This is a somewhat frequent column that’ll attempt to handicap the Pacific Division and the Vancouver Canucks’ playoff picture at large.  

Other than the game that they played in, there was only one contest in which Vancouver’s playoff hopes were touched on Wednesday night.

Here’s what the playoff picture in the Pacific Division looked like before Wednesday’s games.

First, let’s talk about the Canucks themselves, who were up against a division rival in an absolutely critical matchup.

Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes

Last night’s defeat at the hands of the Coyotes made it four losses in a row for the Canucks. And though Sunday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets still stands as the toughest loss of the stretch, last night’s match wasn’t exactly easy to swallow.

Up 2-1 with 10 minutes left, the Canucks surrendered two tough goals (one a bad bounce off Troy Stecher and the other a tip in front of the net) and an empty netter to lose 4-2.

Not getting at least a point (again) really hurts for the Canucks, who played a mostly strong home game, especially in the first two periods.

For the Coyotes, it’s huge.

Arizona moves into the third wildcard spot in the West, with 74 points in 68 games played. They also now boast the second-best goal differential in the Pacific Division at plus-11.

The Canucks sit (as they have for awhile now) with 74 points. That’s in 66 games and is still good enough for the first wildcard spot. But that won’t be the case for too much longer.

Calgary Flames

Calgary played the Columbus Blue Jackets at 5:30 pacific time, a whole two hours before the puck was dropped in Vancouver. And for 50 minutes of that game, Vancouverites were hopeful, as Columbus jumped out to a 2-0 lead and, as one of the better defensive teams in the league, pervasive wisdom dictated that they should hold on.

But 11 minutes into the third period, the Flames broke the shutout thanks to an Elias Lindholm tally.

Then, with under two minutes remaining, Matthew Tkachuk scored his 22^nd goal of the year.

The Flames would go on to ice it in overtime, as T.J. Brodie scored with 11 seconds left in the final frame.

That’s tough, especially given the way the Canucks lost to Columbus on Sunday.

The Flames now have 77 points in 68 games (good for third in the division) and a somehwat baffling minus-4 goal differential. 

How does it look now?

Not particularly great. 

The Canucks are still masters of their own destiny, but it's certainly getitng too close for comfort. 

They're going to have to string together some wins soon, and it's not like the schedule is getting any easier (or that Jacob Markstrom is expected back anytime soon). The Canucks face the Colorado Avalanche on Friday before games against the Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, Coyotes and Avalanche (again). 

Yikes. 

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