Then he scored his second.
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Baertschi had a career year last season, netting 18 goals and adding 17 assists for the Canucks in 69 regular season games. Vancouver fans would’ve been hopeful that Baertschi’s form in 2016-17 carried over into the new campaign, and after a stalled start the 25-year-old now has two goals and three assists in eight games thus far this season.
His first of the year came 14:34 into the opening period of the Canucks’ 4-1 win over the Red Wings, after Bo Horvat saw his shot partially blocked. The puck fell to Baertsch, who deftly backhanded it over a sprawling Jimmy Howard to put Vancouver up 1-0.
Baertschi’s second of the night came at 13:39 of the second period. He stole the puck along the boards inside the Red Wings’ zone and unleashed a quick wrist shot from the slot that evaded Howard and gave the Canucks one of their two insurance goals on the night.
The Canucks improved to 4-3-1 with the victory.
