Vancouver Canucks Game Day: No Petey, ‘Chico’ Talking Devils

Elias Pettersson will not play for the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils as he’ll miss his second straight game with an upper body injury. Delta native Nic Petan has been called up from the Abbotsford Canucks and will likely play fourth line centre between Alex Chiasson and Vasily Podkolzin.

“I played a little bit with them at camp so I know a little bit about them, so I’ll be between a lefty and a righty, so it’s pretty standard,” Petan said Tuesday morning. “Been waiting for the call for awhile, it’s nice to get it and my family and friends are excited as well.”

Petan makes his Vancouver Canucks debut after previously playing 136 NHL games between the Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For young Vancouver Canucks fans, or even youngish, you probably don’t remember the name (don’t call me Glenn) Chico Resch. Chico is a legendary NHL goalie turned broadcaster who can still spin an entertaining yarn or clarify a player’s strengths and weaknesses with the best of ’em. He’s been on TV and radio in the greater New York City market doing commentary for the Islanders and Devils for decades after winning a Stanley Cup with the Islanders in 1980 and playing for the Flyers through the 1987 season.

Today our conversation took on a different slant. In preparation for the Canucks versus the Devils, we didn’t talk so much about X’s and O’s, we talked about confidence and having a team’s number. The Devils have beaten the Vancouver Canucks twelve times in a row. We delve into the phenomena of the winning streak and the physical and psychological reasons behind it. Chico also jokes about stopping Bobby Orr.

Enjoy some fun with Chico and get ready for the Canucks hosting the Devils.

By the way, Nico Daws gets the start in net for the Devils against Thatcher Demko for the Canucks.