The Vancouver Canucks can’t settle after hot start

One of the biggest stories this season has been the surprising performance of the Vancouver Canucks.

Led by captain Quinn Hughes, Elias Petterson and goaltender Thatcher Demko, the Canucks have catapulted themselves from being a bottom-feeder in the Pacific Division to contending for home ice advantage in the playoffs.

After the tumultuous 2022-23 season, Vancouver is sitting tied for the best record in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, and are seven points ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.

While confidence in the team, and excitement around the city are at a high not seen in over a decade, the Canucks have to be sure they do not let up down the stretch, and potentially go into the playoffs on a lull.

They went into the All-Star break with wins in four of their last five games, and eight of their last 10. Vancouver has also picked up points in their last 11 games, having not lost in regulation since Jan. 4.

The Canucks come out of the break with a trio of tough road matchups. On Tuesday, the visit the Carolina Hurricanes, before taking on the Bruins on Thursday. Then, they meet with the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, a prime slate for a team to fall flat after a long layoff.

On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Sportsnet 690’s Satiar Shah joined Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk explain why the Canucks have to be careful not to take their foot off the gas.

Frank Seravalli: You heard [head coach] Rick Tocchet talk about the idea of…they have to stay hungry. That’s because this team has played as good as they have, a lot of people of talking about them…is that, in your mind, the biggest hurdle that this team needs to get over, over these next few weeks?

Satiar Shah: I do think that’s a big part of it. I think, naturally, when you have a lot of success and things go well, there’s maybe this feeling of, “hey we’ve arrived,” and kind of ease off a little. One of the things about Tocchet…he has a real emotional awareness about where his team’s at…and he knows what buttons to push.

You can watch the entire segment, and the full episode here…