It was supposed to be all about Erik Karlsson’s season debut with the Ottawa Senators.
Instead, it became all about Anders Nilsson’s debut with the Vancouver Canucks.
Nilsson, who signed with the Canucks as a free agent in the summer, stole the show from Karlsson in the Canucks 3-0 win Tuesday, making 32 saves, including 17 during a first period when the Senators threatened to take control. The shutout was the third of Nilsson’s career.
Brock Boeser and Alexander Burmistrov gave the Canucks a 2-0 lead after two periods in front of a Canadian Tire Centre crowd that was once again several thousand shy of the 17,373 capacity.