The 2024-25 season did not go as planned for the Vancouver Canucks. After winning the Pacific Division in 2023-24, Vancouver missed the post-season, finishing the campaign with 90 points. Overall, there were many reasons why the Canucks missed the playoffs, with one of the major issues being Vancouver's play in overtime and the shootout.
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The Canucks play in overtime and the shootout this season was baffaling. Vancouver needed to go beyond 60 minutes 24 times, which was tied for the league lead with the Calgary Flames. In the end, the Canucks picked up the extra point only 10 times, positing a win percentage of .417.
Vancouver's issues came during overtime, rather than in the shootout. The Canucks had a league-high 19 games decided in the five minute three-on-three session, posting seven wins and 12 losses. In the end, Vancouver was outshot 43-39 in the extra frame, with their goaltenders recording a combined 31 saves during the 19 games.
One of the big questions surrounding this season's overtime play has to do with player deployment. Certain players continued to get opportunities, despite continually being on the ice for goals and high-danger chances against. Below is a look at the top 10 three-on-three ice times for the Canucks this season.
1) Quinn Hughes- 41:19, 4 GF, 4 GA
2) Conor Garland- 27:03, 1 GA, 2 GA
3) Brock Boeser- 23:36- 3 GF, 6 GA
4) Jake DeBrusk- 22:40, 2 GF, 3 GA
5) Pius Suter- 18:37- 0 GF, 1 GA
6) Center Elias Pettersson- 16:07, 1 GF, 1 GA
7) Filip Hronek- 13:52, 0 GF, 2 GA
8) J.T. Miller- 12:28, 1 GF, 6 GA
9) Kiefer Sherwood- 10:34, 0 GF, 1 GA
10) Carson Soucy- 6:18, 0 GF, 2 GA
On a positive note, there were a handful of players who finished with an SF% of over 50% at three-on-three this season. Those players include Hughes (26-16), Garland (17-11), Suter (15-6) and Sherwood (5-1). All four were also among the team leaders in individual shots on goal and created at least one individual high-danger chance.
In the end, Vancouver's record in extra time cost them a spot in the post-season. The Canucks missed the playoffs by seven points, which could have been made up if they won half of the games that they ended up losing. While it wasn't the only reason Vancouver missed the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, their problematic record in extra time played a signifcant factor in why the Canucks season concluded early this season.
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