CANUCKS RUN OUT OF GAS IN OIL-TOWN
Vancouver rallies from 2-0 hole to tie the game, but fades down the stretch against Edmonton in 5-2 loss
EDMONTON — Saturday night, the 28th-place Vancouver Canucks met the 27th-place Edmonton Oilers in the Brady Tkachuk Bowl. Here’s what we learned:
THAT FINN HAS FINISH
As it turns out, Jesse Puljujarvi would have made a fine Canuck.
The Finnish right-winger, who was on the Canucks’ radar at the 2016 draft, had his best game as an NHLer, scoring the game-winning goal late in the second and adding a pair of assists in the Oilers 5-2 win.
Puljujarvi went fourth overall to the Oilers that year — you know, when Vancouver fell out of a Top 3 pick in the draft lottery — and took Olli Juolevi at No. 5.
At least Juolevi’s name is easier to spell.
The Canucks, who’d won their last two games before their league-mandated five-game break came this week, battled back from a 2-0 first-period deficit to tie the game in the second period on goals by Daniel Sedin and Brandon Sutter.
Puljujarvi then potted the go-ahead goal late in the second, swatting home a rebound with Michael Del Zotto standing idly by. He also set up Leon Draisaitl for an insurance goal in the third.
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS ... PEOPLE WILL TALK ABOUT
How this for openers? Just over a minute in, the Oilers’ Patrick Maroon deflected a Jake Virtanen pass to Connor McDavid who then fed Maroon for a two-foot tap-in.
The Canucks were chasing the game from that point on. Virtanen would finish the game minus-two and failed to record a shot on net before he was benched in the third period.
If he wants people to stop people barking at him for taking holidays in Las Vegas, here’s a tip: Play better.
BOESER’S POINTS DROUGHT EASED BY MINNESOTA
Things haven’t been going great for Brock Boeser on the ice the last couple of weeks. Saturday night, his goalless streak ran to five games, his second-longest of the year. Boeser’s best chance came on a first-period breakaway which was turned away by Cam Talbot. On the night, he directed 10 shots at Talbot, but had five blocked and missed the net three other times.
Off the ice, however, the Minnesota Vikings have provided some excitement for Boeser, who’s from the Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville. Along with Thomas Vanek, who attended the University of Minnesota and makes his off-season home in the state, the two Canucks have formed the Vancouver chapter of the Vikings’ booster club.
Last Sunday, they were standing for the national anthems before the Wild’s game against the Canucks in St. Paul when Stephon Diggs caught the last-play, game-winning touchdown pass which vaulted the Vikes into Sunday’s NFC championship game.
Most of the crowd at the Wild game was in the concourse watching the conclusion of the Vikings-Saints playoff game. They let out a might roar when Diggs scored.
“Me and Vanek had pretty much given up all hope,” Boeser said. “Then we heard the celebration and I knew they’d won right away. I got chills.”
Boeser, whose mother is from Wisconsin, actually grew up a Packers’ fan but changed allegiances when his brother Paul married a Vikings’ cheerleader.
“He said he’d only take me to a game if I was wearing a Vikings’ jersey,” Boeser reports.
He was then asked about his brother’s reaction to the Minnesota Miracle.
“He dropped to his knees and started crying.”
THE USUAL TRADE ... SPASMS
Erik Gudbranson, who’s on the most-wanted list for the Feb. 26 trade deadline, was scratched from Saturday night’s game. A month from now that would have qualified as big news. But the Canucks’ defenceman left the morning skate with back spasms.
Gudbranson is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. On Saturday, Canucks GM Jim Benning was asked about the organization’s plans for the former Florida Panther.
“We’ve had discussions with (Mark Guy, Gudbranson’s agent),” Benning said. “We’ll just see going into the deadline where that takes us.”
NOT MUCH ROOM IN THE ROOM
Bo Horvat could play in Winnipeg on Sunday, which will leave the Canucks with a decision. Horvat is currently on injury reserve. To make room for him, the Canucks will likely send forward Michael Chaput back to Utica.