It might be hard to believe, but there were some good times for the Canucks last season. Remember those times when the puck would go into the other team’s net instead of the Canucks’ net? Good times.
In this least-hockeyest of months, we like to look back at those good times with our annual “Every Goal” series, where we look at every goal the Canucks scored in the previous season, player-by-player. It’s a fun way to remember the season that was with slightly rosier glasses and it can occasionally lead to some interesting observations about a specific player and their tendencies.
To kick things off, we’re looking at all the goals scored by the Canucks’ exciting rookie teenager—at least, the one that’s still on the team—Jake Virtanen.
Virtanen showed flashes of the player the Canucks hope he’ll become and seemed to really improve after returning from a disappointing performance at the World Junior Championships. Sure, things got derailed a bit by the dumbest “scandal” ever (teenager embraces opportunity to hang out with pop star: STOP THE PRESSES!) and a suspension for a late hit, but overall it was a decent debut season for the potential power forward.
Let’s look at the seven goals Virtanen scored in his rookie campaign.
1 | November 2nd vs Philadelphia Flyers
As first NHL goals by a highly-hyped teenaged rookie go, this one is pretty dang good. Virtanen had plenty of chances to score prior to putting those one in, so it was actually quite surprising that it took him nine games to score his first.
This goal is nearly a solo effort. Really, it’s more of a Han Solo effort, with Alex Burrows playing the role of Chewbacca, his incomprehensible wingman. Virtanen neatly banks the puck off the boards and bursts past defenceman Brandon Manning at the Canucks blue line, shields the puck from the backchecking Scott Laughton as he cuts to the net, then chips a quick backhand by Steve Mason. Lovely.
Burrows’ contribution is a simple one: he drives the net and ties up Radko Gudas. Simple, but key. And then he grabs the puck from the back of the net, because he cares.
2 | January 11th vs Florida Panthers
Virtanen’s second goal was a big one, tying up this game in the final minutes of the third period and giving Daniel “Lowlife” Sedin a chance to score the overtime gamewinner and spark a bench-clearing sort-of brawl. It was pretty entertaining! So, thanks Virtanen!
Credit to Sven Baertschi for quickly getting the puck out of Bo Horvat’s scrummed faceoff. Virtanen’s tactical hacks and whacks at the puck manage to bamboozle the Panthers defence and the quick release on his shot beats Roberto Luongo cleanly.
3 | February 10th vs Arizona Coyotes
Virtanen may have only scored seven goals last season, but it was encouraging that he scored in a variety of ways. His first came on a solo dash up the ice, his second from quick hands in a crowd, and his third comes on a bullet of a one-timer.
Jared McCann provides the setup, while Adam Cracknell drives up the gut, drawing attention away from Virtanen. The one-timer is placed perfectly, pinging in off the far post, but the best part of this goal is Mikkel Boedker pointing uselessly at Virtanen, trying to get Connor Murphy to check him. Murphy completely ignores both Boedker and Virtanen.
4 | February 19th vs Calgary Flames
It would be nice to credit Horvat, Baertschi, and Virtanen for a solid forecheck on this play, but this is really just a terrible giveaway by Dougie Hamilton, handing the puck straight to Virtanen, who immediately makes him pay with a beautiful wristshot into the top corner. Fourth goal, fourth different method of scoring.
5 | February 25th vs Ottawa Senators
A couple fortunate bounces led to Jake Virtanen’s lone power play goal. It starts with McCann’s attempted pass to Matt Bartkowski deflecting and turning into a much better pass to Horvat. He starts the give-and-go with Virtanen, but gives better than he gets, as Virtanen’s return pass is in his skates. Luckily, the puck made its way back to Virtanen and he beat Craig Anderson, who completely sold out on a Horvat shot that never came.
6 | March 3rd vs San Jose Sharks
It’s almost like Virtanen didn’t want to repeat the same method of scoring twice, so he had to get creative. This time he creates some space with his speed, creates a rebound with a hard wristshot, then scores from behind the net by banking the rebound off Joe Pavelski. It’s a heads-up play, but someone’s got to tell the kid it’s okay to score the same goal twice.
7 | March 14th vs Winnipeg Jets
Seriously, look at the resignation on Virtanen’s face after he scores here. You might think it’s because this is a meaningless goal in the final minute of a blowout loss, but really it’s because he had already scored this way. “Ugh, a perfect top corner shot after a terrible turnover? I’ve already done that one. Lame.”
