The Vancouver Canucks' Tanner Pearson will turn 28 on Aug. 10. Usually, not a time of year when one suits up for an NHL game. However, with the strong possibility of summer hockey, that may just happen.
"Yeah, seriously," he said recently on a call with reporters, also noting it's his wedding anniversary too. "You know, even if you had told me five years ago to think about playing an NHL game on my birthday, I probably would have told you you were crazy. But, you know, right now, crazier things are happening."
Indeed.
The NHL and sports world are on pause as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the globe. For now, Pearson and his fellow hockey players are at home working out, staying off the ice and spending time with family. If and when the NHL does come back, the Canucks' future is a murky one. Technically, the standings had them on the outside looking in on the morning of March 12, thanks to a tiebreaker; however, when you factor in points percentage, they're in.
"I think we were right there, knocking on the door to be in the playoffs," he said. "It's kind of the spot you want to be at, you know, at this point of the season. It's unfortunate what happened, obviously, you know, we're striving in the right direction, that you want to make playoffs and get to the point to compete for the Cup."
Tucker Pearson is loving dad being home so much! 👶😍🏒 @tannerjpearson #HockeyAtHome pic.twitter.com/Z1Y1J2dUMV
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) April 1, 2020
Should the Cancuks play playoff hockey in 2020, it would mark the first time since 2015, when they lost in the first round to the Calgary Flames. In 2020, they would face another team from Alberta, the Edmonton Oilers.
“They obviously have the two heavy hitters (in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl)," he said. "But at the end of the day, if we do get the callback, yeah, you want to be one of those teams that gets the call that you’re fighting for it. You know, you just got to be one of the teams, then anything can happen after that."
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In the four-game regular-season series, which the two teams split, Pearson posted a combined three goals and four assists against the Oilers — including four points in Vancouver's 5-2 win on Nov. 30 and a whopping 11 shots on goal in the opening night matchup. The 2019-20 season was also a rebound year of sorts for Pearson after he was traded twice last season. In his first full season with the Canucks, he eclipsed his career-high in points (45), including 21 goals in 69 games.
“I’ve always believed in myself that I can score 20 goals in this league,” said Pearson, who last hit the 20-goal mark in 2016-17 with the Kings. “Especially after how last year … ended with the Canucks and that hot streak, it gave me a boost of confidence. Definitely proved to myself what I can do right if I really buckle down and have fun with the game and just focus on the little things.”
Tanner Pearson 20th goal of the season #Canucks pic.twitter.com/Fvzk0IbhZ8
— Lucas Parmenter (@LucasParmenter) March 5, 2020
Playing alongside captain Bo Horvat, he was on pace for a career-high 25 goals before the season was halted. Of the 21 goals he did score, two were shorthanded, three happened on the power play, and three ended up being game-winners — showing that head coach Travis Green was not afraid to use the forward in all situations.
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"I think I learned, especially over the last year, not to get too frustrated," Pearson said. "I think that was probably the biggest part of my career so far, learning-wise; when things aren't going your way to kind of try to stick with it or even work harder to get something back or get something to go your way ... not getting too frustrated about it.
"I think when you do that things are gonna go your way and then ... just focusing on my game and game in, game out and, you know, stuff will just come my way after that."
Whether or not the NHL season does return in some form to finish the 2019-20 season, the year was a positive one for the 27-year-old forward. Now he'll just have to wait and see whether he'll be blowing out birthday candles right before puck drop.