Vanek gets last laugh in OT win over Wild
Vanek gets revenge against old team with tying goal, writes Jason Botchford.
The Vancouver Canucks didn’t have much left at the end of this five-game road trip. But they did have just enough left in the tank to score a couple of goals and force overtime.
Brandon Sutter slipped one past Devan Dubnyk in OT to win the game, his first since missing 21 outings after being injured on Nov. 24.
Here is what we learned:
VANEK GETS EXCITED TO SCORE AGAINST OLD TEAM
Not that long ago, the Wild bought out Thomas Vanek and released him. He got some revenge Sunday.
In a game the Wild were in total control of, Vanek scored unexpectedly with three minutes left, tying the game at two.
His goal celebration, which included fist pumping, may have been the most enthusiastic finish to the 13 goals he’s scored with the Canucks this year.
Vanek deflected the puck in and raised his arms right after it. Usually, he’s much more understated. It obviously must feel good to get one on your old team.
The best twist? Because of the buyout, the Wild are paying him $2.5 million this season.
MARKSTROM IS THE MAN
The Canucks battle in net is over. Anders Nilsson has started only five times since the beginning of December.
Jacob Markstrom got the nod again Sunday for the Canucks and he was solid if unspectacular. The Canucks goaltending issues, which was a thing all of
December, has been much less of a problem.
Some will connect that to the fact Markstrom is getting a lot of playing time. But in reality, the Canucks have been playing much better defensively, especially when Chris Tanev is in the lineup.
ERIKSSON IS BACK
When Loui Eriksson is on his game it usually only lasts a week or two. He just hasn’t been on very often for the Canucks.
The $36-million man, who gets paid $8 million this season, finally scored. He had gone 18 games without a goal, which is stunning when you remember some predicted he could score 30 with the Canucks when they signed him as a free agent in 2016.
Eriksson cut through the middle of the ice on the rush and Alex Edler found him with one of the defenceman’s better passes of the season.
You see a play like that and you wonder why it doesn’t happen more often. I bet that same thought haunts Canucks management.
PLAYER SENT DOWN TOO SOON
A day after Nikolay Goldobin left the team on a return trip to Utica, Daniel Sedin was a surprise scratch against Minnesota.
The team announced Daniel suffered back spasms, which forced him out of the lineup. This is concerning because Daniel is 37 and the Canucks still really need him and his brother.
Putting together a lineup with even one Sedin in it is pretty scary. They have been consistent all season, and quietly have been very good, giving the Canucks their only secondary offensive punch behind Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat, when he’s healthy.
DEL ZOTTO/GUDBRANSON PAIRING A WEAK LINK
Erik Gudbranson has played some nice shifts in recent games. There weren’t many of them in Minnesota. Both him and Michael Del Zotto lost puck battles leading to the Wild’s goahead goal in the third period.
You could tell early they weren’t on their game when Charlie Coyle sliced through both of them untouched, creating a scoring chance all on his own.
And then there was the shift from hell. Maybe worse. The Wild didn’t score, but they wore the Canucks out. And wore them out some more.
There were Canucks pinned on the ice for more than three minutes. Sam Gagner was out for three minutes and 25 seconds straight.
He was of no use. His linemates didn’t help. And neither did Del Zotto and Gudbranson. Both had opportunities to make plays, to clear the pucks, and neither could do much about it.
Gudbranson in particular had the puck on his stick a few times. He didn’t clear. He also didn’t get any help from his forwards.
You can understand why. Two minutes, players were gassed.
It doesn’t make the shift any prettier.
BOESER’S FOOTBALL TASTES
He turned some heads in his hometown when he announced he was a Minnesota Vikings fan, and a Green Bay Packers fan. Say what?
“I’m Packers and Vikings,” he said.
The reaction, in a word, was disbelief.
“I had to,” he said. “I grew up a Packers fan and my brother married a Vikings cheerleader. “He wouldn’t take me to a game unless I became a Vikings fan. And now my girlfriend is a Vikings cheerleader.”
His brother is married to a Vikings cheerleader and he’s dating one? That’s some family.