He has the potential to make NHL history tonight when the Canucks face the LA Kings at Crypto.com Arena.
The Canucks reached .500 (15-15-2) for the first time since October when they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim last night. It took J.T. Miller only 26 seconds in Overtime to seal the win.
This was the Canucks first win at the Honda Center since March 5, 2017, when Richard Bachman made 43 saves in a 2-1 win.
The team looks rejuvenated under Bruce since his hiring was announced on the evening of December 5th.
Under Boudreau, the Canucks are 7-0-0, and show no signs of slowing down. This makes Bruce the third coach in NHL history to start 7-0 with a new team, matching Geoff Ward in 2019-20 with Calgary and Jacques Lemaire in 1993-94 with New Jersey.
Five of these wins have been by one goal, with three going into overtime or a shootout.
The Canucks were 8-15-2 up until the day Travis Green was fired, and now they sit only 4 points back of the Edmonton Oilers for the second wildcard position. 1st place in their division is only 10 points out of reach, and the Canucks could be in the rearview mirror eyeing 1st in the Pacific if they continue to win games.
The Boudreau effect
Since the Canucks hired Bruce Boudreau Dec. 5:
Goals for: 22
Goals against: 11
PP 27.8%
PK 87.5%
Save % .949
Brock Boeser has 5 goals and 2 assists in 6 games. He had only 10 points in 22 games under Travis Green.
J.T. Miller has 3 goals and 8 assists in 7 games, and now has 34 points in 32 games on the season. 8th best in the NHL. His 4 OT winners in 2021 are tied for 2nd-best in the NHL.
Here's the overall player stats since Bruce took over
Boudreau has been praising Tyler Myers for his importance to the team, and his stat's show for it. He is a +9 in his previous 7 games with 3 assists.
Still underdogs
As of this morning, the Canucks are +470 to make the playoffs and -750 to miss the playoffs. That +470 translates to a 17.5 per cent implied probability that it happens.
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