Matthias making presence felt with inspiring performances
Kesler diagnosed with sprained knee, may miss two weeks
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Squint through the murk, risk the toxic burn by fully opening your eyes on the Vancouver Canucks these days, and you can almost see some hope for the future in Shawn Matthias and Nicklas Jensen.
Matthias, the 26- year- old centre acquired last week in Roberto Luongo’s trade to the Florida Panthers, has merely been one of the best and most positive Canucks forwards in his first five games with the National Hockey League team.
Pulled into the trade by the Canucks, who erased $ 27 million US from their books by shedding Luongo’s contract, Matthias looks like the strong third- line centre Vancouver has lacked since Manny Malhotra’s eye injury three years ago.
And Jensen, the 21- year- old former first- round pick from Denmark, looks increasingly like he actually belongs in the NHL after a disappointing twogame cameo last season and unspectacular start in professional hockey.
Jensen is filling in for injured winger Daniel Sedin on the Canucks’ first line, while Matthias was elevated Friday to replace injured centre Ryan Kesler.
Each scored his first goal for the Canucks, and each would have happily traded it for a Vancouver win instead of a discouraging 4- 3 loss to the Washington Capitals.
“It helps every time I step on the ice, feeling confident, getting to know the game and my teammates, too,” Jensen said after his fourth game since being summoned last week from the minor- league Utica Comets. “It’s a tough circumstance, too, the way we have it right now, but it’s fun to play ( in the NHL) and I think it’s helping me, too.”
Jensen had four shots and 20: 19 of ice time Friday, played in tough areas and stood up for himself against the Capitals.
Matthias, who is six- footfour and 223 pounds, led the Canucks with five shots on net over 18: 32 of playing time.
Their goals came on similar stick- side shots from the high slot, 3: 06 apart in the third period.
“It’s nice to get the first one out of the way; it’s on your mind a lot,” Matthias said. “But it’s frustrating to be on the ice for that fourth one ( by Washington). There’s a high and a low — that’s hockey right there.”
The Canucks, their season dealt another thunderous blow, weren’t much in the mood to talk about going to Florida to face Luongo on Sunday.
But Matthias, who said he never got an opportunity to fully develop with the Panthers, is looking forward to it.
“Absolutely, I think this is a way better situation,” he said. “This is a very classy organization and I’m very proud to be a part of it. I came in at a tough time and guys are frustrated. But there’s a really solid group of guys here who really want to win and they’re going to give it their all these last 13 games.
“It’s a tough stretch, but we’ve got to battle our way out of it. Nobody’s going to help us out of this. We have to do it ourselves.”
Matthias and Jensen are doing their share. KESS ON THE MEND: The NHL math didn’t favour the Canucks even before they lost another prime number. Now they’re trying to cling to the playoff race without No. 17 Ryan Kesler.
Canucks coach John Tortorella revealed before Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals that his top forward suffered a sprained knee Wednesday when checked dangerously by Winnipeg Jet Jim Slater, and will miss at least the next two weeks.
The Canucks faced the Capitals without, arguably, three of their top five forwards in Kesler, Mike Santorelli ( shoulder) and Daniel Sedin ( leg). Injured nearly two weeks ago in the Canucks’ stadium game against the Ottawa Senators, Sedin skated Friday in Vancouver and may yet return this season, general manager Mike Gillis said told Team 1040 radio.
On losing Kesler, too, Tortorella said: “You guys see how I use him and how important he is to the team. Nothing you can do about it.
“It’s a sprained knee and he’s out at least a couple of weeks. We’re not sure how it goes from there, but at least a couple of weeks. Knowing Kes — I talked to him after the game. I talked to him ( Thursday) night ... after he saw the doctor back in Van — knowing him, he wants to play .”
Five points out of a playoff spot after Friday and with three fewer games remaining than the eighth- place Dallas Stars, the Canucks may not be able to wait two weeks. GILLIS REDEPLOYS: Expected to meet the Canucks today in South Florida, where he attended NHL meetings this week, Gillis instead travelled home to Vancouver. His physical separation from the team slightly defused speculation that Tortorella’s dismissal is imminent.
“I’d been on the road a while,” Gillis said. “And with all the stories going around and reports about our team, I felt Vancouver was where I needed to be.”
Gillis said he had no meetings scheduled with Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini. NAZZY BACK?: When asked on radio about former Canuck Markus Naslund leaving his managerial post with Swedish club MoDo, Gillis’s remark that his former client would be welcomed back in the Vancouver organization led some to conclude Naslund was returning. But there have been no discussions between Naslund and Gillis about the former Vancouver captain joining management.