Five years ago, today’s Vancouver Canucks clinched their spot in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs by defeating the Minnesota Wild 5-4 in overtime. This marked their first playoff appearance since 2015. After dropping Game 1 with a 3-0 loss, Vancouver bounced back to win Games 2 and 3, putting the Wild on the verge of elimination.
A highlight from this playoff run happened even before the game began. In a video shared on the Canucks’ social media, forward JT Miller energized the team by passionately reading the starting lineup, clearly firing up the room.
Game 4 started poorly for Vancouver as the Wild scored a power-play goal just three minutes into the first period. Tanner Pearson quickly leveled the score for the Canucks, but Eric Staal soon put Minnesota ahead again. The period ended with Minnesota leading 2-1, with both teams accumulating five penalties combined.
The second period saw intense action. Joel Eriksson Ek pushed Minnesota’s lead to 3-1 early on, but Brandon Sutter narrowed the gap to 3-2 shortly after. Quinn Hughes then scored his first NHL playoff goal, tying the game at 3-3 late in the period. However, Nico Sturm scored another goal within a minute, giving the Wild a 4-3 lead heading into the final period.
Despite the setback, the Canucks still held the series lead, but their loss in Game 4 forced a decisive Game 5. Vancouver managed to equalize in the third period with a goal from former captain Bo Horvat, who eventually scored eight goals during the postseason. Though Vancouver was eliminated, Horvat finished as the series’ top scorer.
Overtime loomed large, with many expecting a lengthy battle. However, veteran Chris Tanev secured the win for Vancouver with a decisive shot past Minnesota goalie Alex Stalock. The goal sparked wild celebrations on the ice and even saw stoic head coach Travis Green raising his arms in triumph.
This victory propelled the Canucks to the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs against the reigning champions, the St. Louis Blues. While the matchup was tough, the Canucks’ strong team spirit and resilience stood out throughout the series.
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Fan Take: This moment was pivotal for the Canucks, reigniting playoff hope after a five-year drought and showcasing the team’s grit and determination. It highlights how perseverance and a united locker room can galvanize a team, inspiring hockey fans and the sport at large to value teamwork and resilience in playoff hockey.
