The Vancouver Canucks entered the All-Star break as the best team in the NHL. Whether you measure points, points percentage, wins, regulation wins or goal differential, the Canucks are on top of the league. The theme of what has been said by Canucks fans on social media several times this season: The Canucks are a wagon. The wagon looks like it could slow down but it finds ways to pick up speed. For instance, the Canucks came back from a 4-1 deficit to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 in overtime. It’s been a fun season in Vancouver and here are some notable Canucks stats heading into the All-Star break.
*Stats courtesy of NHL.Com
Vancouver Canucks Stats at the All Star Break #1: They Have the Most First-Period Goals in the NHL
A good start is key in the NHL and bad ones are hard to come back from. For the past few seasons, the Canucks have learned that lesson the hard way. This season, they came out flying out of the gate.
They like to come out flying out of the gate in games as well. One of the notable Vancouver Canucks stats is that they have scored 62 first-period goals this season. They lead the league in that category. The Edmonton Oilers are tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for second with 54. At this time last season, the Canucks scored 47 first-period goals which was 13th in the NHL. However, they ended up blowing a tonne of leads. This season, they have improved in that department.
#2: …and They Are Second in Second-Period Goals
The second period has been a period of ups and downs for Vancouver. There are games where they have been outplayed by the opposition in the middle frame (like the game against Columbus). However, there have been games where they have dominated in the second period. For instance, the 6-4 win in New Jersey or the 1-0 win in Buffalo.
But the one constant is that they find ways to score in second periods. The Canucks have scored 65 goals in the middle period. The Colorado Avalanche are the only team ahead of them in that department with just one more second-period goal.
The fact that the Canucks have been scoring as much as they can in the first two periods. Having Brock Boeser becoming a 30-goal scorer and the likes of Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller putting up points consistently help as well.
#3: The Canucks Have Given up the Fourth Least 5 on 5 Goals This Season
Moving on from scoring goals to preventing the goals, the Canucks have vastly gotten better in that area too.
Last year, the Canucks gave up 124 goals at 5 on 5 at the All-Star break. That was the fourth most in the NHL. Only the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Blue Jackets gave up more.
This time around, they have just given up just 80 goals at even strength which is the fourth least in the NHL. The three teams that have given up less? The Winnipeg Jets (61), Florida Panthers (75), and Boston Bruins (80).
Thatcher Demko has proven he is back as one of the NHL’s elite netminders (more on him later). Meanwhile, Casey DeSmith has proven to be a serviceable backup. The defence has been better. The general manager’s offseason acquisitions of Carson Soucy and Ian Cole helped. Quinn Hughes has taken his game to another different level at both ends of the ice while Filip Hronek is having a career season. Not to mention that head coach Rick Tocchet‘s emphasis on structure also really helped.
#4: Tied for Most Wins When Being Outshot
As good as the Canucks have been this season, there haven’t been many games where they have outshot an opponent heavily. There might have been a few (like the wins over the Sharks) but there have been a lot of games where they would get outshot.
But hockey is won by goals and not shots and Vancouver would find ways to even when they were outshot. 17 out of their 33 wins (that’s 51%!) have come when they were outshot. The Canucks have won 15 games where they outshot their opponent.
When the team is scoring at a high rate and doing a good job preventing goals, being outshot doesn’t really matter.
#5: Quinn Hughes Is on Pace for 104 Points
Out of all the Vancouver Canucks stats on this list, this one shouldn’t be that surprising. At this point, it is hard to describe Hughes and the season he is having in words. Extraordinary, phenomenal, and remarkable all come to mind. It’s hard to describe him in just a single word or even a sentence.
The Canucks captain has amazed fans with his skating, improved shot, and his defending. He wasn’t the biggest star in the overtime win over the Blue Jackets, but he managed three assists. That’s not too shabby. After all, that is just another day at the office for Hughes. He has 62 points in 42 games and is on pace for 104. It is not guaranteed he will reach that number but would it be surprising if he does? Probably not.
If Hughes does match his point pace, he would be just the sixth defenceman in history to get at least 100 points. Bobby Orr (who did it six times), Paul Coffey (five times), Al MacInnis, Brian Leetch, and Erik Karlsson (who hit 101 points last season) are the others who have hit that milestone.
But there is still a lot of hockey to be played this season. After all, Hughes not hitting 100 wouldn’t be the end of the world as he and his team are gearing up for a grueling second half of the season and more importantly, a deep playoff run.
#6: Dakota Joshua Leads the Team in Hits
Dakota Joshua, Conor Garland and Teddy Bluegar have been a great story. Their line (no nickname, just the third line) has been putting up the points and being very effective on the forecheck.
Joshua has matched his career high in goals with 12, assists with 11, and points with 23. He is on pace for 39 points. Yeah, it’s safe to say this has been a career season for him. Furthermore, Joshua also has 143 hits this season which is second in the NHL this season. Only the Bruins Jeremy Lauzon has more with 199. Joshua has been solid for the Canucks all season with his goals, hits and feistiness. As a result, he is due for a big pay raise.
#7: Thatcher Demko Has Had More Shutouts This Season Than He Has Had in His Career
As mentioned earlier, Demko is another massive reason why the Canucks are top of the league. After a groin injury last season, he is back to his best.
Demko has five shutouts this season and that is tied for the NHL lead with Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Connor Ingram of the Arizona Coyotes. Before this season, Demko has had only three shutouts in his career. All of those shutouts were in three different seasons, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23. ( His first career shutout was in the 2020 playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights but regular season shutouts are being counted here)
Demko has been solid all season. Only this time, he hasn’t been carrying the team like he did in previous seasons. As the Canucks look to make a deep run, having Demko on top of his game is key.
Main photo: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
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