2016 was a tough year for the Vancouver Canucks,
Tonight, the team will play their 81st game of this calendar year. Of the previous 80, they have only won 32. Only the Arizona Coyotes and Toronto Maple Leafs have fewer wins in the last 363 days.
But a new year brings the hope of better times ahead. The Canucks are currently six points behind the Dallas Stars for the final wild card spot in the West. On paper, making up that difference should be doable.
In practice, though, it’s a lot harder than it sounds.