Vancouver Canucks Peaking at Right Time

Mike Gillis raised a lot of eyebrows for his lack of activity on trade deadline day, leading many fans and media people to believe he did not want to make a run this year for the cup. 

However, the Canucks continue to win and made a huge statement Saturday in a very strong effort en route to a 3-1 win over the first-place San Jose Sharks. 

Vancouver has now won 12 of their last 14 games and are without a doubt the hottest team in the NHL. 

In their recent hot streak it is very hard to find too many faults in their game.  Certainly the 24th-ranked penalty kill unit still needs improvement, as they've given up power play goals in the last two games.  But before that, they have shown a lot more effort in the penalty kill. 

Roberto Luongo has really improved his play since coming back from his lower-body injury, posting a .917 save percentage and not allowing more than two goals in his last four games. 

Alex Burrows has shown real chemistry with two unlikely players the Sedin twins and the three have helped show consistency and been able to give the Canucks two lines that are red hot and can put points on the board. 

Mats Sundin after a slow start has really been great of late and got his first goal in in 12 games Saturday, as he and Kessler and Demitra have really improved the power play.

On the back end they are once again healthy—and they are contributing in a big way. Bieksa is leading the way with 11 goals and Edler is making a big difference with his blast from the point that has produced eight goals thus far this season.  On the blue line the Canucks are as strong and solid as any unit in the league when they are all together and healthy. 

Could the Canucks have made some moves to improve this team and make a run? Sure—but that is not to say they will not be able to do anything with the team they have now.  They have a hot goaltender who has proven himself in the playoff and they have a team that has shown they can come from behind and that they can beat the best teams in the league. 

Right now, they are the team no one wants to face in the West because they have a hot goalie, two great scoring lines and are tougher and grittier than perhaps they've been since the mid '90s.  There were a lot more reasons for Gillis to keep this team together than there was to make a big acquisition and risk breaking up this recent hot streak. 

Whether they did the right thing by staying put, we will find out soon. But there is no reason to believe that this team cannot cause several upsets and make a run at the Cup right here and now.