Canucks remain in playoff picture despite schedule from hell
Coach, players have spent long stretches on road this season but no one is using that as excuse
When asked about the impact of the Vancouver Canucks’ bizarro schedule, Travis Green initially defaults to the position first pioneered by noted philosopher Todd Bertuzzi.
It is what it is. But aren’t most things?
That, moreover, is the response virtually every NHL coach will offer under Green’s circumstances because they know griping about the schedule is a waste of time and energy.
Sure, the Canucks played more games and more road games than any other NHL team between October and January; their three six-game road trips over that stretch might be precedent-setting; and, before you ask, Green says it left a mark on his team.
But you won’t hear him complain. Besides, look at the bright side. Even if the Harlem Globetrotters had a less hectic schedule over the last four months, the Canucks can now look at, comparatively speaking, a less onerous timetable over the final six weeks of their regular season.
At least they can once they get through their upcoming four-games-in-three-time zones swing that represents their first live action in 1½ weeks.
“It’s been different,” Green said Thursday before the Canucks took off for Denver and Saturday’s meeting with the Colorado Avalanche.
It’s been all of that.
“When we hit (the six-game home stand that led up to the All-Star break) I thought we were a little tired,” Green continued. “That’s just the reality. But it seems like we’ve got a more normal schedule coming up. I’m looking forward to that.”
And it took just 51 games to get there.
While every NHL team can and will complain about the absurdities of its schedule, there is usually a rhythm to a season that is familiar to players and coaches. Four games at home; four games on the road, practice, plane, hotel. The pattern may vary but there’s an underpinning to the six-plus months that gives the craziness of the game some sense of normalcy.
Then there’s this Canucks’ season. If there’s been a rhythm to their campaign, it’s been provided by the world’s worst drummer.
Beginning with a six-game roadie right out of the gate in early October, Green’s men have lurched from absurdly long stretches on the road, to prolonged periods of inactivity to a couple of home stands that had their own weirdness.
Now, the role that schedule played in the team’s record is a matter of some debate. But what’s beyond dispute is the singular nature of the Canucks’ sked.
Maybe three, six-game road trips in three months doesn’t sound like a lot when you say it fast. But compare it to the Canucks’ divisional rivals.
There are only two other teams in the Pacific who have experienced the joys of a sixgame road trip this season: Los Angeles and Anaheim have one each. OK, technically Arizona has one as well but that amounted to three away games before the AllStar break followed by three more beginning on Saturday in San Jose.
Calgary, you might ask?
They don’t have a six- or a five-game road trip this season. Edmonton has one five gamer coming up and that’s it. Same story with Vegas.
San Jose has had two five-gamers.
So did that haywire schedule affect the Canucks? Difficult to know but their worst stretch of the season — a 1-9-1 slump — started over the last four games of their second six-game road trip. To a large extent, they’ve been digging themselves out of that hole ever since.
As for the injury bug that hit about the same time, you can ask the same question. But don’t we ask that question about the Canucks’ schedule every season?
“I’m not going to lie,” said Bo Horvat. “It hasn’t been easy, especially at the beginning when it seemed like we were on the road all the time. But I think it’s made us mentally stronger.”
“I’m proud of the way our group held together,” said Green.
The Canucks, in fact, kept themselves in the playoff conversation, largely on the strength of the 3-1-2 home stand that was their last action before the nine-day All-Star break.
They now have 31 games left on their schedule but, for the faithful, the encouraging news is 16 of the final 27 games are at the friendly confines of Rogers Arena.
Barring a complete collapse, that stretch should coincide with their playoff drive, meaning the schedule might finally be working in the Canucks’ favour, right Travis?
“I don’t know,” said the Canucks’ coach. “I’m not crazy about being at home or on the road too long. You stay at home too long and your team can get stale.”
Seems there’s no pleasing some people.