This Could Be The Year

It has come time to talk about something Vancouver Canucks fans have been talking about for forty years.

You know what I mean. Everybody in Vancouver knows what I mean. All Canucks fans know what I mean.

This could be the year.

THE year.

This is arguable the Canucks' best ever chance in franchise history to win it all, the prize of prizes, the ultimate championship, the Stanley Cup. They're leading the NHL in points with 79, two up on the Philadelphia Flyers. They're seven points ahead of Detroit for the conference lead, and 15 points up on Calgary for the division lead. They're currently the highest scoring team in the NHL, and are second in goals allowed having allowed one more than the Nashville Predators. The Canucks' power play is best in the NHL, and the penalty kill is fourth, a mere 2.7% back of Pittsburgh's for top spot. They have one fewer win than the Flyers with 35 on the season, and have the fewest losses in the NHL, two better than the Flyers.

The list of stats goes on and on, but everything about this team suggests greatness. The franchise has never won a President's trophy, nor a conference championship, but are favourites in the running this year. They have not advanced to the third round of the playoffs since the storied '94 Cup run, our best chance to win the Cup in franchise history. This year's Canucks team, however, is something else. They're better than any other Canucks team that has graced Vancouver ice. They're calm, cool, and collected under pressure, and never let their emotions rise too high or fall too low.

I can't wait for the playoffs. I can't wait for the playoffs. Vancouver fans, this is your chance to see forty years of Vancouver hockey rise to its pinnacle. Forty years of hoping and dreaming, cheering, crying and laughing.

This could be the year.