2006–07 Vancouver Canucks season


The 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' 37th NHL season.

Season overview

The season began on the heels of a blockbuster trade involving goaltender Roberto Luongo and Lukas Krajicek coming to Vancouver in exchange for Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld and Bryan Allen. The acquisition of Luongo combined with the salary increases of the Sedin twins meant that the Canucks were too close to salary cap and as a result, saw names such as Ed Jovanovski, Anson Carter, Nolan Baumgartner, Jarkko Ruutu and Wade Brookbank lost to free agency.
In addition to the departures of high-profile players such as Bertuzzi, Jovanovski and Carter, General Manager Dave Nonis had fired Marc Crawford as head coach after the 2005–06 season, and replaced him with Alain Vigneault. The team also added players such as Jan Bulis, Taylor Pyatt, Marc Chouinard and Willie Mitchell, players who many thought are not as highly skilled as the ones who had recently departed. Despite the arrival of Luongo, many hockey analysts and fans predicted before the season began that the team would either miss the playoffs, or at best battle for the last playoff spots as 7th or 8th seed in the Western Conference. However, a few did foresee that the addition of a high-calibre goaltender in Luongo would propel the Canucks into the top three of the conference.
Under such skepticism, the team played mediocre hockey from October to the Christmas break, and received criticism due to the team's lack of scoring during this period. However, after the Christmas break, the team had settled down on Vigneault's coaching system, and played stellar hockey from that point on, exceeding the expectations of fans, analysts and critics alike. On April 7, 2007, the Canucks defeated the San Jose Sharks by a score of 4–3 in overtime to clinch the Northwest Division title; their second in the past three seasons. Not only did the team win a division title, this season was known for many milestones, such as Taylor Pyatt setting career high in points, and Alain Vigneault setting a new franchise record for wins as a head coach. Also, second-year player Kevin Bieksa had emerged as a top-four defenceman on the team throughout the season.
On January 9, 2007, the NHL announced that Roberto Luongo had been voted by the fans to start in goal in the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas. Aside from Luongo's selection into the All-Star Game, the first half of the season was also noted for the "Vote for Rory" internet campaign. The campaign was aimed at getting defenceman Rory Fitzpatrick voted into the 2007 All-Star Game, while mocking the NHL system of internet voting which encouraged people to vote as many times as they liked.
For the first time in franchise history, the Canucks ended the regular season with the league's best penalty killing record, with an 86.9% efficiency.
With the division title and third seed in the conference, the Canucks faced off against the Dallas Stars in the Western Quarter-finals. The Canucks first game back in the playoffs was a long one. On April 11, 2007, the Canucks set a franchise record with a quadruple OT win in Game 1. The game was the longest in Canucks history and the sixth longest in league history. Also in this game the Canucks set a record for shots against, allowing 76. The Canucks won this seven-game series despite the fact that every Dallas victory was a shutout for goalie Marty Turco.
The goal scoring woes continued in the second round against Brian Burke's Anaheim Ducks and the Canucks could not score more than two goals in a game. Although Trevor Linden experienced a resurgence and tied for the team lead for scoring in the playoffs, the Sedin twins could not escape the Ducks' tight checking. The third period of Game 4 was a pivotal point as the Canucks could not protect a 2–0 third-period at home and lost in overtime. In the deciding Game 5 in Anaheim, call-up rookie Jannik Hansen attempted to move the puck from the Canucks' zone, but was caught by a thunderous hit by Rob Niedermayer. The puck then went to his brother Scott, right at the blue line, who fired a wrist shot on net. Roberto Luongo, engaged with a referee over whether the puck had cleared the zone, failed to track the puck, which ended up the back of the net and ended the Canucks' season.

Regular season

The Canucks finished the regular season with the League's best penalty-kill percentage, at 86.93%.

Schedule and results

October

Monthly Record: 7–5–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 5Vancouver3 – 1DetroitLuongo20,0661–0–02
2October 6Vancouver3 – 2ColumbusOTLuongo18,1362–0–04
3October 8Vancouver2 – 3ColoradoLuongo18,0072–1–04
4October 10Vancouver1 – 2MinnesotaSOLuongo18,0642–1–15
5October 13San Jose6 – 4VancouverLuongo18,6302–2–15
6October 16Edmonton1 – 2VancouverLuongo18,6303–2–17
7October 17Vancouver1 – 2EdmontonSabourin16,8393–3–17
8October 20Vancouver3 – 2St. LouisOTLuongo9,0494–3–19
9October 21Vancouver4 – 3NashvilleOTLuongo16,0735–3–111
10October 23Vancouver1 – 2DallasLuongo16,6395–4–111
11October 25Vancouver5 – 0ChicagoLuongo11,6416–4–113
12October 27Washington2 – 3VancouverSOLuongo18,6307–4–115
13October 31Nashville3 – 2VancouverLuongo18,6307–5–115

November

Monthly record: 5–8–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
14November 2Vancouver2 – 5MinnesotaLuongo18,5687–6–115
15November 4Vancouver2 – 3ColoradoLuongo18,0077–7–115
16November 6Dallas1 – 2VancouverLuongo18,6308–7–117
17November 9Anaheim6 – 0VancouverLuongo18,6308–8–117
18November 11Calgary3 – 2VancouverLuongo18,6308–9–117
19November 14Detroit3 – 2VancouverLuongo18,6308–10–117
20November 17St. Louis2 – 4VancouverLuongo18,6309–10–119
21November 19Chicago1 – 2VancouverLuongo18,63010–10–121
22November 22Vancouver4 – 3DetroitOTLuongo20,06611–10–123
23November 23Vancouver0 – 6NashvilleSabourin15,39611–11–123
24November 25Vancouver1 – 4ColoradoLuongo17,82511–12–123
25November 28Columbus0 – 1VancouverLuongo18,63012–12–125
26November 30Anaheim2 – 1VancouverLuongo18,63012–13–125

December

Monthly record: 8–5–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
27December 2Colorado1 – 2VancouverLuongo18,63013–13–127
28December 4Edmonton4 – 0VancouverLuongo18,63013–14–127
29December 8Carolina3 – 4VancouverOTLuongo18,63014–14–129
30December 9Vancouver3 – 5CalgaryLuongo19,28914–15–129
31December 12Phoenix2 – 5VancouverLuongo18,63015–15–131
32December 14Calgary1 – 3VancouverLuongo18,63016–15–133
33December 16Minnesota1 – 2VancouverLuongo18,63017–15–135
34December 19Vancouver2 – 5MinnesotaLuongo18,56817–16–135
35December 21Vancouver0 – 2BostonSabourin12,34817–17–135
36December 22Vancouver2 – 3ColumbusLuongo15,86117–18–135
37December 26Vancouver3 – 1CalgaryLuongo19,28918–18–137
38December 27Calgary5 – 6VancouverOTLuongo18,63019–18–139
39December 30Vancouver6 – 2EdmontonLuongo16,83920–18–141

January

Monthly record: 8–1–3
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
40January 2Vancouver3 – 2CalgaryLuongo19,28921–18–143
41January 3Dallas1 – 2VancouverSOLuongo18,63022–18–145
42January 5Edmonton2 – 3VancouverOTLuongo18,63023–18–147
43January 7Florida3 – 4VancouverSOLuongo18,63024–18–149
44January 11Minnesota5 – 2VancouverLuongo18,63024–19–149
45January 13Vancouver6 – 1TorontoLuongo19,60825–19–151
46January 16Vancouver4 – 0MontrealLuongo21,27326–19–153
47January 18Vancouver2 – 1OttawaLuongo19,16127–19–155
48January 19Vancouver3 – 4BuffaloSOSabourin18,69027–19–256
49January 26Los Angeles3 – 2VancouverOTLuongo18,63027–19–357
50January 28San Jose1 – 3VancouverLuongo18,63028–19–359
51January 30Columbus3 – 2VancouverSOLuongo18,63028–19–460

February

Monthly record: 8–3–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
52February 1Edmonton3 – 5VancouverLuongo18,63029–19–462
53February 3Vancouver3 – 4CalgaryLuongo19,28929–20–462
54February 6Vancouver5 – 2EdmontonLuongo16,83930–20–464
55February 7Chicago3 – 0VancouverLuongo18,63030–21–464
56February 10Atlanta2 – 3VancouverLuongo18,63031–21–466
57February 14Vancouver3 – 2MinnesotaOTLuongo18,56832–21–468
58February 16Vancouver2 – 1ChicagoSOLuongo14,55233–21–470
59February 18Colorado4 – 5VancouverLuongo18,63034–21–472
60February 20Vancouver3 – 2AnaheimOTSabourin17,46735–21–474
61February 22Vancouver3 – 2Los AngelesLuongo17,73736–21–476
62February 25Vancouver1 – 2DallasOTLuongo17,71236–21–577
63February 27Vancouver1 – 3St. LouisLuongo10,41136–22–577

March

Monthly record: 11–2–2
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
64March 1Phoenix3 – 4VancouverLuongo18,63037–22–579
65March 4Minnesota3 – 4VancouverSOLuongo18,63038–22–581
66March 6Tampa Bay1 – 5VancouverLuongo18,63039–22–583
67March 8Vancouver4 – 2PhoenixSabourin13,84140–22–585
68March 9Vancouver2 – 1San JoseOTLuongo17,49641–22–587
69March 11Vancouver2 – 4AnaheimLuongo17,17441–23–587
70March 13Minnesota3 – 2VancouverOTLuongo18,63041–23–688
71March 15St. Louis2 – 3VancouverOTLuongo18,63042–23–690
72March 17Detroit1 – 4VancouverLuongo18,63043–23–692
73March 19Vancouver2 – 1EdmontonLuongo16,83944–23–694
74March 21Nashville0 – 2VancouverLuongo18,63045–23–696
75March 25Colorado5 – 4VancouverSOLuongo18,63045–23–797
76March 27Vancouver3 – 0ColoradoLuongo17,43746–23–799
77March 29Vancouver4 – 2Los AngelesLuongo17,91647–23–7101
78March 31Calgary3 – 2VancouverLuongo18,63047–24–7101

April

Monthly record: 2–2–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
79April 3Los Angeles2 – 4VancouverLuongo18,63048–24–7103
80April 5Colorado3 – 1VancouverLuongo18,63048–25–7103
81April 7Vancouver4 – 3San JoseOTLuongo17,49649–25–7105
82April 8Vancouver1 – 3PhoenixSabourin17,40649–26–7105

The Vancouver Canucks ended the 2006–07 regular season as the Western Conference's third seed.

Western Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (6) [Dallas Stars]

Vancouver wins series 4–3
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 11Dallas4 – 5Vancouver4OTLuongo18,6301 – 0
2April 13Dallas2 – 0VancouverLuongo18,6301 – 1
3April 15Vancouver2 – 1Dallas1OTLuongo18,5322 – 1
4April 17Vancouver2 – 1DallasLuongo18,5323 – 1
5April 19Dallas1 – 0Vancouver1OTLuongo18,6303 – 2
6April 21Vancouver0 – 2DallasLuongo18,6003 – 3
7April 23Dallas1 – 4VancouverLuongo18,6304 – 3

Western Conference Semi-finals: vs. (2) [Anaheim Ducks]

Anaheim win series 4–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 25Vancouver1 – 5AnaheimLuongo17,2500 – 1
2April 27Vancouver2 – 1Anaheim2OTLuongo17,3921 – 1
3April 29Anaheim3 – 2VancouverLuongo18,6301 – 2
4May 1Anaheim3 – 2Vancouver1OTLuongo18,6301 – 3
5May 3Vancouver1 – 2Anaheim2OTLuongo17,4071 – 4

Note:

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Vancouver. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
*Denotes player traded by Vancouver midway through the season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; Min = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save Percentage; GAA = Goals Against Average
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Vancouver. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.

Awards and records

2007 Canuck Awards winners

Trades

Free agents acquired

Free agents lost


Received from waivers

Placed on waivers

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Round#PlayerNationalityNHL teamCollege/junior/club team
114Michael Grabner Vancouver CanucksSpokane Chiefs
382Daniel Rahimi Vancouver Canucks Björklöven
6163Sergei Shirokov Vancouver Canucks HC CSKA Moscow
6167Juraj Simek Vancouver CanucksKloten Flyers
7197Evan Fuller Vancouver CanucksPrince George Cougars

Farm teams

[Manitoba Moose]

affiliate that is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba and their home arena is the MTS Centre. The team has been affiliated with the Vancouver Canucks since the 2000–01 AHL season. In the 2006–07 AHL season, Manitoba finished in 1st place in the North Division, it was the franchises first regular season divisional championship in history. In addition, Mike Keane won the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award for Sportsmanship, Perseverance and overall dedication to hockey. In the playoffs, the Manitoba Moose defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins, 4 games to 3, in the first round. However, Manitoba would eventually be eliminated by the Hamilton Bulldogs, 4 games to 2, in the second round of the playoffs.

[Victoria Salmon Kings]

affiliate that is based in Victoria, British Columbia and their home arena is the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. This is the first year that the franchise has been affiliated with the Vancouver Canucks in its three-year existence. In the 2006–07 ECHL season, the Salmon Kings established their first winning record by going on a nine-game winning streak to end the regular season. The Salmon Kings finished 7th overall in the National Conference and made their first playoff appearance against the Alaska Aces in the National Quarter-final. The Salmon Kings would win Game 1 by a score of 3–2, however, the Aces would win 4 of the next 5 games to win the series 4–2, eliminating Salmon Kings from the playoffs.