Teen Jake Virtanen Gets First Goal In Vancouver Canucks Win

Jake Virtanen, a 19-year-old winger for the Vancouver Canucks, scored his first career goal during Monday night’s home game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The youngster from Abbotsford just learned on Sunday that he would be staying in the NHL indefinitely, netted the clutch third goal for the Canucks to give them a 3-1 lead at 8:28 of the final period in their very own Rogers Arena. Virtanen, who was drafted by the Canucks in 2014, completely stunned Flyers goalie Steve Mason with a backhanded shot after beating defenseman Brandon Manning. 

Jake Virtanen Gets First Goal in Vancouver Canucks Win

Virtanen’s goal was proof of many key traits, namely: speed, power and resilience.  “First couple of games, I didn’t think I was bringing the puck to the net,” Virtanen said. “I was watching my clips and thought I had to do that a little bit better. So I tried to bring that out tonight. With the speed I have, I think I just have to keep bringing pucks to the net and things will happen.”

Virtanen’s centre, veteran Brandon Sutter, seemed very excited, among many other Canucks, when he saw his teammate score such a great goal.

Vancouver began with a 1-0 lead just 68 seconds into the game, after quick passes by Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi created a breakaway for Jannik Hansen who then easily scored as goalie Mason leaped out of his box. The Flyers tied up the game at 2:54 of the second period, after Canuck defenseman Matt Bartkowski failed on a one-on-one against Philadelphia goalie Claude Giroux, who then beat Vancouver’s goalie Ryan Miller with a deke akin to Hansen’s.

The Canucks are now 6-2-4 so far this season, and 3-0-1 in their last four games.

Photo: VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 10: Jake Virtanen #18 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck during the pre-game warm up prior NHL action against the Calgary Flames on October 10, 2015 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)