percentage. Injury troubles continued the following season, in 2000–01, as Cloutier was sidelined for nine games early in the season after straining his biceps on October 22, 2000. After recovering, he recorded his first NHL shutout, making 26 saves, in a 3–0 win against the Detroit Red Wings on December 2, 2000. He achieved the feat in his 95th career game in the NHL. During that month, head coach Steve Ludzik began playing backup Kevin Weekes in favour of Cloutier. By the trade deadline, Cloutier was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks on February 7, 2001, in exchange for defenceman Adrian Aucoin and a second-round selection in the 2001 draft. Vancouver Canucks (2001–06) Upon arriving in Vancouver, Cloutier began sharing starts with veteran goaltender Bob Essensa; the Canucks' third goaltender, Félix Potvin, was traded away to the Los Angeles Kings soon after Cloutier's acquisition. Playing in 16 games with the Canucks to close out the 2000–01 season, Cloutier recorded 4 wins, 6 losses and 5 ties, along with a 2.43 GAA and .894 save percentage. He joined the Canucks at the end of the season, during the playoff drive, when the Canucks barely made the playoffs. It would be their first playoffs in 5 seasons. They were the last placed team at 90 points, tied with the Phoenix Coyotes, who also ended the season with 90 points. However, the Canucks won one more game than the Coyotes (36 vs. 35) thus gaining the last playoff spot. Playing the first-seeded Colorado Avalanche in the opening round, Cloutier made his first NHL post-season appearance in game one, stopping 23 of 28 shots in a losing effort. Having surrendered five goals, including the game-winner in the final minute after an ill-advised poke-check attempt, Essensa was given the start over Cloutier for the following two contests. After Essensa suffered a knee injury in game three, Cloutier was back in net for the fourth and final game of the series, a 5–1 loss. He had a 4.63 GAA and .842 save percentage in his first two career playoff games. Despite the Canucks' early playoff exit, Cloutier's addition to the team helped bolster a young and improving team led by such players as captain Markus Näslund, winger Todd Bertuzzi and defencemen Ed Jovanovski and Mattias Öhlund. During the off-season, both Canucks goaltenders became free agents. Cloutier was re-signed on July 18, 2001, while Essensa agreed to a