VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks hit the road for crucial back-to-back games this week knowing full well that their season likely hangs in the balance. With just nine contests left on the schedule and the club sitting four points adrift in the Western Conference playoff race, the Canucks have no margin for error. "Everybodys looking at the standings. We are too," head coach John Tortorella said after Tuesdays practice at Rogers Arena. "All we can do is control what we have. "Were going to keep on trying to battle away here and find points." That begins Wednesday in Minnesota against the Wild before another tough test the following night against the Colorado Avalanche. Both teams are all but locked into playoff positions, something the Canucks can only dream of at this point. While the standings dont look all that daunting at first glance — the eighth-place Phoenix Coyotes were four points up with a game in hand on Vancouver heading into Tuesday — the math tells a different story. The website www.sportsclubstats.com, which calculates teams playoff chances, currently gives the Canucks just a 2.3 per cent shot at making this years post-season. Its a stunning slide for a club that has become accustomed to battling for division titles in recent years, not its playoff life. Vancouver has won its last two games over the punchless Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres to stay above water, but the Wild and Avalanche should pose a much tougher test in what could be two season-defining contests. "Weve been a very resilient group. Weve been on the outside looking in for a while now and weve climbed right back up there," said Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa. "Weve had some tough losses for sure. Theres no hiding that, but we keeping fighting. "Were still here. Were still standing." They might not be after this week. Apart from the Coyotes, the Dallas Stars also stand in the way of the Canucks playoff hopes. Dallas was three points up on Vancouver with two games in hand heading into Tuesday. But if Vancouver can survive the trip to Minnesota and Colorado, the club could have some life with six of its final seven games coming at home. "Im just trying to take it day by day here," said goaltender Eddie Lack, who is expected to make his 14th straight start Wednesday. "I know (Phoenix and Dallas) have a really tough schedule left. We have a lot of home games too so hopefully we can take advantage of that and just do our part here and well see if its enough or not." Canucks forward Zack Kassian said the players are aware of the out-of-town scoreboard each night, but added that the daunting task makes his preparation easier. "We know theres only nine and we know that every one of those games is going to be very important for our hockey team," he said. "You definitely look (at the scores) as a team when youre not playing and youre seeing how other teams are doing that youre trying to chase. "At the end of the day if we dont take care of our business and win hockey games it has no effect on us." Canucks forward Daniel Sedin said he cant help but pay attention to other teams results when every point is so critical. "I think you have to right now. We need those two teams to lose a few games," he said. "I think you keep an eye on that, but on game day youre so focused on your own games you dont really worry too much about the other scores." Tortorella and his players both refuse to use injuries as an excuse, but the Canucks have rarely had a chance to ice their full lineup since the end of December. Daniel Sedin returned on Sunday against Buffalo, but the club lost Henrik Sedin the same night, while fellow forward Alexandre Burrows was hurt against Nashville. Neither will make the two-game road trip. "It cant be deflating. Weve been going through this all year long. You get a couple back, another one goes out," said Tortorella. "Its been most of our top guys ... but it cant be deflating at this time of year. We just need to stay upbeat." While refusing to use injuries as a crutch to explain his teams predicament, the fiery coach who preaches pressure in all three zones added that the crowded sick bay has left him hamstrung at times. "The lineup when we were healthy, I think we were a different team. I think it allowed us to play a little bit differently, too," said Tortorella. "When we started getting banged up there ... we had to make some adjustments within our play and it changes things." Bieksa said that despite the injuries and long odds, a belief remains in the Canucks locker-room that the playoffs are still attainable. "Weve set ourselves up to make a push at least," he said. "Were fighting to the end. Were not going to give up." 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The Sundsvall, Sweden, native has posted 232 goals and 230 assists in 894 career NHL games with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Columbus, Los Angeles and Atlanta and has appeared in 57 post-season contests, helping the Lightning capture the 2004 Stanley Cup Championship.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - No McDonalds All-Americans. No top-50 recruits. And no projected future first-round NBA draft picks. Virginia does have a successful system, however. Its one that isnt going to win any beauty pageants, but it may be good enough to cut down the nets in Indianapolis come April. Welcome to Tony Bennetts world. The Cavaliers (19-0) and their vaunted Pack-Line defense are just four wins away from matching the 1980-81 team for the best start in school history. Virginia, which has kept 44 straight ACC opponents under 50 percent shooting, is holding its adversaries to just 34.1 percent from the floor on the season. And this has come a year following the departures of Joe Harris -- Virginias No. 11 all-time leading scorer -- and Akil Mitchell -- the schools No. 7 rebounder. The improvements of Justin Anderson and Anthony Gill have picked up their slack. But its the system thats most responsible for the Wahoos prosperity. The main tenet of the Pack-Line is the defensive shape, with four defenders forming an imaginary arch several feet inside of the 3-point line. Then theres an on-the-ball defender who pressures the ball handler. Basically, the defense is designed to force difficult, contested jumpers. And with four defenders sagging inside the Pack-Line, it eliminates dribble penetration. Due to the wall of defenders, the gaps for an offensive player to navigate through are minimal. The strategy also prevents backdoor cuts and players are always in position to clear the defensive glass. Bennett also wants all five of his players on the court to sprint back following an offensive possession to prevent the fastbreak. As good as the Cavaliers defensive statistics look, there are some disadvantages. The 3-point shot is an equalizer, although Virginias foes are shooting just 29.9 percent from long distance. Defenders are always playing off their man and in a help position so if they dont anticipate quick enough and close out on a shot, a team can get hot from beyond the arc. This was seen in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season when 16th-seeded Coastal Carolina led by as many as 10 in the opening half and was up five going into the break. The Chanticleers made 5-of-10 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes and finished 9-of-19 for the game. Looking back, some of the fans in Charlottesville werent enthused when Bennett was hired in 2009. Tubby Smith was the shiny glittering name that had won a national championship at Kentucky with ties to the Commonwealth. He was an assistant coach for VCU from 1979-86 when it won a trio of Sun Belt conference titles. Smith, though, decided to stay at Minnesota and Bennetts Pack-Line defense was brought in instead. Theres no second guessing the hiring of Bennett now. The Hoos had made just two NCAA Tournament appearances in the 12 years prior to Bennetts arrival -- in 2001 under Pete Gillen and 2007 with Dave Leitao. Only the 2007 team won a tournament game. But Bennett was used to turning programs around. Washington State hadnt been in the Big Dance since 1994 until Bennett led it there in his first season at Pullman. The Cougars went 26-8 in 2006-07, tying the school record for wins, and earned a No. 3 seed in the tourney. They won their first round game but lost to Vanderbilt in the second. But the team the following season reached the Sweet 16 before falling to North Carolina. The script has repeated itself in Charlottesville. Bennett guided the Cavaliers to a 22-10 mark in 22011-12.dddddddddddd They reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five seasons, but lost to Florida in the Round of 64. Last season, Virginia set a school record for victories, earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and swept the ACC regular season and tournament titles for the first time in school history. And this year the Cavaliers are attempting to race off to their best start ever. Theyll have to get past highly-touted Duke to get there and a win over the Blue Devils should silence some doubters. As great as Bennetts current run at Virginia has been, it still doesnt match the Ralph Sampson era, at least not yet. The Cavaliers earned three straight No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament from 1981-83, Sampsons last seasons with the program. The 1980-81 squad was the best of the bunch, not only sporting Sampson but also Jeff Lamp, who was the 15th pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. They began 23-0 and reached the Final Four in Philadelphia before falling to North Carolina. Sampson never got back to the national semifinals. Virginia lost to fourth- seeded UAB on its home floor in Birmingham during the Sweet 16 of the 1982 NCAA Tournament and was upset by eventual national champion and No. 6 seed NC State in the Elite Eight of the 1983 tourney. Ironically, the Cavaliers reached the Final Four as a seventh seed the year after Sampson graduated in 1984. Kentucky, of course, is also unbeaten, but its gaining most of the national attention with its nine former McDonalds All-Americans. If there is a team that can clip the Cats, though, its Virginia. Its no secret that the Wildcats weakness is their outside shooting. Well, that plays right into Virginias advantage. Due to its length, UK snatches about 45 percent of offensive rebounds, which leads the country. The Cavs, however, grab 78.8 percent of defensive boards, which is third in the nation. Its a fascinating matchup that would savor the appetite of basketball junkies everywhere. We just might see it on April 6. PROJECTED BRACKET MIDWEST (Cleveland) 1. Kentucky* vs. 16. New Mexico State*/Alabama State* winner 8. Stanford vs. 9. Oklahoma State 4. Louisville vs. 13. Murray State* 5. Butler vs. 12. Stephen F. Austin* 6. Indiana vs. 11. Xavier 3. Notre Dame vs. 14. Kent State* 7. Northern Iowa vs. 10. Dayton 2. Kansas* vs. 15. Georgia Southern* SOUTH (Houston) 1. Duke vs. 16. Sacramento State* 8. Colorado State vs. 9. Ohio State 4. Wichita State* vs. 13. Western Kentucky* 5. VCU* vs. 12. Wofford* 6. Providence vs. 11. NC State/Tennessee winner 3. Iowa State vs. 14. Long Beach State* 7. SMU vs. 10. Iowa 2. Arizona* vs. 15. Albany* EAST (Syracuse) 1. Virginia* vs. 16. Bucknell*/Robert Morris* winner 8. Cincinnati vs. 9. LSU 4. Georgetown* vs. 13. Iona* 5. West Virginia vs. 12. Wyoming* 6. Oklahoma vs. 11. Georgia/Old Dominion winner 3. Utah vs. 14. Northeastern* 7. Miami-Florida vs. 10. St. Johns 2. Wisconsin* vs. 15. High Point* WEST (Los Angeles) 1. Gonzaga* vs. 16. North Florida* 8. Seton Hall vs. 9. San Diego State 4. North Carolina vs. 13. Yale* 5. Baylor vs. 12. Green Bay* 6. Arkansas vs. 11. Tulsa* 3. Maryland vs. 14. NC Central* 7. Texas vs. 10. Washington 2. Villanova vs. 15. South Dakota State* FIRST FOUR OUT Michigan State Syracuse George Washington Oregon State NEXT FOUR OUT Davidson Temple BYU Harvard * - denotes conference leader. In a result of a tie atop the standings, the team with the higher RPI was chosen. ' ' '