Few cities have the passion for hockey that Vancouver does, and few cities have witnessed such great moments as Vancouver has.
It was a below average year for the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14, as they missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. As Canucks fans watch this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs without their favourite team, it’s time to relive the best Vancouver Canucks playoff moments:
10) Henrik’s 4OT Winner
“Daniel to Henrik, HE SCORES!” Canucks fans are used to hearing this phrase the other way around, but in the fourth overtime of the Canucks’ Round One playoff game against the Dallas Stars, it was Daniel to fed the puck to Henrik, who promptly put it in the back of the net. This ended the 6th longest playoff game in NHL history, and gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead in the series.
9) Linden introduces the fans to Jeff Norton
It takes a special player and a special hit to drive another player through the glass, and Trevor Linden fits that bill. Linden’s hit on St. Louis Blues’ Jeff Norton looked like something out of a movie, as the fans in those seats got a little taste of the game.
8) Matt Cooke – Unlikely Hero
Game 7, 30 seconds left, down one goal. A miracle is needed to keep the Vancouver Canucks alive. Enter Matt Cooke. In a crazy sequence of events, involving debris thrown on the ice to try to prevent an empty net goal, Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla tripping at centre-ice, and a miraculous rush by Markus Naslund, Matt Cooke manages to tap in a rebound and tie the game up.
7) Luongo’s Playoff Debut
72 saves in one game is ridiculous. But to do it in your first ever playoff game? We knew Roberto Luongo was good, but this good? Luongo kept the Canucks alive against the Dallas Stars through regulation, and four extra overtime periods before Henrik finally scored the winning goal. Luongo finished one save short of tying Kelly Hrudy’s NHL playoff record of 73 saves.
6) The Goal
In the first round of the 1994 playoffs, the Canucks were deadlocked with the Calgary Flames in Game 7. The Canucks headed into overtime with the momentum of overtime winners in both their past two games, and the Russian Rocket, Pavel Bure, continued that trend with his thrilling partial-breakaway goal, sending the Canucks to the next round.
5) Roger Neilsen’s Surrender
With frustration towards the referees steadily rising, Canucks coach Roger Neilsen finally had enough. In Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks, Roger Neilsen hung a white towel on a hockey stick as a mock surrender to the refs. A few players joined in on the gesture, and Neilsen was kicked out of the game by the refs. Although Neilsen was kicked out, a tradition was born, one that is still present at Canucks playoff games to this day.
4) Kevin Bieksa – Scores?
Is there anything more dramatic than a goal to send your team to their first Stanley Cup Final in 17 years? Well.. admittedly this goal lacked a little excitement at first, because no one in the arena except for Kevin Bieksa knew where the puck was! But Bieksa threw his hands up in the air, the Canucks players celebrated, the horn went off, and the fans went home happy.
3) Greg Adams, Greg Adams
Similar to Kevin Bieksa’s goal, Greg Adams sent the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals. This time, the Canucks sent the Toronto Maple Leafs packing, and everyone watched as BC boy Greg Adams backhanded the Canucks to a date with the New York Rangers.
2) The Save
Before Pavel Bure’s goal to beat the Calgary Flames, came what is widely known as “The Save.” Canucks goalie Kirk McLean flung himself across the crease and took a sure goal away from Flames forward Robert Reichel. In an instant, Kirk McLean and his miraculous toe save became a legend in the streets of Vancouver.
1) Burrows Gets His Vengeance
After two straight, heartbreaking playoff defeats to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Vancouver Canucks were hungry for revenge. This time, the President’s Trophy winning Canucks had the advantage. After getting out to a 3-0 series lead, the Blackhawks clawed their way back, winning three straight and forcing Game 7. In a tight-knit game, Jonathan Toews tied the game late, sending this game to overtime, and forcing the city of Vancouver to the edge of their seats. Enter Alex Burrows.
Alvin Cho
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