The Vancouver Canucks kept Jake Virtanen because they figured the teenager’s speed, power and enthusiasm would help them. They had to wait a whole day to see it.
After learning Sunday that he would not be sent back to junior hockey and could stay in the National Hockey League indefinitely, Virtanen scored a key, third-period goal Monday as the Canucks beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 at Rogers Arena.
The 19-year-old winger from Abbotsford banked the puck past defenceman Brandon Manning, cut strongly to the net in front of backchecker Scott Laughton and slipped a backhand through Philadelphia goalie Steve Mason at 8:28 of the final period.