The Vancouver Canucks breathed life into their playoff hopes Sunday night by taking down the Anaheim Ducks with an impressive 2-1 victory and moving within six points of the final spot.

While netminder Richard Bachman received the majority of praise - posting a 43-save effort in his first start of the season - it was center Bo Horvat who quietly pushed his club forward once again.

The 21-year-old Horvat reached the first 20-goal season of his career by slipping behind the Ducks' defense and re-emerging to tap in a point shot from Ben Hutton.

His goal tally leads all Canucks skaters this season, as does his 45 points. But those aren't the only impressive aspects of the young pivot's surprising breakout campaign.

By getting his 20th, Horvat became only the eighth Canuck in nearly four decades to reach the plateau before turning 22, joining all-time greats like Trevor Linden and Pavel Bure.

Horvat also became the first Canuck to achieve the feat since veteran sniper Daniel Sedin did so back in 2000-01.

He may not be rolling through opposing defenses like some of the league's more high-profile young guns, but there's no question Horvat has quietly established himself as the face of the franchise in Vancouver.

And just in time, it seems, as he's owed a new contract before next season and will be a restricted free agent in the summer.

Considering all he's accomplished in 2016-17 - amid the disappointing production from high-profile acquisitions like Loui Eriksson - it's fair to assume Horvat will earn a pretty penny this summer.

And rightfully so.

The Sedins remain the most talented members of the Canucks' current roster. But for the first time in a long time, neither twin holds the crown of team MVP; that distinction rests uncontested with the club's 21-year-old sniper.

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