Before I get to Tuesday's game recap and the setup for Wednesday night's game against the baby Flames: Do you remember Semisonic's "Closing Time?"
This lyric is so awkward that it has stuck in my brain now for nearly two decades. It kind of sums up the vibe that prevailed around Rogers Arena on Tuesday:
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
It's the end of an era. No Sedins. No Trevor Linden.
But the mood around the rink on Tuesday was light and, for the most part, optimistic. Even before puck drop, fans, media and members of the organization all seem excited about what lies ahead in the Elias Pettersson era.
The attendance number hasn't been made public, but the upper bowl was mostly full, the lower bowl looked respectable and the crowd was lively and engaged as the 2018 Vancouver Canucks preseason kicked off at Rogers Arena.
Tuesday September 18 - Edmonton Oilers 4 - Vancouver Canucks 2
They didn't win, but there was lots to like in the 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
Front and centre, of course, was Pettersson. His line, with Sven Baertschi and Nikolay Goldobin, combined for 11 of Vancouver's 37 shots in the game.
And there could have been more. Goldy was a little bit casual in his attempt to convert this first-period feed from Pettersson, allowing Cam Talbot to make a five-alarm save at the goal line.
After serving a high-sticking penalty early in the second period, Baertschi was on the ice with Bo Horvat and Loui Eriksson when he opened the scoring for Vancouver with this ridiculous reverse five-hole backhand.
Now Sven Baertschi comes in with the between-the-legs backhand five-hole tuck. Apparently its Globetrotter night in Vancouver pic.twitter.com/0Mv9kkfCZa
Baertschi was buzzing all night—leading the Canucks with six shots on goal. Armed with his new three-year contract, he looks determined to take another step forward this season and be a part of the team's next leadership group.
As for Pettersson, he got better as the game went on. He fell down often, including several times when he was trying for big shots, but he went a respectable 4-for-8 in the faceoff circle, held his own defensively and quickly showed what a dynamic option he'll be on the power play. The Canucks got seven opportunities to work on their new configuration, clicking on the sixth when Goldy finished off the play after an initial shot from EP and a second attempt from Horvat. A three-pronged attack makes for great pressure!
Goldobin scores after Horvat rings it off the post
- And this rush. Didn't somebody say yesterday that Pettersson would force Edmonton PTO candidate Jason Garrison into a penalty at some point in the game?
Compared to what we've gotten used to seeing from the Canucks, Tuesday night was definitely high-event hockey. FUN!
Coach was pleased, too.
"He was good tonight, really good. I thought he got more comfortable as the game went on. I really liked that line tonight." - Coach Green on Pettersson #Canucks
- Very rough outing for Anders Nilsson, whose five-hole let him down more than once. The Oilers got behind the Vancouver defense for some point-blank chances, but the goalie needs to make those saves once in awhile.
- Loui Eriksson appeared to injure his knee in front of the Edmonton net during the third period, but he stayed on the bench and was able to finish the game. He picked up an assist on Baertschi's goal and I spotted him working as a net-front guy on the power play, but he finished the night without a single shot attempt in 18:50 of ice time.
- While Pettersson was good, Jonathan Dahlen was quiet and looked a bit overmatched. He played 13:15, including 3:31 on the power play; the only item on his stat line is two shots on goal.
- If Nikolay Goldobin and Brendan Leipsic are battling for the same roster spot, Goldy got the edge on Tuesday. Leipsic also saw ample power play time but managed just two shot attempts in the game.
- Don't count out Tyler Motte. Though his waiver-exempt status will work against him, he showed the same tenacity as we saw from him after he came over to the Canucks at last year's trade deadline. Coach likes him, too.
Green on Hutton : He was all right, lots of guys were average. Tyler Motte was good, he had good speed. We need to be better. #Canucks
- That brings me to the divisive Ben Hutton. Travis Green gave him a great opportunity on Tuesday, pairing him with Chris Tanev and putting him on the first power-play unit—with decidedly mixed results.
Hutton was getting his shot through with the man advantage. He finished with four shots on goal and a team-leading 26:06 of ice time.
But he and Tanev were on the ice for all three of Edmonton's even-strength goals—and he looked especially bad on Ty Rattie's second of the night.
It's still early, but Hutton certainly didn't put his stamp on a roster spot on Tuesday.
I did like what I saw from Troy Stecher on Tuesday: he led the team with six hits in just 16:22 of ice time. And I thought Jake Virtanen also had an effective game, with three hits and six shot attempts in 13:03.
Wednesday September 19 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet One, Sportsnet 650
On we go. We'll see an almost completely different lineup on the ice tonight, as preseason continues:
Based on morning skate...looks like @Canucks may line up like this vs Flames:
The Flames' main team dropped a 3-1 decision to the Boston Bruins in Beijing this morning to go 0-2 at the China Games, leaving this motley group to take to the ice against the Canucks tonight:
World Junior star and Kole Lind's Kelowna Rockets teammate Dillon Dube will be a player to watch and yes, that's one-time Vancouver Giant Gilbert Brule back from four seasons in the KHL, on a PTO with the Flames.
Since Bill Peters is with the big club in China, Stockton Heat head coach Cail Maclean will be behind the bench tonight for the Flames. He'll start with David Rittich in net, then evaluate as the game goes on.
Puck drop is back to normal, with a 7 p.m. start time. It's another national broadcast, this time on Sportsnet One.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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