Canucks hope Goldobin can help spark offence
PITTSBURGH — Preparation meeting opportunity. You hear it all the time in the NHL.
It’s the formula for any recalled player to make an impact and the Vancouver Canucks are anxious to see if Nikolay Goldobin is an exclamation mark or question mark after the winger was summoned Tuesday from the Utica Comets.
Goldobin has done the statistical work — he earned an early player-of-the week honour and leads the AHL affiliate in scoring with 20 points (8-12) in 18 games — but his ongoing challenge is to transfer natural ability to a much bigger stage and have the willingness to play and excel in the more demanding NHL game.
With the Canucks searching for even-strength scoring solutions — they ranked 27th in five-on-five production after their first 25 games — reuniting Goldobin with Bo Horvat against the Pittsburgh Penguins today makes a lot of sense.
“I’ve heard he’s been playing very well and if he gets an opportunity to play, I’m sure he’s going to make an impact,” Horvat said of Goldobin, who didn’t crack the Canucks roster out of camp and had 27 points (7-20) in 63 games last season. “He’s obviously super-skilled offensively and can bring that to our group.
“And we’re desperate to score some five-on-five goals. We know each other and we know each other’s tendencies and if we get a chance to play together, hopefully we can make something happen.”
Somebody with playmaking and scoring instincts can help overcome the loss of centres Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle. They also factor into the Rubik’s Cube conundrum of aligning the proper scoring sequence for fiveon-five effectiveness.
In their injury absence, others are getting tougher matchups, and because Sutter and Beagle excel in the faceoff circle, the Canucks aren’t starting with the puck as often and they’re not getting as many offensivezone starts. It all plays into the five-onfive funk.
And without Sutter and Beagle, Horvat has also been forced into more demanding defensive-zone faceoffs as well as a draining penalty-kill role.
Goldobin can help ease those concerns and the 24-year-old shouldn’t lack for motivation. Even with Sven
Baertschi being reassigned to the Comets on Tuesday, there are still a glut of forward.
Antoine Roussel is on a conditioning loan to Utica, Tyler Motte is recuperating from a foot fracture, Zack MacEwen is trying to prove his NHL worth and there’s no fiscal solution or move for demoting Loui Eriksson.
All that should ramp up Goldobin’s resolve.
“It’s no secret what we hope to see from him, if he’s in the lineup,” said Canucks coach Travis Green. “We hope he provides some offence. Goldy dominates offensively down there [AHL] and it’s one thing to put up points in the American Hockey League — and we’ve seen that in the past.
“Time and space are very limited up here and we’ve talked to him before and I think he’ll have the proper mindset coming in.”
Sutter rejoined the Canucks and practised Tuesday, but there’s no timeline for him to return after missing six games with a groin strain. Beagle has not skated since facing the Nashville Predators last Thursday and is bothered by a nagging ailment in the hip area. And Micheal Ferland did a skills session before practice, but didn’t join the main group, in another step toward his return from a concussion that has cost the winger 13 games.