When Zack Kassian boarded the team charter Sunday, it was far from a normal flight. Then again, not much has been normal in his life at the rink or away from it.
On a trip to Minnesota and Chicago that will include fathers who provided direction and a voice of reason to their sons who play for the Vancouver Canucks, the winger was joined by his older brother, Mike Jr. His father, Mike Sr., died of a heart abnormality when Kassian was only eight years old.
Think about that for a moment. For all the understandable scrutiny of the mercurial 24-year-old winger — from on-ice inconsistency to off-ice deportment – this stretch is the latest test of Kassian’s resolve. He’s been a healthy scratch in five of the last 10 games and his name keeps popping up in trade rumours because there’s always a curiosity about a big guy who skates well, can be physical and show some finish. So who does he lean on in tough times when everything has gone awry? Who does he call? Canvass the lockerroom and it’s usually dad on the other end of that long-distance line.
“It (trip) is going to be a little different, but this is even more special for my brother,” said Kassian. “He’s real happy and it’s awesome for him to experience this. If it wasn’t for him, who knows?, I wouldn’t be here and made it to the NHL. I’m very excited and can’t wait to have him around.”
Mike Jr. was an accomplished basketball player and the age difference didn’t matter because hanging out with his younger brother was more important than hanging out with his buddies. The boys had to grow up quickly. So did two sisters.
“When my dad passed away, he (Mike, Jr.) was 19 and really stepped in and was that father figure and really helped my mom (Shirley) out,” added Kassian. “This is very rewarding for him. My brother never asked for anything and he’s that type of person. He was here tonight (Saturday). He loves coming to games and being around the guys and he’s definitely been my No. 1 fan. He’s very supportive and gives me a kick in the ass when I need it.
“Seeing what we do on a game-to-game basis is going to be pretty cool for him, especially for a guy who has helped me through so much.”
If you want a snapshot of Kassian’s season, take a closer look at what transpired Saturday in a 5-0 blanking of the Pittsburgh Penguins. His ice time was cut back to 8:21 by five Canuck power plays and the perfect killing of four Penguin man advantages.
On a seldom-used line with Linden Vey and Chris Higgins, Kassian had four shifts in the first period and five in the second. But he also fought Robert Bortuzzo in the opening period — his first bout in 80 games since scoring a Nov. 25, 2013 decision over Daniel Carcillo at Rogers Arena. Kassian and Bortuzzo chirped each other in the second period and it also appeared that Kassian wanted Maxim Lapierre to drop the gloves.
“When you’re a healthy scratch, you have to come out and respond the right way,” said Kassian. “It’s been a while since I’ve fought and the guys have been giving me a hard time. With my finger injury, it’s been a little tender, but I wanted to come back and the fight was kind of the spur of the moment. He shot the puck at me and it was a chippy game — there was a lot going on out there.”
There certainly was. And then it happened. The goal.
With all the weirdness and wild reaction following Kassian’s third goal in 27 games — and his first in 21 outings — during a season riddled with injury (knee, finger fracture), self-doubt and little confidence from the coach, Kassian scored an effortless tap-in goal. It was like sinking a two-foot putt after goalie Thomas Greiss made a puck-handling gaff behind the net and Vey fed a wide open Kassian. It was far from the Golden Goal by Sidney Crosby in the 2010 Winter Olympics at Rogers Arena, but it sent the throng into a long, screaming standing ovation for the big lug.
“I skated from the bench to the crease and tapped it in,” recalled Kassian. “I was just hoping I didn’t miss the net. It was definitely a weird situation and it’s good to have one of those and maybe it can get me going a bit. The ovation was nice. I’ve always said the fans of Vancouver are very passionate. It’s been a tough year and this is a game I want to build off of and keep getting better.”
Kassian just went back to the bench after the goal. No punching the air with his fist or a scream of satisfaction.
“I forgot what to do,” he chuckled. “I just wanted to keep everything simple tonight and get back to the basics with the first game back. I still have a lot more to give.”
Nothing against Ronalds Kenins. The rookie netted a goal in consecutive games last week — the first two of his NHL career — while Kassian sat and stewed as a newcomer took his spot. If that wasn’t enough to get him going, nothing will.
“It doesn’t really matter who it is, it’s frustrating when you’re not in the lineup,” said Kassian. “Kenins is a good player and I’m happy for him because he scored a couple of big goals.”
Willie Desjardins has challenged Kassian in every conceivable way, but the Canucks coach had a simple summation of what the winger accomplished Saturday. And a lot of it had to do with what Kassian has wrestled with before he steps on the ice.
“I thought he prepared and wanted to have a good game,” said Desjardins. “He got involved early, which we need him to, and I thought his attitude was good and he stayed focussed the whole game.”
His brother would approve.
bkuzma@theprovince.com
twitter.com/@benkuzma
