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God forbid we should have to see the Canucks face the Coyotes in the playoffs.

Coming into today’s play, the Canucks held a 64-per-cent chance of making the big dance.

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(Needless to say, this win will up their chances.)

Who they could face in the playoffs remains very much up in the air. Credit the dog’s breakfast that is the Western Conference wild-card race as well as the Pacific Division.

Their most likely opponent, at a measly 12 per cent, is, yes, these same Coyotes.

Rick Tocchet’s team plays a trap. They trap better than just about anyone in the league. And they’ve had very good goaltending behind that defensive shell.

The Canucks did enough Thursday to take a grinding win away from Arizona.

And sure, there’s every reason to think they could do that four times come April. And sure, this town is desperate to see playoff hockey again.

In other words, we’ll take it if we have to, but it would be so much nicer to see an opponent that is looking to go run and gun against the Canucks, even if that would make for two coaches pulling their hair out.