How The Sharks Can Help The Canucks Clinch The 2023-24 Pacific Division Title
The Canucks can clinch their first-ever Pacific Division title on Monday with some help from the Sharks.
Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - How The Sharks Can Help The Canucks Clinch The 2023-24 Pacific Division TitleThe 2023-24 regular season has entered its final week, with the Vancouver Canucks on the verge of clinching their first-ever Pacific Division title. The Canucks, who currently sit with 107 points through 80 games, have a chance to clinch the division on Monday despite sitting idle on the night. With some help from another Pacific Division team, Vancouver could add to the festivities for Fan Appreciation Night by celebrating their first division title of any kind in the last decade.
The math is simple, for the Canucks to clinch the division, the San Jose Sharks need to beat the Edmonton Oilers on Monday night. If the Oilers drop one point to the Sharks, the maximum they can finish with is 107. As Vancouver currently owns the first tiebreaker, which is regulation wins, the Canucks would be guaranteed to finish higher than Edmonton, therefore capturing the division. Winning the division would also ensure Vancouver has home-ice advantage for the first two rounds, which would be beneficial considering how the Canucks have played so far this season at Rogers Arena.
With the math sorted out, the question is, can San Jose pull off the upset against the Oilers on Monday night? While the Sharks have beaten Edmonton already this season, Edmonton has dominated San Jose the last few years, going 9-1 in their previous ten games against their Pacific Division rival. The Oilers are also playing for something, while the Sharks are guaranteed to finish 32nd regardless of the result. All this being said, with players in San Jose fighting for jobs next season and young players showing they deserve a crack at the NHL roster in 2024-25, it could generate the perfect storm which leads the Sharks to a late-season victory.
Even if Edmonton wins, Vancouver controls their own destiny and can clinch the division with one point over their final two games. The Canucks even have a chance at the Western Conference regular season title depending on the result of the Dallas Stars' final game of the year. Ultimately, while a division title doesn't guarantee playoff success, it is a good reminder of just how special the 2023-24 regular season has been.
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