Michael Kesselring of the Utah Hockey Club (No. 7) battles for the puck against Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks (No. 44) during the third period of an NHL game in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns)
The Vancouver Canucks are feeling the heat as the NHL season nears its end. With a slim playoff margin, every game counts, and Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club made their fight even tougher.
A win would have given them a much-needed cushion, but instead, the Canucks remain locked in a fierce battle for the final Western Conference playoff spot. "We knew how big this game was," said captain Quinn Hughes. "Now, it’s do-or-die every day. It’s exciting, and everyone should be ready for it."
The Canucks (31-25-11) are now tied with the St. Louis Blues at 73 points, holding onto the last playoff position. But Utah and the Calgary Flames are right behind with 71 points, making the race tighter than ever.
Staying Focused Under Pressure
Utah's Alex Kerfoot believes his team can’t afford to focus on the standings. "We’re not making the playoffs by watching other teams," he said. "It’s about winning games and earning points."
Canucks winger Jake DeBrusk echoed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure. "It stings, but that’s what a playoff mentality is all about," he said. "You have to stay level-headed even when things aren’t going your way."
With just 15 games left, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet is pushing his players to move forward quickly. "Every game matters now," he said. "We can’t afford to dwell on losses. We’ve got to bring energy and keep going."
Missed Power-Play Opportunities
Vancouver had a prime chance to shift momentum with six minutes of power-play time in the third period. Hughes had already scored on an earlier man advantage, but when Utah’s Clayton Keller took a double minor for high-sticking Brock Boeser, the Canucks failed to capitalize.
Tocchet sees this as a learning opportunity. "Players need to do their homework," he said. "Next time, we need to rise to the occasion."
Cooley Breaks His Drought
The game’s turning point came early in the third, when Utah’s Logan Cooley netted the go-ahead goal, breaking his six-game point drought. "It feels like it’s been two years since I last scored," Cooley said. "It’s a relief, and now I can just play."
Canucks Eye Payback
Sunday’s loss wasn’t the only frustration for Vancouver. Canucks center Filip Chytil was sidelined after taking a hit from Chicago’s Jason Dickinson the night before. There was no penalty on the play, but Vancouver’s Kiefer Sherwood made it clear the team won’t forget.
"Dickinson’s going to have to answer for that next year," Sherwood said. "It was a dirty hit, and we won’t let it slide."
With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Canucks have no choice but to regroup and fight for every point in the final stretch.
