Boeser added to Sherwood's early lead with his sixth goal in as many games.

https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZXR4dWpuenNpNjgwdXFpdHo4bGJ1b3V6eHZmbG9sOHVwem5waWFoZyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/UE3LH442UxJk5oRIug/giphy.mp4

I think it's safe to say that Brock took the apparent lack of interest at the deadline to heart; he has been on a tear since then. If the Canucks plan on resigning, I reckon they get to it soon.

After Brock's goal, there was a scrum around the net because of how Hughes was cross-checked to the ice. You never like seeing a guy hit his head on the ice like that, especially when that person is our sweet, sweet Quinn.

Anyways, the Canucks came out of the scrum with a power pl- wait a second. That can't be right, it says here the Canucks ended the scrum on the penalty kill?

Karlsson allegedly committed an unsportsmanlike crime and wound up with the extra putting the Canucks on the PK.

But the first period fun wouldn't end there. DeBrusk took it personally when Brock took sole lead on the team with 24 goals, so he got one to match.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNmUxYWJnZ3J4NXZyc2hvN2o0eGQ5MnFrOWpobWo5cnRqYm5pamtxcSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/gj74a0shO1BGv7aVhR/giphy.mp4

Oh, look at that, Boeser got another point on the play.

Get this man a contract!

What Ebbs, Flow

https://bsky.app/profile/gusnolly.bsky.social/post/3lli3fctp222j

I'd like to leave the second period recap with that meme, but unfortunately, I have bills to pay and I have to fit some gifs in.

Just 34 seconds into the second, Boone Jenner (great name) got the Blue Jackets on the board.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcngycDM5MXNiMnQ1d3pocHNuaHR5Y3YyNDN3aW90cHEyNDF6cTh0aiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/TdjgtNT3fO8v6ZJoRe/giphy.mp4

Blueger played Jenner a little soft in front of the net there. Didn't do a great job clearing Jenner out of the net front. You don't love to see that. But it's okay, the Canucks are still up 3-1!

Psych. Marchenko scored around the five-minute mark.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYnVzeXpnZzdyYTZ3ZmNtd3JpYXpnbmpzN25wdjRpOHYza3d1MG42cyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/1NmPIxRDKzc1koJlqo/giphy.mp4

That was a great pass by Sean Monahan and an equally good shot. It didn't help that Elias Pettersson (D) had lost his stick.

The last bit of salt in the wound came from Dante Fabbro (also a great name).

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZ2NrYThkaDRieHRrbGwxbXBwd3BwZ2k0cjl0dHZ0b3hwMHdvancxZiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/YyFeZR5CdXXd5ztoPh/giphy.mp4

Excuse my cursor just lingering on the screen like that. Rookie mistake, I know.

Fabbro picked his spot perfectly from the point with a shot clean through the crowd in front of Lankenin.

Tie game.

Classic Canucks.

Chaos Enters the Chat

https://bsky.app/profile/peoplemcnugget.bsky.social/post/3lli3gzov2k2r

See, the 20024/25 Canucks are so predictable. As soon as the Canucks wen't up 3-0, fans got nervous. That may be the worst thing that can happen to this version of the Canucks. And we were right, the Jackets came roaring back and tied it just as fast as the Canucks ran away with it.

But Myers is a defender. I don't mean that as in his role on the team; I mean that as in his true calling. That was the reason he was placed on this planet. His role in whatever higher power has concocted this mess is to defend. To defend the chaos. Status quo will not do for Tyler. Just as we were all breaking out the hard stuff, Tyler did the most unexpected thing possible.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExN2g1NW1hZWRkYmcwdWVxbjVsemplbXc1NG1sbDc3YXNzanowb2xmcSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/O48kiGvf086IqYxKUR/giphy.mp4

That's right. A rush goal on the penalty kill. And not only that, but a truly stunning goal at that.

This play starts with Pius Suter on the near boards. Suter tied up his man and allowed the puck to clear the zone. With a head of steam, Sherwood skated onto the puck, expecting to shoot the puck when the tallest man in the world came baraling down the centre of the ice. Sherwood has no choice but to see what happens if he passes it.

Myers receives the puck on his backhand, flicks it up just enough to get over Merzļikins' glove, and slowly fall into the net.

The shot was so slow that Sherwood had time to skate to the net and almost get a piece of it before it crossed the line. But Tyler knew.

https://bsky.app/profile/risingaction.bsky.social/post/3lli3dkj6es24

And just like that, everything changed. We are in Tyler's house now. There are no rules.

That's why there was no penalty on this hit on Myers.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbmNiaGpwOWJtNTh5OGc5OHN6MTVkZ3ZiYjlqZGd0N2J1NHN0NXQ2cyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/QRzrxseMfyDCamn16Y/giphy.mp4

There was a real "get 'em boys" energy to this hit. I kinda loved it

There were two more good chances I wanted to highlight in the final moments of the second.

First up, Teddy Blueger.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExcnBqY25kZzRpYmxzYWp4bmZrdHIyanRrZHZhY29jOHphbDJveTVrZyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/J3MaotoDAV32K9pyan/giphy.mp4

He displayed good body position to get a quick release off, but a good positional play by Elvis to keep the deficit to one.

Oh, and I am pretty sure that was my boy Sherwood who made the pass.

Nex up, ol' reliable Corola Garland.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExeGx3aXF3ZjMyamRzeWhrNXV0aDZ6d2lkZHl0OG1iM29oaWloN2UzeiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/kYloxYCDzTLmXLu2IQ/giphy.mp4

A good shot off the rush, and he circles back, finds space and lets another shot fly. He was looking top corner but unfortunately missed. But a strong sequence regardless.

All Bets Are Off

The third period was wild. Despite the disappointing finish, it was an absolute joy to watch. As long as you were adequately self-medicated, that is.

We at home started to believe when Aatu Räty scored with 13 minutes remaining to make it 5-3.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOGlqcmcxeDVneW96YjV6cDJ3Z2dnbTRyZHQwaml6bjhyMHpkaTg2MiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/yXtEE3u9mQ78US5h3h/giphy.mp4

Off the rush, Räty uses the defender as a screen to change his angle and beat Merzlikins clean for his fourth goal of his 24-game season.

However, the chaos poured on when roughly 21 seconds later Mateychuk scores to bring it back within one.

https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExb3Z3cTFqbjgzcG1zMDIzZm9sejNiaWZ1bHBrajRmNTFzczVwd2ZjcCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/f54JQsabZaXaryEO55/giphy.mp4

That was in and out faster than the one friend who got pressured into doing the Polar Bear Plunge even though he didn't want to. But he also has extreme FOMO, so they went and participated in the bare minimum.

Less than a minute later, Justin Danforth scored to tie the game for a second time.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMDk5M3FzNXJkN2pmYzJnajIwanZ5NGI5bjhoOXFsZzZ5bWZrMzlvNyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/XNdFgSrsD0phMf0dcM/giphy.mp4

However, Eagle-eyed Tocchet saw a no-no.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbXFpNm1qb3BkYTY4NXlmeDlxZWlvbmJobHh4OTE5cjhpZWZ0bHFwZSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/vOHJqYKIeIoLpw1D4R/giphy.mp4

Mathieu Olivier clearly got in Lankinen's way trying to move across the crease.

Phewph, 5:4

But Wait! 

Boone Jenner! (Said like Mr. Turner says "Dinkleberg!" in Fairly Odd Parents.)

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExeHlkMTJoZ3JpNzdtaGU1YzR3Y2Z3NDlqbXdmOWJzbHZ4ODd3ZWNmdiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/IxPQbj0XwyGFERSOPc/giphy.mp4

Six seconds into a power play, Jenner tips his second goal of the night in.

But Wait, Again!

I surely thought Tocchet would try for another challenge.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOW93dWk0dXZzeDc4MnEwbTF6bjNrZzg2OXZuYmcxamozdnZxZnIzayZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/E3v0ToaqDv2kew3ghg/giphy.mp4

Watch Lankinen's left leg. Jenner clearly makes contact in the crease, and usually, that's all it takes to get a goal overturned, especially if the goal happens on the same side of the body where the contact was made.

However, Eagle-eyed didn't push his luck and let this one stand. Did he have another angle? Did he not want to risk a delay of game penalty? Some say we will never know.

Five all.

A mere 26 seconds later, Olivier would get his revenge with a 6-5 dagger with less than three minutes remaining.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZ3kyaXo4NHV6aW00azFkd3UyZDY1bTZ0cTB5dnh3eHYzOWt0ZTFjaSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/Zc7ZE24d5ThHZwO5tz/giphy.mp4

But Wait Again, Again! 

Our sweet boy Aatu Räty scored his third goal in only two games only 23 seconds after Olivier gave the Jackets the lead

https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdGpuYnpkcXlibG9wMXVkbTV5ZHhwNnZxdjVmM3g0cnl6czE1bXIwbyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/WqrXhttPQqW9wjP8Dh/giphy.mp4

Taking a page out of Karlsson's book, he went to the net, got his stick down and established position.

After Sherwood drew a penalty, he continued to battle for the puck, passing it to Joshua, who drove the net as if he was going to shoot himself and made a pass for Räty to collect his fifth goal.

6-6 with under three minutes to go.

Lankinen made sure to keep it that way with a five-alarm save to keep it 6-6.

https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdDk1aDM0Y242NGhqNWN3bXltd3h6MTE3aXI0MDlvenY3cm5wd3IwZiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/Ykr9eK5cMtNTY1lTs6/giphy.mp4

The Quinn Hughes Effect

Scientists continue to be baffled by the gravitational pull that Quinn Hughes seems to have on players larger than him.

https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZ255b2J0MmJ6N2ptbzI5anR3bW9iYnlnbzV5azhyM3JkNm5tNTA5aSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/YuFKpq7dGunvUts7gT/giphy.mp4

This will be included in the paper I am writing for the Journal of Hockey Sciences. The broadcast pointed this out. Watch how three defenders all end up circling Hughes on the top right of the shot.

Quinn seems entirely unphased by the pressure. A quick Garland-inspired spin, and he still manages to play the puck deep to the forechecker.

This is why the numbers are so staggering for the Canucks with him on the ice compared to his numbers when he's off the ice.

In overtime, Hughes had another brilliant play that makes you wonder, "do the Canucks need three skaters or should they have three goalies and Hughes?"

Hughes pokes the puck off a Blue Jackets stick. It landed right on another Jackets stick, he pokes it off theirs as well, and then turns on the burners and beat the third skater in a race to the net and givcs the Canucks their first great chance of OT.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExeHE4ajV4MG0yNmV2czhvcXZ2cXVpbGlpYm5tN3duNW5sYmt5c3kwbyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/N1YTdwZZPH9eIkWsYX/giphy.mp4

Another 3-Point Game

The Canucks had the ice tilted in overtime. It seemed to be all Canucks all the time. Not only did Quinn go end-to-end, but DeBrusk had a chance to win the game, thanks to a well-placed pick from Hronek.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNG5md21rczZzYnlxZXFmOG52d2l3bXZtbHBzMzZ3cHViOXN4OHpqNSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/Ql4XmSAADdSEvEo9df/giphy.mp4

Hronek made some space for Boeser to move in on the left wall, and Debrusk found some space and tried to beat Elvis on the backhand.

Kiefer Sherwood got some icetime in OT where he was causing problems for the Jackets.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExczZzdDB4ams3amdmMmQzcDRjb2N6OWN0NG5oMWp4dDJ1YzRuZWZlMSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/yodeLY9ClLcLjIYpe2/giphy.mp4

I honestly think this was an accident. Their skates clipped as Sherwood was looking up ice, and Merzlikins was outside the crease. Merzlikins laid there like he was dying for a few minutes, which only allowed Quinn Hughes to recharge his super attacks.

Sherwood also nearly put the game away at 1:10 with a shot that almost squeaked in the five-hole.

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZDluZXhrcmtrZnV3bzhrMzlvbGp5MzBvamU2eGNkbTJ6eGJvMjJlZCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/7pw3tp67QBhYSXNjp0/giphy.mp4

Again, this time it was Hughes, but the sneaky little pick allowed Sherwood a lot of daylight on the right side to try and wait out Merzlikins.

The game would wind up in the shootout. First up, Port Moody's own Kent Johnson.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExdnRub29qczFoMXZsZmozN3I3NHFhaXJ0ZmxzNWRhNnl5aXJpNm5lYiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/fT9PeloQwTFwRnUG5c/giphy.mp4

That's Tri-Cities hockey, baby!

Canucks offered up DeBrusk.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNnU1NjVwNGNnaGoxN3pvc2ZvNXF6aDgycWlycXllZjZleHFyYnRxeSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/UE69Q0r1THoOrxmhLN/giphy.mp4

Five-hole bid, no dice.

Adam Fantilli, you're up.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZW95eTdveTQyN29odGNvenpxbW1jZHp3NDBmNzN1YzVsZG9kY3BkbiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/InZF58aIlJjZ6dhezW/giphy.mp4

Snubbed.

What's that I hear? That's a 2005 Corolla!

https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZ3RrZWFicmNqb3dkeHZ5cDBodHJsaTAxa2IxYjJ2MDU1YWhteG0yMyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/EB1k3e4WZvCIplo4CL/giphy.mp4

Marchenko, with the game on his stick!

<img src="https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbzNyODQxaWVlaHNoN2dya2E0dWdjOGVtMGZvbTJ3cmJ6N3BoOGZ1aiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/LQVS5DhHMopZxBgI1n/giphy.gif" />

And it all comes down to Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who had the game-winning shootout goal on Monday against the New Jersey Devils.

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExZDIwZmdiNW9peW13cGVtNGJvYTBjczU0d3d5NHJhdWxnbHM5N2NucSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/tW1MP3j9kwvTDPnppH/giphy.mp4

Keep it in your pants there, Merzlikins; you had a 0.837 save percentage. This wasn't exactly a lights-out performance from either goalie.

Fin

It wasn't the outcome Canucks fans had hoped for. According to MoneyPuck, the Canucks end the night with a 17% chance at the playoffs.

Next up, the Winnipeg Jets at 12pm on Sunday.

https://bsky.app/profile/bellabella.bsky.social/post/3lli3hgl2j22g

Me too, Bella, me too.

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The Stanchies: Aatu Räty’s pair of goals isn’t enough for Canucks in SO loss to Blue Jackets

Sawyer Mynio during the Vancouver Canucks' 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets at the 2024 Young Stars Classic from Penticton, BC.

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