VANCOUVER — Saturday wasn’t the first time Arshdeep Bains scored a goal at Rogers Arena.
When he was “about six” years old, he played during the Vancouver Canucks’ intermission and was pretty sure he scored during his Surrey Minor Hockey’s intra-squad game. Roughly 17 years later, Bains scored his first goal for the Canucks — his first goal in the National Hockey League — as his boyhood team rallied from two goals down to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Hockey Night in Canada.
It was the night the Canucks honoured defenceman Tyler Myers, who logged his 1,000th NHL game last Saturday in Philadelphia. Undrafted in junior, years before he led the Western Hockey League in scoring, and undrafted in the NHL, Bains was playing his 12th game for the Canucks after signing as a free agent 2 ½ years ago.
“I can’t really even put it in words,” Bains told reporters. “It just happened so fast, and all the guys were so happy. It was a special moment. I think everyone, you know, they took time out, came over and gave me a hug. And it’s something I won’t forget.”
On his unorthodox path to the NHL, the 23-year-old said: “I think it’s been a journey. It’s a lot you’ve got to learn, and you’ve got to learn quickly. And the guys have helped me, the staff helped me, believe in me. It feels a step closer tonight.
“I played a couple games last year, so it feels like it’s been eight months of playing, right? It feels good to kind of get that weight off your shoulders.”
After eight games as a call-up to the Canucks last season, Bains made the NHL team this fall in his third training camp. Management has twice used his waiver-free status to briefly assign him back to the American Hockey League for roster and salary-cap benefits.
But Bains has dressed for four of the last five Vancouver games and on Saturday scored the first goal of his career by outskating the Penguins’ backcheck to bang in a rebound from Daniel Sprong’s shot at 9:58 of the second period after his linemate had embarrassed Pittsburgh defenceman Erik Karlsson.
Sprong was nearly as quick to the puck, collecting it for Bains after the goal, as he was getting to the net by torching Karlsson on the rush.
“It’s a special moment for him,” Sprong said. “I think every kid playing hockey growing up wants to score a goal in the NHL. So happy to see him, and it was a big goal for us. As a line, we created chances, and it was good to see him get his first one.”
“Seeing the guys’ reaction on the bench, I think we were happier than he was,” winger Kiefer Sherwood said of Bains’ goal. “He’s been a guy that’s just put his nose down and continued to go to work. He’s an undrafted guy, so it really, really feels good for everyone to kind of support him and watch him.”
The fourth line created the winning goal to cap the speed- and rush-themed offensive outburst.
In about the time it takes to wait for a $6 pumpkin spice latte with your name misspelled on the cup, the Canucks got four goals in six minutes from four different forward lines to obliterate an early 2-0 deficit.
Those six minutes are the strongest proof yet that general manager Patrik Allvin was on to something when he signed four experienced NHL wingers in free agency this summer in order to make the Canucks’ attack deeper, faster and more balanced than it was last season.
But the most encouraging goal — and the catalyst for the ones that followed — was scored by long, lost Elias Pettersson.
When the Canucks’ beleaguered $92.8-million man quickly picked the top corner from a passout by newish linemate Conor Garland at 4:06 of the middle period, it was Pettersson’s first five-on-five goal since March 5, ending an unfathomable drought of 37 regular-season and playoff games for Vancouver’s highest-paid player.
“Good to get one,” Pattersson said. “Good play by Conor to find me. I just tried to get it high on the far side and luckily it went post and in.”
Forty-three seconds later, Sherwood one-timed Teddy Blueger’s pass on a two-on-one to tie the game 2-2. And just 22 seconds after that, the Canucks led when J.T. Miller skated on to Brock Boeser’s breakaway pass, followed up his shot by muscling his way to the front of the net and watched the puck trickle through goalie Alex Nedeljkovic at 5:11.
In order, the goals came from Vancouver’s second line, third unit and first trio. Naturally, the fourth line made it 4-2 at 9:58.
Besides reinforcing coach Rick Tocchet’s determination to transform the Canucks into a more dangerous team in transition and off the rush, the scoring spree also illustrated the growing chemistry among players. Bains following up Sprong. Blueger finding Sherwood. Garland setting up Pettersson.
Seven games into the season, and now with a four-game winning streak, the Canucks are starting to play like they know each other, even if they relied too heavily on new goalie Kevin Lankinen in the third period.
Half of Lankinen’s 20 saves came in the final frame, and Evgeni Malkin’s brilliant breakaway goal for Pittsburgh made the last 6 ½ minutes nervy for the Canucks.
Eight players in the Vancouver lineup are new to the team since the end of last season, and a ninth, rugged defenceman Derek Forbort, will rejoin Vancouver this weekend after a personal leave of absence.
“We’re just playing the right way,” Sherwood said. “We’re always trying to be on the right side of the puck and when you’re just simple and predictable, it’s easier for each and every guy to read off and you don’t have that hesitation of what’s going to happen.
“Over the course of the season and the playoffs, depth is obviously very important. Usually, the deeper teams will win over the course of a series. It’s a huge step in the right direction when all four lines can contribute. Whether it’s on the stat sheet or not, I think it’s just about playing the right way and continuing to add to our identity.”
Winless in their first three games and now 4-1-2 after seven, the Canucks play the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.
