NHL makes an official announcement on the Canucks and the playoffs

Coming into Saturday's action, the Vancouver Canucks, who were off, needed the Minnesota Wild to lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion and that happened, via overtime.

Then later in the evening, the San Jose Sharks, who needed to defeat St. Louis in regulation, shutout the Blues by a score of 4-0 thanks to 37 saves from Mackenzie Blackwood.

In a post on social media, the Canucks celebrated the moment they clinched a playoff berth for the 2023-24 season.

Vancouver's appeareance in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be the 29th in franchise history and will feature the first post-season games in the city since 2015.

While they didn't get to clinch on their own terms, the Canucks have played very well throughout the season. Up and down the lineup has been productive, from the top guys to the depth players and in between the pipes with Thatcher Demko.

Now that a playoff berth has been clinched, the Canucks can turn their attention to trying to lock up the Pacific Division title, but have the Edmonton Oilers right on their heals, as they're four points back with one game in hand.

The Canucks will return to action on Sunday afternoon as they host the Anaheim Ducks at Rogers Arena for the final game of their nine-game homestand. Puck drop is set for 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet 360 and Pacific nationally across Canada.