At the beginning of this year's NHL season, after a successful playoff run the previous summer, the Canucks had lofty expectations thrust upon them. Many had not only predicted them as a division contender yet again, but they had gone as far as deeming the Canucks as a worthy Stanley Cup contender. Much, if not all, of the Canucks success was based on one thing: strong defensive play. With the fabled play of Roberto Luongo and a defensive six which rivaled almost any in the league, the Canucks were a hard team to play against and always found ways to win.

But this season the Canucks started off slow. Roberto Luongo was not exactly the goaltender we saw throughout the second half of last season and the defensive unit began the season undermanned. Couple these factors together with a few new faces and added pressure for the few scorers of the team, Vancouver came out of the gate slower than they would have liked. In November, the team had managed to turn the tables and while two of their top defensemen, Kevin Bieksa and Sami Salo, were claimed by the injury bug the Canucks still iced a lineup that could do what it took to win. And Luongo was playing unbelievable. But after that one stretch of play that was reminiscent of last years last season surge, the Canucks began a downward spiral.

I’ll be the first to admit that this year’s Canucks team is not the most talented bunch and it may have just been a matter of time before they put together a lengthy streak of unwanted results, but it was more than just being laden with mediocrity that caused the team’s latest troubles. At one point the Canucks were without the services of defenseman Mattias Ohlund, Kevin Bieksa, Sami Salo, Willie Mitchell and Lukas Krajicek. And while the team managed to stay in games, they could not win them being held under siege for as long as they were. Having five of your top six defenseman out of the lineup is beyond unlucky. It’s fatal. It’s surprising, and a credit to their defensive and minor league systems that Canucks were able to even stay close to the playoffs.

Recently, the Canucks have had some success and have climbed their way back into the Western Conference playoff picture and may possibly even challenge for the Northwest Division title. It’s no coincidence that as each of the Canucks’ defensemen began make their way back into the lineup the team began to play a more consistently successful game. Now with five out of their top six d-men back in the lineup, Mike Weaver playing as a more than able sixth, and Roberto Luongo performing the way all Canucks’ fans hoped we would have, the Canucks have won three games straight and seem to have turned a corner.

After an injury riddled season as yet, the Canucks are as healthy as they have been to date and are showing it in their play. Lukas Krajicek and Aaron Miller are the defensemen still out the lineup, but the Canucks need only dress one of them to complete their top six as Alexander Edler has claimed a permanent spot on the Canucks’ back line. Brendan Morrison is also on his way back and should provide a very welcome offensive and veteran boost. And while the NHL trading deadline is upcoming, with injuries nearly out of the picture, the Canucks seem to have already made the additions they need to be equipped with a lineup that is capable of making a push during the stretch run and, if on a streak, during the playoffs.

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