Nilsson remains fond of Vancouver
But goaltender’s move to Ottawa allowed him to turn around career rough patch
VANCOUVER The end of Anders Nilsson’s goaltending stint with the Vancouver Canucks was anything but positive, but that hasn’t taken away from his feelings for the community.
“Our youngest son was born here,” said Nilsson, who returned to face his former teammates Monday for the first time since the early January swap that sent goalie Mike McKenna and forward Tom Pyatt the other way. “I have some good memories with my family. I know, hockey-wise, it wasn’t maybe the best situation that I’ve been in before, but we made a lot of friends here.”
The trade helped turn around Nilsson’s career. After winning his first three games with the Canucks last season, he lost his final nine decisions and had a 3.09 goalsagainst average and .895 save percentage in Vancouver.
After joining the Ottawa Senators, however, he went 11-11-0 with a 2.90 average and .914 save percentage, earning a two-year contract extension in the summer.
The tandem of Nilsson and Craig Anderson also figures to have some long nights — similar to the 6-4 pre-season defeat Nilsson suffered against the Canucks — as the goalies try to keep the rebuilding Senators afloat.
“I have to step up and make a few saves,” Nilsson said of Monday’s game, which featured four Canucks power-play goals. “It’s our job as goalies to stand back there, no matter what’s happening in front of (us). We have to stop the puck. For me, it’s just a matter of focusing on my own routine, doing what I need to do to put myself in the best position to make the saves.”
Costly victory: According to Canucks coach Travis Green, Brock Boeser and Oscar Fantenberg both were in National Hockey League concussion protocol after taking hits from Senators players on Monday.
Fantenberg’s fate was the result of a hit from the Senators’ Jaden Szarwz behind the Canucks net in the first period.
Szarwz was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct.
While Fantenberg briefly returned to the game, he didn’t come out for the second period.
Boeser was on the wrong end of a third-period cross-check into the boards by the Senators’ Chris Tierney, who received a two-minute penalty.
If Boeser is out for any extended period, it could be a colossal blow to the Canucks. He has scored 59 goals and 57 assists in 140 NHL games.
Last week, Boeser ended a contract stalemate with the Canucks by signing a three-year extension worth US$17.625 million.
If you can’t laugh at yourself …: With only a few minutes remaining in Monday’s game, a loud thump broke the silence during a stoppage in play. It was the sound of Senators defenceman Dylan DeMelo losing his balance and falling into the boards.
As embarrassing as it was, DeMelo dusted himself off and saluted the crowd as he skated toward the bench.
On Tuesday morning, DeMelo showcased his knowledge of hockey history and sense of humour.
“Well, (Phil) Esposito did it in the (1972) Summit Series, right?” he said. “Same player.”
Did he catch a rut in the ice? “I would like to think so. It sounded like the way it felt.”
New partner, same game: In his short time with the Senators, DeMelo has received a fair share of time playing alongside two of the organization’s most prized defencemen. He spent most of the 2018-19 season with US$64-million man Thomas Chabot and he was paired with Erik Brannstrom on Monday.
“I can’t change my game, no matter who I’m playing with,” DeMelo said.
“Maybe you alter some things, but, with (Brannstrom), it has just been about communicating with him in the defensive zone and our gaps and trying to close plays. He has a ton of skill, a lot like Thomas. I’ve just got to continue to play the way I play and I think you’ve got to be interchangeable and play with everyone.”
For the tourist: There is a way to get away from the notorious traffic jams while moving around in downtown Vancouver. You’ve got to love water taxis … The rich get richer. It’s must be fun to be Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. He has that new twoyear, US$8.8-million contract to go along with a Stanley Cup ring, and that six-pack defence of Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko, Jay Bouwmeester, Carl Gunnarson, Vince Dunn and newcomer Justin Faulk is a mighty impressive big Blues wall. kwarren@postmedia.com Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren