11 Best Vancouver Canucks Moments of 2017-18

No one believed it was possible.

Eleven positive moments throughout this entire Canucks season?

For the record, all of these positives regard moments in actual Canucks games. This does not include any moments from prospects, which would have made this list much easier to assemble. I also didnt include Brock Boeser’s All-Star MVP nod, because that would have made the list as well.

Somehow, I found 11 moments here. Enjoy, because there hasn’t been much else to get excited about!

11. Burrows Tribute

Any time one of a fan base’s most cherished players returns home, it’s always a special occasion. After 11 years of memorable Canucks moments, Burrows got a huge standing ovation from the crowd at Rogers Arena following a video tribute.

It was the loudest we’ve heard Rogers Arena all season. Hell, it probably hasn’t been louder than that in three seasons. For that, it earns a spot on this list.

10. Nilsson Two Shutouts

This one gave us hope that our goaltending duo could perform better than expected in the 2017-18 campaign. During his first two starts as a Canuck, Anders Nilsson posted back-to-back shutouts.

Despite his strong start, Travis Green didn’t seem open to feeding him more ice time. After two strong months to start the season, Nilsson’s play started to falter in December, when the team initially cratered.

Nilsson’s early shutout streak must have been a bit of a slap in the face for Markstrom, who had played 74 games as a Canuck at that point without recording a shutout. Thankfully, he would end that streak of futility in his first full season as a starter.

9. Markstrom’s First Shutout

Yes, in his 86th game as a Canuck and 133rd as an NHLer, Markstrom recorded his first career shutout against the Carolina Hurricanes.

It was a bit of a fluky streak, as Markstrom probably deserved a shutout earlier in his career. He did have five shutouts in 102 AHL games as well.

ve five shutouRegardless on this night, Markstrom stopped all thirty shots he faced and earned the shutout. Although it’s been a bit of an up and down season for the 28-year-old, you can’t argue that he hasn’t made progress.

8. Random Blowout Wins versus Caps, Kings, Stars, and Bruins

Although it seems right now like this team can’t score, can’t defend and can’t stop the puck, there were a few wins this season that raised eyebrows.

Earlier in the season when the Canucks were still in the playoff picture, they demonstrated an odd ability to dominate in a 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals.

In January, they had Loui Eriksson come out of nowhere with a dominant performance, in which he scored two goals and looked like a six million dollar player against the Los Angeles Kings. The Canucks would go on to beat the Kings 6-2. They beat the Bruins by that same score in January, and Eriksson did it again with two more goals against the Boston Bruins in February.

Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Afterwords, he took a bow and performed a disappearing act. He’s quite good at disappearing, as he vanished from the Canucks roster without anyone noticing.

We also saw a surprisingly strong performance from Reid Boucher, and another shutout from Markstrom in a 6-0 thumping of the Stars. That happened the week before they beat down the Bruins. Since that game, the Canucks have gone

7. Jake Virtanen versus the Red Wings

This might have been one of the most entertaining Canucks game all season, and it was all thanks to Jake Virtanen.

The young winger busted through with his best performance of the season early on in Detroit. In a game where he was lined up with the Sedins, the trio dominated and Virtanen got chance after chance.

He would go on to register a goal and an assist in that game. However, his offensive prowess wasn’t the top highlight of the affair.

Sure, it’s a bit easier to hit Niklas Kronwall now than it once wa,s but it was still a wicked play by Virtanen. Unfortunately, couldn’t keep up the consistency, and finds himself with eight goals and 17 points on the season. He is showing more consistency of late, but he hasn’t flat out dominated like he did on this night against the Red Wings.

6. Derek Dorsett surprises Daniel Sedin

On the night where Daniel Sedin was honoured for scoring his 1,000th NHL point, he received a surprise from a very special guest. After Derek Dorsett had announced retirement due to his health, he stepped out onto the ice to congratulate Daniel on his accomplisment.

In a season where there haven’t been many feel-good moments, this is one that stands out.

5. Dorsett Scores Seven in 20

Speaking of Dorsett, he had an incredible run of games just before his career was cut short. Green put Dorsett on a line with Brandon Sutter, and the two acted as a forward shutdown duo. They played the role to perfection early on, even outscoring the oppsition when they were on the ice.

For the first month of the season, Dorsett led the leam in goals scored. He wasn’t surpassed until Boeser began his breakout. It makes the end to his career that much more heartbreaking, as he was playing the best hockey of his life before calling it quits.

4. Vanek’s Five-Point Night

This was one of the most dominating performances that a single Canuck player has had all season long. Thomas Vanek, on a line with Boeser and Sam Gagner, combined to single-handedly dismantle the Blackhawks shortly after Christmas.

Dom Gagne-USA TODAY Sports

Vanek has two goals and three assists on the night, and could have had a fourth assist if it wasn’t for Boeser hitting the post earlier in the game. Unfortunately, pro scouts must have missed this one because it didn’t increase his trade value at the deadline.

3. Boeser’s Hat Trick

It was during a stretch in November where Canucks fans really started to see how Boeser could take over a hockey game. There might not have been a better example than the game he played against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Despite what Matt Murray says about the goals, Boeser was able to bury three on the two-time Stanley Cup champion, leading the Canucks to a 4-2 win. It was one of the few games this season that made you think the Canucks could have a legitimate top line. Sven Baertschi, Bo Horvat and Boeser had a strong game as a whole, showing an ability to create offence and be dangerous around the net. If William Karlsson, Jon Marchessault and Reilly Smith can do it, why can’t these guys?

2. Boeser’s Stare Down on Price

What was even better than the hat trick? How about this epic stare down and snipe on Carey Price. No words needed here, other than that this was the Canucks best goal of the season.

1. Daniel Sedin 1,000 Points

It was bound to happen this season, as the 37-year-old buried his 1,000th NHL point in a win against the Nashville Predators. This was a moment that deserves to be remembered and immortalized by the franchise. Sedin’s 1,000th point was one of the last times to celebrate the twins, and everything they have done for this city.

While Vancouver looks ahead to the next wave of stars, no one is close to reaching the Sedins’ legacy. There are no two players who have given more to this franchise, and they’ve done it all with class and dignity throughout their 17 seasons as Canucks.

Even this season, Daniel has still shown the ability to play. He registered his 11th 20 goal season, becoming the Canucks franchise leader in that category. He leads the club in a number of other areas, including all-time goals, power play goals, and overtime goals.

With his 1,000th point, all the memories about the Sedin twins wowing Vancouver came flooding back into the memory bank. For that, this night in Nashville has been my favourite moment of the Canucks season.

Well, somehow you made it through. Feeling positive yet?