1993–94 Vancouver Canucks season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1993–94
Year:	1993
Team:	Vancouver Canucks
Conferencerank:	7th
Divisionrank:	2nd
Record:	41–40–3
Homerecord:	20–19–3
Roadrecord:	21–21–0
Goalsfor:	279
Goalsagainst:	276
Coach:	Pat Quinn
Attendance:	15,226
Goalsleader:	Pavel Bure (60)
Assistsleader:	Jeff Brown (52)
Pointsleader:	Pavel Bure (107)
Pimleader:	Gino Odjick (271)
Plusminusleader:	Robert Dirk (+18)
Winsleader:	Kirk McLean (23)
Gaaleader:	Kirk McLean (2.99)
Conferencewin:	Yes

The 1993–94 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' 24th NHL season. Vancouver finished the season second in their division and qualified for the playoffs as the number seven seed. In the playoffs, the Canucks pulled several upsets and reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in franchise history. In the finals they fell behind the New York Rangers three games to one before making a comeback to force a Game 7. Vancouver fell short in its bid to capture the franchise's first Stanley Cup losing Game 7 by a final of 3–2.

During the regular season, Pavel Bure tied his own club record for goals in a season, originally set in the 1992–93 season. Bure's 60 goals led the NHL and as a result he was named a First Team NHL All-Star. Kirk McLean won a team leading 23 games during the regular season, only 8 more than the 15 he recorded in the post-season games. Jeff Brown officially led the team in assists, but did not join the team till after the trade deadline when he was acquired from St. Louis.

In the playoffs, both Bure and captain Trevor Linden were very productive. Bure led all forwards in playoff scoring finishing second overall to Brian Leetch. However, Bure led the league in playoff goals with Linden tied for second. McLean led the playoffs in minutes played, shots against and saves while he and the Rangers Mike Richter tied for the lead in playoff shutouts. McLean finished fourth in goals against average and save percentage.

Schedule and results

Regular season October: 7–3–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 4–0–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts 1 October 6 Vancouver 5–2 Los Angeles – 1–0–0 2 2 October 9 Calgary 5–1 Vancouver – 1–1–0 2 3 October 11 Edmonton 1–4 Vancouver – 2–1–0 4 4 October 16 Vancouver 3–2 Edmonton – 3–1–0 6 5 October 19 Boston 4–5 Vancouver – 4–1–0 8 6 October 21 Vancouver 6–3 Calgary – 5–1–0 10 7 October 23 Vancouver 6–4 San Jose – 6–1–0 12 8 October 24 San Jose 2–3 Vancouver OT 7–1–0 14 9 October 27 Washington 3–2 Vancouver – 7–2–0 14 10 October 30 Buffalo 6–3 Vancouver – 7–3–0 14
November: 7–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 3–4–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts 11 November 2 Vancouver 2–1 NY Islanders – 8–3–0 16 12 November 3 Vancouver 3–6 NY Rangers – 8–4–0 16 13 November 5 Vancouver 2–3 Washington – 8–5–0 16 14 November 7 Vancouver 5–2 Philadelphia – 9–5–0 18 15 November 10 Los Angeles 0–4 Vancouver – 10–5–0 20 16 November 13 Vancouver 4–3 Calgary – 10–6–0 20 17 November 14 Anaheim 2–3 Vancouver – 11–6–0 22 18 November 16 St. Louis 0–3 Vancouver – 12–6–0 24 19 November 19 Anaheim 6–3 Vancouver – 12–7–0 24 20 November 22 Toronto 5–2 Vancouver – 12–8–0 24 21 November 24 Detroit 5–4 Vancouver OT 12–9–0 24 22 November 26 Vancouver 5–3 Winnipeg – 13–9–0 26 23 November 27 Vancouver 1–2 Edmonton – 13–10–0 26 24 November 29 Chicago 1–2 Vancouver OT 14–10–0 28
December: 5–8–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–5–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts 25 December 2 Philadelphia 6–3 Vancouver – 14–11–0 28 26 December 4 Vancouver 1–3 Quebec – 14–12–0 28 27 December 6 Vancouver 3–4 Montreal OT 14–13–0 28 28 December 8 Vancouver 4–1 Hartford – 15–13–0 30 29 December 9 Vancouver 3–2 Boston OT 16–13–0 32 30 December 14 Vancouver 4–8 Calgary – 16–14–0 32 31 December 15 Vancouver 2–7 Edmonton – 16–15–0 32 32 December 17 Winnipeg 1–6 Vancouver – 17–15–0 34 33 December 19 Dallas 3–1 Vancouver – 17–16–0 34 34 December 21 Edmonton 3–6 Vancouver – 18–16–0 36 35 December 23 Calgary 3–4 Vancouver – 19–16–0 38 36 December 28 Vancouver 5–6 Los Angeles – 19–17–0 38 37 December 31 San Jose 3–2 Vancouver – 19–18–0 38
January: 6–5–2 (home: 3–3–2; road: 3–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts 38 January 2 Montreal 3–2 Vancouver – 19–19–0 38 39 January 5 Vancouver 7–2 Ottawa – 20–19–0 40 40 January 8 Vancouver 5–3 Toronto – 20–20–0 40 41 January 9 Vancouver 5–3 Buffalo – 20–21–0 40 42 January 12 Quebec 3–4 Vancouver – 21–21–0 42 43 January 14 Ottawa 2–2 Vancouver OT 21–21–1 43 44 January 16 Vancouver 4–3 Anaheim – 22–21–1 45 45 January 19 Calgary 4–3 Vancouver – 22–22–1 45 46 January 24 Vancouver 5–4 Edmonton OT 23–22–1 47 47 January 25 St. Louis 3–3 Vancouver OT 23–22–2 48 48 January 27 Dallas 3–2 Vancouver OT 23–23–2 48 49 January 29 New Jersey 3–6 Vancouver – 24–23–2 50 50 January 31 Los Angeles 1–3 Vancouver – 25–23–2 52
February: 5–5–1 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–4–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts 51 February 2 Chicago 4–6 Vancouver – 26–23–2 54 52 February 4 Vancouver 0–3 Anaheim – 26–24–2 54 53 February 6 Hartford 4–2 Vancouver – 26–25–2 54 54 February 8 Vancouver 6–3 Detroit – 27–25–2 56 55 February 10 Vancouver 3–7 New Jersey – 27–26–2 56 56 February 12 Vancouver 3–2 Tampa Bay – 28–26–2 58 57 February 13 Vancouver 1–2 Florida – 28–27–2 58 58 February 15 Vancouver 2–3 St. Louis – 28–28–2 58 59 February 17 Vancouver 4–2 Chicago – 29–28–2 60 60 February 22 Calgary 4–4 Vancouver OT 29–28–3 61 61 February 26 Tampa Bay 1–3 Vancouver – 30–28–3 63
March: 8–8–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 5–4–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts 62 March 1 Edmonton 7–4 Vancouver – 30–29–3 63 63 March 3 Vancouver 4–0 St. Louis – 31–29–3 65 64 March 4 Vancouver 4–1 Dallas – 32–29–3 67 65 March 7 Florida 2–1 Vancouver – 32–30–3 67 66 March 9 NY Islanders 4–5 Vancouver – 33–30–3 69 67 March 11 Vancouver 4–5 Winnipeg – 34–30–3 71 68 March 13 Vancouver 2–5 Chicago – 34–31–3 71 69 March 15 Vancouver 2–5 Detroit – 34–32–3 71 70 March 16 Vancouver 2–5 Toronto – 35–32–3 73 71 March 19 Vancouver 4–5 Pittsburgh – 35–33–3 73 72 March 20 Vancouver 1–2 Dallas OT 35–34–3 73 73 March 23 Vancouver 6–3 Los Angeles – 36–34–3 75 74 March 25 NY Rangers 5–2 Vancouver – 36–35–3 75 75 March 27 Los Angeles 3–4 Vancouver – 37–35–3 77 76 March 28 Toronto 2–3 Vancouver OT 38–35–3 79 77 March 30 Pittsburgh 3–1 Vancouver – 38–36–3 79
April: 3–4–0 (home: 2–2–0; road: 1–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts 78 April 1 Winnipeg 1–5 Vancouver – 39–36–3 81 79 April 2 Vancouver 4–7 San Jose – 39–37–3 81 80 April 5 Detroit 8–3 Vancouver – 39–38–3 81 81 April 7 San Jose 2–3 Vancouver – 40–38–3 83 82 April 9 Anaheim 3–1 Vancouver – 40–39–3 83 83 April 10 Vancouver 1–3 San Jose – 40–40–3 83 84 April 13 Vancouver 2–1 Anaheim – 41–40–3 85

Playoffs

Western Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Calgary Flames

Vancouver wins series 4–3

	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Series
1	April 18	Vancouver	5 – 0				17,764	1 – 0
2	April 20	Vancouver	5 – 7	Calgary		McLean	18,318	1 – 1
3	April 22	Calgary	4 – 2	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	1 – 2
4	April 24	Calgary	3 – 2	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	1 – 3
5	April 26	Vancouver	2 – 1	Calgary	OT	McLean	19,059	2 – 3
6	April 28	Calgary	2 – 3	Vancouver	OT	McLean	16,150	3 – 3
7	April 30	Vancouver	4 – 3	Calgary	2OT	McLean	20,230	4 – 3

Western Conference Semi-finals: vs. (4) Dallas Stars

Vancouver wins series 4–1

	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Series
1	May 2	Vancouver	6 – 4			McLean	16,914	1 – 0
2	May 4	Vancouver	3 – 0	Dallas		McLean	16,914	2 – 0
3	May 6	Dallas	4 – 3	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	2 – 1
4	May 8	Dallas	1 – 2	Vancouver	OT	McLean	16,150	3 – 1
5	May 10	Dallas	2 – 4	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	4 – 1

Western Conference Final: vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

Vancouver wins series 4–1

	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Series
1	May 16	Vancouver	2 – 3		OT	McLean	15,728	0 – 1
2	May 18	Vancouver	4 – 3	Toronto		McLean	15,728	1 – 1
3	May 20	Toronto	0 – 4	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	2 – 1
4	May 22	Toronto	0 – 2	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	3 – 1
5	May 24	Toronto	3 – 4	Vancouver	2OT	McLean	16,150	4 – 1

Stanley Cup Finals: vs. (E1) New York Rangers

New York wins series 4–3

	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Series
1	May 31	Vancouver	3 – 2		OT	McLean	18,200	1 – 0
2	June 2	Vancouver	1 – 3	New York		McLean	18,200	1 – 1
3	June 4	New York	5 – 1	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	1 – 2
4	June 7	New York	4 – 2	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	1 – 3
5	June 9	Vancouver	6 – 3	New York		McLean	18,200	2 – 3
6	June 11	New York	1 – 4	Vancouver		McLean	16,150	3 – 3
7	June 14	Vancouver	2 – 3	New York		McLean	18,200	3 – 4

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
	76	60	47	107	1	86
	82	26	44	70	15	123
	76	25	43	68	7	42
	74	14	52	66	-11	56
	84	32	29	61	6	73

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA
	52	3128	23	26	3	156	3	.891	2.99
	32	1921	18	14	0	113	0	.867	3.53

Playoffs

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
	24	16	15	31	40
	24	12	13	25	18
	24	9	10	19	51
	24	6	9	15	37
	24	5	10	15	16

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Sv%	GAA
	24	1544	15	9	59	4	.928	2.29

Awards and records

• Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
• Pavel Bure, NHL Leader, Goals (60)
• Pavel Bure, Club Record, Goals in a Season (60)
• Pavel Bure, Molson Cup (Most game star selections for Vancouver Canucks)
• Pavel Bure, Cyclone Taylor Award (MVP of the Canucks)

Transactions

Trades

June 23, 1993	To Vancouver Canucks John Vanbiesbrouck	To New York Rangers Doug Lidster
January 8, 1994	To Vancouver Canucks Jimmy Carson	To Los Angeles Kings Dixon Ward Conditional draft pick in 1995.
March 14, 1994	To Vancouver Canucks Craig Janney 2nd round draft pick in 1994 (Dave Scatchard)	To St. Louis Blues compensation for the signing of free agent Petr Nedved
March 21, 1994		To St. Louis Blues Craig Janney
March 21, 1994	To Vancouver Canucks 4th round pick in 1994 (Mike Dubinsky)	To Chicago Blackhawks Robert Dirk

Expansion draft

Vancouver's losses at the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft in Quebec City, Quebec.

Round		Player	Nationality	Drafted by	Drafted from
1	1	John Vanbiesbrouck (G)		Florida Panthers	Vancouver Canucks
1	37	Anatoli Semenov (C)		Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	Vancouver Canucks

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft in Quebec City, Quebec.

Round		Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	20	Mike Wilson (D)		Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
2	46	Rick Girard (C)		Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
4	98	Dieter Kochan (G)		Vernon Lakers (BCJHL)
5	124	Scott Walker (D)		Owen Sound Platers (OHL)
6	150	Troy Creurer (D)		Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)
7	176	Yevgeni Babariko (C)		Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (Vysshaya Liga)
8	202	Sean Tallaire (RW)		Lake Superior State University (NCAA)
10	254	Bert Robertsson (D)		Södertälje SK (Allsvenskan)
11	280	Sergei Tkachenko (G)		Hamilton Canucks (AHL)

Farm teams

Hamilton Canucks

AHL affiliate based in Hamilton, Ontario and whose home arena was Copps Coliseum. This was the team's second and final season as an affiliate of the Canucks. In the 1993–94 AHL season, Hamilton finished in 2nd place in the South Division, but was eliminated in the first round of the AHL playoffs by the Cornwall Aces in four straight games. After the season, the franchise was relocated as the Syracuse Crunch, which kept its affiliation with Vancouver.

Columbus Chill

ECHL affiliate based in Columbus, Ohio, and whose home arena was the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum.