With all the trials and tribulations the Vancouver Canucks have gone through this season, it would be folly to guarantee them a playoff spot. While it is too early to scoreboard watch, it is not too early to track the Canucks’ path to the playoffs.

Typically, a Wild Card spot requires a minimum of 95 points. The NHL did not start seeing the minimum to make the playoffs in the 90-point range until the 2000-01 season. Fast forward 24 years, and six teams have missed the playoffs when reaching 95 points on the season.

2018-19 Season – Montreal Canadiens – 96 points
2017-18 Season – Florida Panthers – 96 points
2014-15 Season – Boston Bruins – 96 points
2014-15 Season – Los Angeles Bruins – 95 points
2010-11 Season – Dallas Stars – 95 points
2006-07 Season – Colorado Avalanche – 95 points

After October, which saw the Vancouver Canucks go 4-2-3, it is now easier to map out the rest of the season. November, December, January, and March require 16 points each, and the two months with fewer games, February and April, require 10 points. Canucks held strong in November, delivering the required 16 points.

Do better in one month, and the following months require less. It’s harder to track division winners since the points required for a division title vary wildly each season. Ideally, you can stop tracking playoff contention by March. This is what happened for the Canucks last season.

Their December and January play far exceeded their monthly requirements, and they only needed a 5-8-0 record in February. With a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on February 13th, the Canucks all but guaranteed a playoff berth. The four-game losing streak that came a few days later didn’t even matter.

Going forward, the Canucks need to match the following records, or greater, in each month:

Required Pace: 8-6-0

Notes:
– Currently 3-1-2 as of this writing. Need to win four of next eight games the hit pace. Or three wins and two OTLs.
– Three more games against playoff teams
– Four-day Christmas break
– Utah HC & Vegas Golden Knights road back-to-back
– 1:00 pm home game against the Seattle Kraken

Required Pace: 8-7-0

Notes:
– Nine games against current playoff teams
– Five-game road trip
– Seattle Kraken & Nashville Predators home & away back-to-back
– Carolina Hurricanes & Toronto Maple Leafs road back-to-back

Required Pace: 5-3-0

Notes:
– Only eight games played
– Four games against current playoff teams
– 13-day break for the 2025 4 Nations Tournament
– Five-game road trip (final game is played in March)
– Los Angeles Kings & Anaheim Ducks road back-to-back

Required Pace: 8-7-0

Notes:
– Six games against current playoff teams
– Six-game road trip
– Montreal Canadiens & Calgary Flames home & away back-to-back
– 1:00 pm(EST) away game against the New York Rangers
– 2:00 pm(CST) away game against the Winnipeg Jets

Required Pace: 5-3-0

Notes:
– Only eight games played
– Five games against current playoff teams
– 1:00 pm home game against the Anaheim Ducks

In order to make the playoffs, the Canucks only need to stay above .500 by a couple of games each month. One good month, like last season, makes the road much easier. Right now, the Canucks are walking a tightrope as they approach the most difficult part of their schedule in January.

As has been covered in other articles, the Canucks have played very poorly against playoff teams but have consistently picked up points against everyone else. A Wild Card 95-point team is usually toothless, but all Canucks fans should be well aware that the 2011-12 Los Angeles Kings finished the season as the lowest seed in the Western Conference with 95 points and won the Stanley Cup. Before that, they had to grind out each month and get the required points.

With now a Canucks team who’s returning to full health, going above .500 should be attainable for this Canucks team to squeak out at least a Wild Card spot for this year’s playoffs.