Canucks Facing Harsh Reality Check as Road Trip Woes Continue
Just a few days ago, the Canucks looked like a team ready to turn a corner. That win over the Ducks?
It felt like a spark. But fast-forward to Monday, and that momentum has all but vanished.
Back-to-back losses on Friday and Saturday have left Vancouver reeling again, and now they’re staring down one of the toughest matchups in the league - a road game in Denver against the Avalanche, the NHL’s top team by points and still undefeated in regulation at home.
That’s not exactly the kind of opponent you want to see when your season’s teetering.
The Canucks are 2-5-3 over their last 10 games. That’s not just a cold stretch - it’s the kind of skid that makes playoff hopes start to feel like wishful thinking.
Four points out of the final wild card spot might not sound insurmountable, but context matters: there are six teams between Vancouver and that final ticket to the postseason. That’s a steep hill to climb, and the Canucks are going to need more than just a hot week - they’ll need something close to a miracle run.
Think seven or eight wins in their next 10 games just to get back into the conversation.
After Tuesday’s tilt in Colorado, the Canucks return home for a back-to-back set against the Mammoth and Wild. It’s a crucial stretch. If this team wants to keep the season alive - and maybe more importantly, keep the core intact - this is the moment to make a statement.
That brings us to the elephant in the room: Quinn Hughes.
The captain has been the franchise’s cornerstone, and the Canucks can certainly make a long-term pitch to keep it that way. He’s still got another year left on his six-year, $47.1 million extension, and the front office can throw more term and money at him if they want. But this season wasn’t just about the dollars - it was about giving Hughes a reason to believe this team was building something sustainable around him.
So far, that vision hasn’t materialized. And if the slide continues, the conversation around Hughes is only going to get louder.
Stay or trade? That debate used to be complicated.
Now, it’s starting to feel inevitable.
In the crease, there’s been a bit of a shuffle. Nikita Tolopilo, who’s been solid on the road trip, is heading home as his wife goes into labor.
The 25-year-old Belarusian netminder has been a bright spot lately, especially in that 5-4 win over Anaheim where he turned aside 37 shots. He followed that up with a 21-save effort in a tight 3-2 loss to the Sharks.
After missing a month with what’s believed to be a groin or quadriceps injury, Tolopilo looked sharp again - and his performance hasn’t gone unnoticed.
With Tolopilo out, the Canucks have recalled Jiri Patera from Abbotsford. The 26-year-old has had his moments too, including a 33-save outing in a wild 8-5 loss to the Panthers back on Nov.
- He’ll likely serve in a backup role unless more is needed.
Meanwhile, Thatcher Demko continues his rehab from a groin strain. He didn’t skate with the team on this road trip but has been getting work in back in Vancouver. The Canucks are hoping he’s close, because with the season slipping, they need all the help they can get in net.
So here’s where we are: a team with potential, a captain with questions, a goaltending situation in flux, and a brutal stretch of games ahead. The next week could define the rest of the season - and maybe even the next few years of this franchise.