The Vancouver Canucks were the first team eliminated from the playoffs. But they could play the role of spoilers heading into the final week of the regular season.
The last-place Canucks (22-47-8, 52 points) kick off a three-game road trip through California on Thursday with a Pacific Division clash against the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings (32-26-19, 83 points) are one of five teams in the Western Conference within eight points of the final wild-card berth. The list includes two of the Canucks’ late-season opponents, the Kings and the San Jose Sharks.
Los Angeles and Vancouver square off twice over a six-day period. They also meet next Tuesday in Vancouver to close out their four-game season series.
“I think right now the guys are pushing for each other,” Los Angeles coach D.J. Smith said. “We’re giving everything we got, and it won’t be for a lack of effort.
“It’s going to come down to someone making a big play at the right time, and right now we’re finding that way. But there’s a lot of track left here.”
Heading into Wednesday night’s games, the Kings were one point back of the Nashville Predators (84 points) and two points ahead of the Sharks (81 points) for the final wild-card spot.
Los Angeles is attempting to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season. If the Kings succeed, how far they go will likely depend on whom they play. The Edmonton Oilers have ended the Kings’ season in the first round in each of the last four seasons.
But that was under general manager Rob Blake, who parted ways with the Kings last year. He was replaced by Ken Holland, who won four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings.
The Kings stretched their point streak to four games (3-0-1) after a 3-2 shootout win over the Predators on Monday night. Despite being held without a point against Nashville, Canadian-born forward Quinton Byfield has seven goals and two assists in his last 11 games.
“Byfield’s line was great right from the get-go in the first period, where they went in, they got some cycle shifts,” Smith said after the win over the Predators. “They just set the tone for us.”
Los Angeles needs to get a better start against Vancouver after having been outscored 7-2 in the first period in its last five games.
Following Thursday’s game against the Kings, the Canucks play Saturday against San Jose.
The Canucks, who have lost three straight, managed a season-low 11 shots on goal in a 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.
Vancouver didn’t get its first shot of the third period until 14:01. It was the second-fewest shots in a game in team history for Vancouver, who only had eight shots in a 2-1 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 18, 1996.
“Only getting (11) shots is not good enough. Everyone, including myself, could give a better effort in front of our home fans,” said American forward Max Sasson.
Speaking of home ice, the Canucks have a paltry eight wins at home this season. First year head coach Adam Foote dodged questions on Tuesday about the reasons behind the dismal home record.
“I don’t want to look too far into that right now,” Foote said. “It is probably something we will discuss in the offseason.”
