1992–93 Vancouver Canucks season


The 1992–93 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' 23rd NHL season.
On September 21, Jim Robson, who had called Canucks play-by-play action since their WHL days, was given the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for excellence in hockey broadcasting and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Canucks were looking to build on the successes of the previous season, but they would have to do so without their top line centre. Instead of re-signing with the Canucks and having Sovintersport continue to draw a portion of his salary, Igor Larionov decided to play the year in Lugano, Switzerland, and then return to the NHL the following season. With the loss of Larionov, more production would be hoped for from Petr Nedved, who was entering his third NHL season.
Keeping the rest of their cast in order, for the most part, the Canucks won their first four games, outscoring the opposition 24–9. They slumped back to.500 in early November but then exploded, going 20–5–2 in 27 games. During that time, Nedved racked up a club-record point-scoring streak. He recorded 24 points in 15 games before being held pointless in a 5–2 win over Montreal on December 27. On January 19, a first-place showdown took place at Pacific Coliseum, as the Canucks, had a chance to overtake Pittsburgh as the league's top team. However, the Canucks lost 5–2 and would never again get a chance to jump into first overall. The game also ended the club's amazing 18-game home unbeaten streak. Pavel Bure was scoring goals at an unprecedented pace for a Canuck and was voted to start in the 1993 NHL All-Star Game with 246,447 fan votes. On March 1, in a neutral-site game in Hamilton against Buffalo, Bure became the first Canuck to score 50 goals in a season. Grant Fuhr was the goaltender and RW Dixon Ward and Robert Dirk drew the assists on the goal in a 5–2 win for the Canucks. Exactly a month later, Bure scored on Tampa Bay's Pat Jablonski to become the first Canuck to record 100 points in a season. He would then record his 60th goal into an empty-net in a 6–3 win over Calgary on April 11, a game in which the Canucks clinched the division title for the second straight year. It was Bure's last goal of the season to go with 50 assists for 110 points—15th in the league. The day after Bure recorded his 100th point, long-time owner Frank Griffiths was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder's Category. Griffiths had owned the Canucks for 19 years now, although his son Arthur Griffiths had gradually taken over the day-to-day running of the team over the past decade. A couple of other noteworthy accomplishments took place that spring. Ryan Walter played in his 1,000th NHL game on March 20 in a 7–2 home loss to the New York Islanders, and Kirk McLean recorded his 127th victory as a Canuck on April 7, passing Richard Brodeur as the Canucks all-time wins leader, in a 5–4 overtime victory over Edmonton. The Canucks beat Los Angeles 8–6 on April 15, the final game of the season, to record their 46th victory and 100th and 101st points of the season. It was the first time the team eclipsed the century-mark in points. It was also the first time that there were six 70-point scorers on the team. Bure, Cliff Ronning, Geoff Courtnall, C Murray Craven, Trevor Linden, and Nedved all reached that mark. As well, Gino Odjick broke his own team penalty-minutes record. The Canucks finished 4th in the league in goals with 346, had four 30-goal scorers, and led the league in most even-strength goals scored, with 249.
Once again the Canucks matched up with Winnipeg in the opening round. The Canucks rolled to victories in Games One and Two by 4–2 and 3–2 scores before being beaten almost single-handedly by Winnipeg's star rookie, Teemu Selanne. Selanne, who shattered the rookie goal-scoring record during the season with 76, scored three times in helping the Jets to a 5–4 win. Two nights later, the Canucks put a strangle hold on the series, winning 3–1 to take a series lead of the same score. It appeared that the Canucks were poised to eliminate the Jets in five, thereby avoiding the long, grinding seven-game series of a year ago which made them ill-prepared for the division finals. The Jets scrapped their way to a 3–3 tie through 60 minutes, though, and won in overtime when Selanne's centering pass hit LW Tim Hunter in the shin and re-directed past McLean. Back in Winnipeg on April 29, the rabid fans were determined to send the series to a decisive seventh game, and the teams battled to another 3–3 deadlock with 3.4 seconds to play and a faceoff deep in Winnipeg's end. The Canucks won the draw and Sergio Momesso managed a shot on goal, which sneaked through Bob Essensa and into the net as time expired. The Canucks jumped off the bench, thinking they had won the game and the series, but a lengthy video review was unable to determine if the puck had crossed the line before time expired and it was ruled no goal. Eight minutes into overtime Greg Adams drove hard to the Winnipeg net and was brought down by a Winnipeg backchecker. As he went down, the puck hit his skate and went into the net. Another replay was ordered, but this time a goal was awarded and the Canucks had won the series. There was little on-ice celebrating, though, as the incensed Winnipeg fans began littering the ice with debris, and so the teams quickly shook hands and vacated the playing surface.
The Division Final began on the afternoon of May 2 with the Canucks beating Los Angeles 5–2 to take the series lead. The Kings looked lethargic in the game, but came out gunning three nights later, as the dreaded combination of Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri accounted for five goals in the Kings 6–3 victory. In Game Three, the big scorers were at it again, as the Kings ran up a 7–4 win to take the series lead. The Canucks' big guns were not to be outdone, though, as they came back with an offensive onslaught have their own to win 7–2 in Game Four. Game Five was dominated by the Canucks, but Kelly Hrudey had his best outing of the series, keeping his Kings in a 3–3 tie through regulation time. Hrudey continued his theatrics in the fourth period, making several fine saves which included robbing Pavel Bure of what looked like a sure goal. But the Kings started to turn the tide in period number five and at the 6:31 mark Gary Shuchuk took a weak shot from a bad angle that found its way under Kirk McLean's arm to give the Kings the winning tally. The Canucks were now on the brink of elimination and played Game Six very cautiously. After trailing 1-0 after one period, Gerald Diduck and Jim Sandlak gave the Canucks the lead early in the second period, but Dana Murzyn picked a bad time to take two penalties on one play, one for high-sticking, the other for cross-checking. The Canucks managed to kill off the first penalty, but botched a line change as the second penalty began and were caught with too many men on the ice. The Kings scored three times, twice on the power plays, to take a 4-2 lead into the intermission. A Wayne Gretzky goal midway through the third period padded their lead, with Trevor Linden getting it back a few minutes later. With the score now 5–3, the Canucks pulled McLean to attempt the comeback, but there was no further scoring. For the second year in a row, the Canucks had been ousted in the second round after winning the division title. After over a decade of very modest post-season success, the fans of Vancouver were now hungry for something more.

Regular season

Schedule and results

October

Monthly record: 5–4–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 6Vancouver5 – 4EdmontonMcLean14,0941–0–02
2October 10Edmonton2 – 5VancouverMcLean14,8792–0–04
3October 12Winnipeg1 – 8VancouverMcLean13,0843–0–06
4October 16Vancouver6 – 2WinnipegWhitmore14,7854–0–08
5October 18Vancouver1 – 3ChicagoMcLean17,3274–1–08
6October 20Vancouver1 – 5PittsburghMcLean15,8084–2–08
7October 22Vancouver4 – 4PhiladelphiaOTWhitmore17,1324–2–19
8October 25Boston5 – 3VancouverMcLean16,0844–3–19
9October 28Washington3 – 4VancouverMcLean13,6475–3–111
10October 30Minnesota3 – 2VancouverWhitmore14,0695–4–111

November

Monthly record: 9–5–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
11November 1Vancouver3 – 5CalgaryMcLean18,5195–5–111
12November 4Calgary5 – 5VancouverOTMcLean13,6555–5–212
13November 6Ottawa1 – 4VancouverMcLean15,3326–5–214
14November 8Winnipeg1 – 6VancouverWhitmore14,0267–5–216
15November 10San Jose2 – 6VancouverMcLean13,4488–5–218
16November 12Vancouver4 – 7Los AngelesMcLean15,4868–6–218
17November 14Vancouver5 – 2San JoseWhitmore11,0899–6–220
18November 16Los Angeles3 – 6VancouverMcLean15,89610–6–222
19November 18Vancouver2 – 4EdmontonMcLean13,47610–7–222
20November 19Vancouver3 – 4CalgaryWhitmore19,16910–8–222
21November 21Edmonton0 – 9VancouverMcLean15,96011–8–224
22November 23Chicago2 – 5VancouverWhitmore16,02212–8–226
23November 25Vancouver4 – 2MinnesotaWhitmore13,11713–8–228
24November 26Vancouver5 – 7St. LouisMcLean16,77813–9–228
25November 28Vancouver6 – 5MontrealMcLean17,63914–9–230

December

Monthly record: 9–1–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
26December 3Edmonton1 – 4VancouverMcLean15,58915–9–232
27December 7St. Louis3 – 4VancouverWhitmore14,70916–9–234
28December 9San Jose3 – 8VancouverMcLean12,79517–9–236
29December 13Quebec3 – 3VancouverOTMcLean16,15017–9–337
30December 16Vancouver2 – 4EdmontonWhitmore14,01117–10–337
31December 18San Jose1 – 8VancouverMcLean14,51118–10–339
32December 19Vancouver6 – 3San JoseWhitmore11,08919–10–341
33December 22Vancouver6 – 2Los AngelesMcLean16,00520–10–343
34December 27Montreal2 – 5VancouverMcLean16,15021–10–345
35December 29San Jose5 – 7VancouverWhitmore16,15022–10–347
36December 31Los Angeles0 – 4VancouverMcLean16,15023–10–349

January

Monthly record: 6–4–5
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
37January 2Vancouver2 – 2San JoseOTWhitmore11,08923–10–450
38January 4Tampa Bay0 – 7VancouverMcLean15,57824–10–452
39January 6Vancouver5 – 2TorontoMcLean15,72025–10–454
40January 8Vancouver3 – 6DetroitMcLean19,87525–11–454
41January 9Vancouver5 – 4NY IslandersWhitmore11,66126–11–456
42January 11Vancouver3 – 3NY RangersOTMcLean17,64126–11–557
43January 12Vancouver2 – 3New JerseyWhitmore9,12526–12–557
44January 15Buffalo1 – 4VancouverMcLean16,15027–12–559
45January 16Hartford3 – 8VancouverWhitmore15,63128–12–561
46January 19Pittsburgh5 – 2VancouverMcLean16,15028–13–561
47January 21Vancouver5 – 4Los AngelesMcLean16,00529–13–563
48January 23Vancouver3 – 3MinnesotaOTWhitmore13,51229–13–664
49January 24Vancouver2 – 6ChicagoMcLean17,85929–14–664
50January 27Chicago4 – 4VancouverOTWhitmore16,15029–14–765
51January 30Detroit4 – 4VancouverOTMcLean16,15029–14–866

February

Monthly record: 6–5–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
52February 1Minnesota5 – 4VancouverMcLean14,83029–15–866
53February 3Tampa Bay2 – 4VancouverWhitmore14,17130–15–868
54February 9Vancouver5 – 1QuebecMcLean14,36031–15–870
55February 11Vancouver2 – 5TorontoMcLean15,72031–16–870
56February 12Vancouver3 – 1BuffaloWhitmore16,32532–16–872
57February 15Vancouver0 – 3Los AngelesMcLean16,00532–17–872
58February 18Philadelphia3 – 2VancouverWhitmore16,15032–18–872
59February 20Winnipeg2 – 4VancouverMcLean16,15033–18–874
60February 22Toronto8 – 1VancouverMcLean16,15033–19–874
61February 24NY Rangers4 – 5VancouverWhitmore16,15034–19–876
62February 26Vancouver7 – 4WinnipegMcLean15,39835–19–878

March

Monthly record: 5–8–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
63March 1Vancouver5 – 2BuffaloWhitmore17,09836–19–880
64March 2Vancouver3 – 3WashingtonOTMcLean12,26336–19–981
65March 4Vancouver3 – 4BostonWhitmore13,98236–20–981
66March 6Vancouver1 – 5HartfordMcLean12,04836–21–981
67March 9New Jersey2 – 7VancouverMcLean15,82237–21–983
68March 11Minnesota4 – 3VancouverWhitmore12,00637–22–983
69March 12Vancouver3 – 2WinnipegMcLean15,56738–22–985
70March 14Vancouver2 – 3CalgaryMcLean20,21438–23–985
71March 18Winnipeg5 – 2VancouverMcLean16,15038–24–985
72March 20NY Islanders7 – 2VancouverWhitmore16,15038–25–985
73March 22St. Louis3 – 1VancouverMcLean15,87138–26–985
74March 24Los Angeles2 – 6VancouverMcLean16,15039–26–987
75March 26Calgary3 – 1VancouverMcLean16,15039–27–987
76March 30Vancouver6 – 3St. LouisMcLean17,57340–27–989

April

Monthly record: 6–2–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
77April 1Vancouver5 – 3Tampa BayWhitmore10,42541–27–991
78April 3Vancouver1 – 5DetroitMcLean19,87541–28–991
79April 4Vancouver3 – 0OttawaWhitmore10,57542–28–993
80April 7Edmonton4 – 5VancouverOTMcLean15,85843–28–995
81April 9Vancouver1 – 8CalgaryMcLean20,21443–29–995
82April 11Calgary3 – 6VancouverMcLean16,15044–29–997
83April 13Los Angeles4 – 7VancouverWhitmore16,15045–29–999
84April 15Vancouver8 – 6Los AngelesWhitmore16,00546–29–9101

Smythe Division Semi-finals: vs. (4) Winnipeg Jets">Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)">Winnipeg Jets

Vancouver wins series 4–2.
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 19Winnipeg2 – 4VancouverMcLean1 – 0
2April 21Winnipeg2 – 3VancouverMcLean2 – 0
3April 23Vancouver4 – 5WinnipegMcLean2 – 1
4April 25Vancouver3 – 1WinnipegMcLean3 – 1
5April 27Winnipeg4 – 3VancouverOTMcLean3 – 2
6April 29Vancouver4 – 3WinnipegOTMcLean4 – 2

Smythe Division Final: vs. (3) [Los Angeles Kings]

Los Angeles wins series 4–2.
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1May 2Los Angeles2 – 5VancouverMcLean16,1501 – 0
2May 5Los Angeles6 – 3VancouverMcLean16,1501 – 1
3May 7Vancouver4 – 7Los AngelesMcLean16,0051 – 2
4May 9Vancouver7 – 2Los AngelesMcLean16,0052 – 2
5May 11Los Angeles4 – 3Vancouver2OTMcLean16,1502 – 3
6May 13Vancouver3 – 5Los AngelesMcLean16,0052 – 4

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
PlayerGPGAPts+/-PIM
Pavel Bure8360501103569
Cliff Ronning792956851930
Geoff Courtnall8431467727167
Murray Craven77255277-132
Trevor Linden843339721964

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice ; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average
PlayerGPTOIWLTGASOSv%GAA
Kay Whitmore3118171884941.8903.10
Kirk McLean543261282151843.8863.39

Playoffs

Scoring Leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
Geoff Courtnall124101412
Greg Adams1276136
Trevor Linden12581316
Pavel Bure1257128
Cliff Ronning1229116

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games Played; TOI = Time On Ice ; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average
PlayerGPTOIWLGASOSv%GAA
Kirk McLean1275466420.8863.34

Awards and records

1993 Canuck awards winners

Trades

Free agents acquired

Free agents lost

Received from waivers

Placed on waivers

Expansion draft

Vancouver's losses at the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft in Montreal, Quebec.
Round#PlayerNationalityDrafted byDrafted from
113Ken Hammond Ottawa SenatorsVancouver Canucks
123Rob Murphy Ottawa SenatorsVancouver Canucks

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1992 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec.
Round#PlayerNationalityNHL teamCollege/junior/club team
121Libor Polasek Vancouver CanucksVitkovice SSK
240Michael Peca Vancouver Canucks Ottawa 67's
245Mike Fountain Vancouver CanucksOshawa Generals
369Jeff Connolly Vancouver CanucksSt. Sebastien High School
493Brent Tully Vancouver CanucksPeterborough Petes
5110Brian Loney Vancouver Canucks Ohio State University
5117Adrian Aucoin Vancouver CanucksBoston University
6141Jason Clark Vancouver CanucksSt. Thomas Jr. B
7165Scott Hollis Vancouver CanucksOshawa Generals
9213Sonny Mignacca Vancouver CanucksMedicine Hat Tigers
10237Mark Wotton Vancouver CanucksSaskatoon Blades
11261Aaron Boh Vancouver CanucksSpokane Chiefs

Farm teams

[Hamilton Canucks]

Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliate that play in Hamilton, Ontario, and their home arena is the Copps Coliseum.

[Columbus Chill]

Vancouver Canucks ECHL affiliate that play in Columbus, Ohio, and their home arena is the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum.