It hurts: Canucks exit from playoff contention a blow to downtown economy – BC [Video]

It’s not just Vancouver Canucks fans feeling the blues about the team’s early exit from playoff contention this year.

The city’s bars and restaurants are also lamenting the loss of millions of dollars in revenue a playoff run could have generated.

“It hurts because definitely the city was electric last year,” said Murray Saunders general manager of the Shark Club, a popular sports bar just steps away from Rogers Arena.

“It was hundreds of thousands of dollars difference. The nights where they were playing here we would be full with a lineup down the street before the game … and then we would fill up with everybody to watch the game.”

The Canucks still have a handful of games left in the season but were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs when the Minnesota Wild defeated the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.

The elimination caps a season plagued with injuries and tough losses.

It also …