Vancouver Canucks Face-Off Against Blue Jackets: Make or Break Game?

While it would be silly to call Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets a must win, one has got to think that it does carry some weight for the Canucks as they move forward. It would be terrible to have gone on a nice little run of 4 straight wins only to lose to the worst team in the NHL. Imagine the psychological effects on the team. Looking at this game, it’s becoming pretty evident that this could be a turning point for the Vancouver Canucks. Let’s take a look at the different scenarios.

If the Canucks were to lose on Tuesday, it would reset everything back to ground zero. All of the good things that the team has done over the past 4 games would be thrown out the window. Combine that with the mental effects of losing to a team as bad as the CBJ and you could have a reeling team on your hands before too long.

The Canucks can go on and on about how they take it “one game at a time,” and tell the media that they don’t get too high or too low, but in reality, this is a fragile team. They have gone from top dog to middle of the pack in a span of 4 months. You can’t say that there is no mental effect from that.

Win the game tomorrow night and the Canucks will be flying high. A nice 5 game winning streak is exactly what the team needs to push itself to the top of the conference once again. As of last night’s player, the Canucks were only 4 points out of first place in the conference with a game in hand on the Chicago Blackhawks. So, while things have seemed pretty bad in Vancouver, the team is still being competitive.

Let’s examine that a little closer. Consider how badly the Canucks have been playing for a second. Think about all the wasted chances, defensive gaffes and goaltending blunders. Then remember that this team is only 4 points out of first place in the West. Imagine what will happen when, or if, the team can put its game together. They should be top dog in the West without hesitation. Look at every roster in the West and tell me who can compete on paper.

The real challenge is finding that next level. A win against Columbus with production from key sources could be exactly what the doctor ordered to get this team off the ground and flying once again. Only time will tell and by tomorrow night we will all know where the Vancouver Canucks stand going forward.

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

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