Horvat confident lack of playoff experience won't hinder Canucks

Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat isn't worried about his teammates' lack of playoff experience as they head into their qualifying-round series versus the Minnesota Wild.

"I think they will be up for it," Horvat told NHL.com's David Satriano. "They know what it takes to win, and they know what playoff hockey is like. I think they are going to be ready for it. They have the game to suit the playoffs."

Horvat, who's only 24, is considered a veteran among Vancouver's impressive young nucleus of Elias Pettersson (21), Quinn Hughes (20), and Brock Boeser (22).

Starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom has also never suited up in the playoffs, though Horvat is confident they won't have any issues adjusting in their postseason debuts.

"I don't think there's much to be said, I think they just know what needs to be done and our main goal at the end of it," Horvat said.

He added: "Our main goal is to win playoff games and ultimately win the Stanley Cup. The organization deserves it, my teammates deserve it, and obviously the city of Vancouver deserves it so that's what we're going to try and do here."

The seventh-seeded Canucks will take on the 10th-seeded Wild in a best-of-five play-in series, with the winner advancing to the traditional 16-team bracket. Vancouver will be one of 12 teams stationed in Edmonton's hub, with play-in games expected to begin July 31.

The players' association and NHL board of governors are currently voting to ratify the tentative collective bargaining agreement and all return-to-play protocols, with results expected to be announced Friday.

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