Ian Cole vividly recalls how he felt before skating out for his first NHL playoff game.
Vancouver Canucks centre J.T. Miller is congratulated for his hat-trick by teammates defenceman Ian Cole and centre Pius Suter during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. “You’re so scared because you know how important it is. You’re like ‘Just don’t make a mistake! Don’t make a mistake! Don’t make a mistake!’”
The Canucks secured their post-season berth on Saturday, becoming the first Canadian team to book their spot.The Canucks last played post-season hockey in Edmonton at the end of the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. The Canucks haven't hosted a playoff game since 2015. Three of Vancouver's top stars — right-winger Brock Boeser, centre Elias Pettersson and defenceman Quinn Hughes — hadn't been drafted at the time.
"Obviously the cost of mistakes is a little higher," said the centre, who won a Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights last season. "So I think you’ve just got to be really dialed in and focused and committed to doing your job, be willing to put your body on the line physically, blocking shots, all those little details.
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