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

Tuesday night saw a decent amount of action in and around the Pacific Division.

The Vancouver Canucks, of course, were still licking their wounds from Sunday’s affair in Columbus in which the host Blue Jackets came back from a late 3-1 deficit to down the Canucks 4-3 in regulation.

Before Tuesday's games, here's what the playoff picture looked like for Vancouver. 

Not the best image for a team that was atop the division mere weeks ago.

And there was some more tough news for the Canucks on Tuesday. Let’s break down each contender who played and assess how they did.

Winnipeg Jets

The Jets aren’t in the Pacific, but they are a factor in Vancouver’s playoff hopes in that they are currently chasing a wildcard spot in the Western Conference.

To that end, the Jets came away with a 3-1 win against the Buffalo Sabres. Even against the somewhat hapless Sabres, the Jets didn’t dominate play but they did limit Buffalo to 20 shots. And against goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (the Vezina Trophy frontrunner right now), that’s just not going to work.

After the win, the Jets have 74 points in 68 games. That’s the same number of points as the Canucks, though Vancouver has played three fewer games.

Edmonton Oilers

Everyone in Vancouver collectively gulped after seeing the Oilers light up the Nashville Predators 8-3, with Leon Draisatl scoring four goals (and an assist) and seemingly becoming the player to beat in the Hart Trophy race.

But while the Oilers did manage to notch an overtime win against the Dallas Stars, they didn’t do it particularly convincingly. The Stars absolutely dominated the Oilers for most of the game, handling over 70 percent of the 5-on-5 scoring chances and outshooting Edmonton 43 to 24.

Sure, Mikko Koskinen was incredible and that’s somewhat worrying. But though he’s been much better this season, he’s still not a goalie you expect to outright steal games.

Regardless, the Oilers will take the two points and now sit six points above the Canucks with two extra games played. 

Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators

Speaking of the Preds, it was two tough games in as many nights, as Nashville lost to the Wild by a 3-1 score.

The Wild (73 points in 66 games) and the Predators (72 in 66) are both hard-working (if flawed) teams that are nipping on the Canucks’ heels. And, unlike the Jets, the Canucks don’t hold a big games-in-hand advantages on either club.

Vegas Golden Knights

Though they lost their most recent previous contest, the Golden Knights have been on a run of late, going 8-2 in their last 10.

And they drew the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. So yeah, they won.

With 82 points in 68 games, Vegas looks to have run away with the top seed in the Pacific Division.

And no matter how ardent of a Canucks fan you might be, you have to admit that makes sense given the Knights roster and the team's status as a Cup favourite among analysts coming into the season. 

How does it look now?

It got tougher for the Canucks tonight, there’s no question about it. Though Vancouver didn’t technically move any spots, the Oilers and Golden Knights both created more distance, while the Jets and Wild tightened up the gap.

It goes without saying the importance of Wednesday’s game against Arizona.

But it’s massive.

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