Rick Tocchet comments on Canucks clinching playoff spot
The Vancouver Canucks are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2020 after clinching a spot on Saturday via losses by Minnesota and St. Louis.
While the Canucks would have liked to control their own fate and clinched following a win, they're pretty happy that they're back in the playoffs for the first time in four years. After Sunday's win against the Anaheim Ducks, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet met with the media and discussed his team clinching a playoff spot, but that the job is far from over.
He added, "I thought they did a hell of a job this year to get us to this situation, but now it's go time. We need some guys to find their game. Our team's gotta find our game."
Not only are the Canucks back in the playoffs for the first time in four years, it'll be the first time in nine years that post-season games will be held in Vancouver at Rogers Arena. It's also the first time in nine years that the Canucks have reached the 100-point plateau in the regular season, which is setting them up nicely for a potential Pacific Division title, as well as first place in the Western Conference.
The Canucks have eight games remaining in the 2023-24 regular season, five of which come on the road and four of them are against teams who currently occupy playoff positions. It won't be an easy finish to the season, but Tocchet is hoping that by the time Game 1 comes later this month against whoever their first round opponent may be, that all 12 forwards, six defenceman and their goaltending will be ready to go.
Vancouver will return to action on Tuesday night as they're set to kick off a three-game road trip in Vegas against the Golden Knights. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on Sportsnet Pacific.
Source - theScore: Tocchet: 'It's go time' for playoff-bound Canucks
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