Rocky start:There was optimism following the Canucks' play in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Edmonton bubble, but it faded quickly when Vancouver began this season 6-11-0, including a six-game losing streak from Feb. 1-11. During those first 17 games, goalies Thatcher Demko (3-6-0, 3.74 goals-against average, .896 save percentage, nine games) and Braden Holtby (3-5-0, 3.75 GAA, .885 save percentage, eight games) each struggled.
The outbreak: The Canucks were coming out of a six-day break in their schedule when forward Adam Gaudette tested positive for COVID-19 and was pulled from practice March 30. It was the first sign of an outbreak that extended to 22 players and four staff members, including coach Travis Green, testing positive. Vancouver, 16-18-3 at that point, had nine games postponed, didn't play again until April 18 and lost all hope when they went 3-7-0 in their next 10 games after resuming play.
Pettersson injury:Having the 22-year-old center limited to 26 games because of an upper-body injury was too much to overcome. Pettersson, who scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists), is one of Vancouver's most explosive performers, having scored 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games last season. Without him since March 2, a game-breaker was lost.