The Canucks captain continues to amaze. Hughes scored twice Saturday to become the first blueliner to 50 points through 41 games in back-to-back seasons since Paul Coffey in the late 80s.
It’s the kind of math that adds up to trouble if you don’t find a solution.
When you’re trailing the Western Conference playoff pack and wondering how many teams you have to pass to claim a wild-card berth, who has how many games in hand, and who owns the regulation wins tiebreaker, it leads to stress.
The Colorado Avalanche hold the first wild-card spot and are seven points up on the Canucks, who have two games in hand. And they’re only five points back of the third-place Los Angeles Kings, who have two games in hand.
The 29th-ranked Buffalo Sabres are here Tuesday and it’s really a must-win game because the Canucks face the Oilers again on Thursday in Edmonton and host the league-leading Washington Capitals on Saturday.
It’s why the timing of the gritty 3-2 win over the Oilers on home ice Saturday was perfect. It was a night where they pushed the pace, pushed back, scored twice on the power play and Hughes struck twice. This must be repeated.
“It’s the consistency of our game and how to handle pressure. We need more guys to dig in for us and they did. And we need some good stuff to happen around here. We’ve got to get a little bit of momentum. We’ve had some bad luck and a lot of self-inflicted stuff.
“I’m an even-keeled guy. This was a big win (Saturday) but we’ve got to get back to it and be ready for Tuesday. That has to be your attitude right now.”
Here’s what awaits the Canucks this week:
Canucks vs. Sabres
When and where: Tuesday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: Lindy Ruff shuffles deck
The Sabres have missed the playoffs for 13-consecutive seasons — a modern-era record — and last time they advanced in 2011, Ruff was behind the bench. He returned to the franchise in April but hasn’t waved a magic wand. Buffalo is 11 points shy of the final wild-card spot with eight teams to pass.
Who to watch: Right-winger Tage Thompson
A notable roster snub for the U.S. — along with Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens — for the 4 Nations faceoff tournament next month in Montreal and Boston. Towering winger leads club with 19 goals, including 15 at even strength.
Canucks vs. Oilers
When and where: Thursday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Place
TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat
The pace and level of animosity are always higher between the division rivals because the high-octane Oilers have a top-gear offence and don’t like to be kept from running up the score. The Canucks checked a lot of boxes Saturday. They need to do it again.
Another Norris Trophy and Hart Trophy consideration are possible because the captain continues to blow minds. He scored twice Saturday to become the first blueliner to 50 points through 41 games in back-to-back seasons since Paul Coffey (1987-88, 1988-89).
Canucks vs. Capitals
When and where: Saturday, 7 p.m. | Rogers Arena
TV: Sportsnet, HNIC. Radio: Sportsnet 650
Why watch: Be elite against elite
Who to watch: Left winger Alex Ovechkin
The Canucks kept Ovechkin, who had four goals in his previous six games, from scoring Jan. 8 in his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s league record of 894 career goals. ‘The Great 8’ is now just 20 goals shy of equalling the long-standing mark and will be in his sweet shooting spot at Rogers Arena to creep close to “The Great One.”