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BEST QUESTION

Stay the course, try to stay competitive and make the playoffs.

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It’s essentially the Canucks 2016-17 mission statement.

It’s looked good too. At least, lately. There have been those six straight wins.

You win games, people notice. Sometimes, like this time, it doesn’t even matter how you’re winning. It got HNIC’s attention. The broadcast was throwing roses at the Canucks, for keeping to their plan.

I couldn’t help but think it felt a little like cheering the house league kid who bats 11th after he got his first big hit of the year in the middle of the season.

See, you can do it. You’re not the worst.

Even with the six straight wins, the Canucks are on pace for just 84 points, which wouldn’t be a success in Van under anyone’s definition.

This hasn’t kept them out of the playoff race, however, meaning points remain important, especially against teams they’re chasing.

That didn’t make tonight a must win, but it was an important game. And that’s part of the reason so many around the NHL thought it bizarre the Canucks found themselves in a situation where they were dressing just five defencemen.