It is a night when many will reflect on the defenceman returning to Rogers Arena.
Kevin Bieksa was a warrior for the Vancouver Canucks. Chris Tanev has become one – albeit a different kind of warrior. Tanev’s return to the Canucks’ lineup is more important than the return of Bieksa to face it as a member of the Anaheim Ducks.
Arguably the team’s best defenceman and certainly the Canucks’ most reliable, Tanev returns after missing only two games due to a shot-block against Steve Stamkos 10 days ago. That fearless block with his foot, in the dying seconds in Tampa Bay, might have been a game-saver in the Canucks’ 2-1 victory.