Sorry but 1 more time....Vancouver Canucks Win the President Trophy

Canucks poised to make more history

Friday, 04.01.2011 / 10:02 AM / Inside the Numbers

By John Kreiser  - NHL.com Columnist

The Vancouver Canucks are enjoying the greatest season in franchise history. They've already clinched their first regular-season title since entering the NHL in 1970, and they'll have home-ice advantage for as far as they go in their quest for their first Stanley Cup. 

But the Canucks also are just 10 days away from making history.

The Canucks enter the penultimate weekend of the season having scored the League's most non-shootout goals (249) while allowing the fewest (172). Finishing first in scoring goals and preventing them is something no team has done since the Montreal Canadiens in 1976-77 and again in 1977-78 -- the only two times a team has led categories since expansion in 1967.

Dating all the way back to the institution of the 70-game schedule in 1949-50, only three franchises ever have had the best offense and stingiest defense. Montreal has done it eight times -- including all five seasons from 1955-60, when the Canadiens won five consecutive Stanley Cups. Chicago was tops in both categories in 1966-67, the final season before expansion, but lost its first playoff series that season. Detroit led in both categories in 1951-52 on the way to the Stanley Cup, and again in 1952-53, when the Wings were beaten in the semifinals.

Sorry to see it go -- The Canucks were sorry to see the calendar turn to April -- they had the best March in franchise history. The Canucks finished March by beating the Kings 3-1 on Thursday, giving them a 13-2-0 record, the most wins they've ever had in March -- their previous best was an 11-2-2 mark in 2006-07. In fact, it's the best month in franchise history -- the Canucks never had won 13 games in any month.