Canucks’ future is here — if you’re in Sweden
Here’s the latest edition of our weekly tracker, where we tally the efforts of the highest-profile Canucks prospects:
JONATHAN DAHLEN
Mission accomplished for Dahlen and his Timra teammates.
The goal to get Timra promoted to the Swedish Hockey League was on thin ice last week, with Timra down 3-1 in their series to Karlskrona. But three straight wins got the job done.
On Monday, a 3-1 Game 5 win for Timra, Dahlen sealed the deal with a breakaway goal that had him all kinds of fired up.
Dahlen didn’t score a goal in Wednesday’s 4-3 Game 6 win, but had an assist and four shots.
In Game 7, with promotion on the line, Dahlen put the puck in the net in a 2-0 win, scoring the second goal of the game with a shot that deflected off a defender’s helmet into the goal.
Dahlen finishes a spectacular season with an even-better playoff run, amassing 14 points — eight of them goals — in 10 playoff games.
Word from his agent J.P. Barry is that Dahlen will rest for a few days before joining the Utica Comets for their AHL playoff push.
ELIAS PETTERSSON
Not to be outdone by his former Timra linemate, Pettersson’s topranked Vaxjo Lakers swept aside Malmo this past week in the SHL semifinals, with Pettersson producing in each of the four games.
In Game 3, Pettersson scored a beauty — a quick snipe from the faceoff circle.
In a series-clinching 2-1 overtime win in Game 4, Pettersson assisted on the first goal, then played the hero in overtime. Pettersson out deked and outwaited the Malmo goalie, contorting his body to slip a backhander into the net.
Vaxjo now waits to see who their opponent will be in the SHL finals, which begin April 17.
OLLI JUOLEVI
Juolevi has upped his game in the SM-Liiga playoffs, but his TPS team is on the brink of elimination nonetheless.
Down 3-0 in a semifinal series to Tappara, Juolevi has continued to play huge minutes and produce from the back end.
JONAH GADJOVICH
Gadjovich may not be putting up the points he’d like to in the OHL playoffs, but he’s been adept at peeving off the opposition.
Gadjovich’s Owen Sound Attack, now in the second round against the top-ranked Sault. Ste. Marie Greyhounds, shocked the highpowered hosts in Game 1, a 4-1 Attack victory. Gadjovich didn’t get on the scoreboard in Game 2, a 5-4 OT loss, but he’s playing the part of the pest like a professional.
THATCHER DEMKO
Demko’s week began on Friday, a 3-2 shootout win for the Utica Comets over the Toronto Marlies. He was sensational in the game, making 37 saves to earn his 24th win of the season.
Demko is now tied with Joacim Eriksson for the most wins by a Comets goalie in a season.