This season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the fresh-faced Vancouver Canucks.

But heading into this weekendB次元官网网址檚 all-star break, the team is firmly entrenched in a battle for the playoffs in the tightly bunched Western Conference.

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B次元官网网址淓very game is huge right now,B次元官网网址� said Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom as his team geared up for WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 contest against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes.

B次元官网网址�(The playoff race is) so tight and this is when most teams make an impression, try to run away with it. The spots are becoming less and less and I feel like every day thereB次元官网网址檚 another team thatB次元官网网址檚 getting involved in the race. So every point in every game right now is super important.B次元官网网址�

With 52 points over 50 games, Vancouver (23-21-6) sat just outside of a playoff position heading into TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 action. They were tied for points with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche B次元官网网址� who held the two wild-card berths B次元官网网址� but had played one more game.

Competition is fierce in the Western Conference, where six points separate those currently in playoff position from the 13th-place St. Louis Blues.

Streaky play has marbled the seasons of many clubs, including the Anaheim Ducks, who snapped a 12-game losing skid last week. Despite the slump, the Ducks are a single point behind the Canucks.

Bo Horvat knows exactly where Vancouver sits in the standings.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 be lying if I said I wasnB次元官网网址檛 paying attention to it,B次元官网网址� said the 23-year-old centre. B次元官网网址漌e want to make the playoffs, we want to be in the race and play meaningful games towards the end of the season.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks havenB次元官网网址檛 made it to the post-season since 2015, when they lost in the first round to the Calgary Flames. Last season, they finished second-last in the west with 31-40-11 record.

Things feel a little different this year, Horvat said.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think we were in this position last year going into the all-star break,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e in a playoff hunt and for us to play meaningful games right now and for us to be in it is exciting. And I think all the guys know that.B次元官网网址�

Making a run at the post-season has been the goal all year, said Ben Hutton.

B次元官网网址淲e knew we were a good team. We knew we were capable of doing great things,B次元官网网址� said the defenceman. B次元官网网址淎t the start of the season we said B次元官网网址楲etB次元官网网址檚 make playoffs.B次元官网网址� And weB次元官网网址檙e right in the hunt now. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good spot to be.B次元官网网址�

The group has every reason to believe in their ability to keep playing late into April, said coach Travis Green.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e put themselves in a spot to have the belief, where in November it was hard,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌e slipped a little bit. And as players, thatB次元官网网址檚 hard.B次元官网网址�

The squad won just three of 14 at one point, taking nine points across a four-week stretch in November. A playoff race seemed unlikely at the time.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

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