CALGARY -Jannik Hansen is going to have quite the story to tell his two young sons.
It won’t have a completely happy ending, as the Canucks ended up dropping a 4-2 decision to the Calgary Flames on Sunday night. But years from now that really won’t matter.
At about 5:30 Sunday morning, Hansen’s wife Karen delivered twins. He likely would have missed that big moment had the Canucks’ charter late Saturday night not been cancelled because of weather issues in Calgary.
The Canuck players were sent home and Hansen was in for a surprise when he walked through the door.
“Right after I get in the door the water breaks and it’s off to the hospital,” Hansen said after the game. “It was kind of fortunate that I was able to be there. I am extremely grateful that I was able to be there.”
His new sons are named Lucas and Daniel, which has Canuck captain Henrik Sedin a little upset.
“I’ve been working on him for a lot of weeks and then I get the text this morning, Lucas and Daniel,” Henrik said with a laugh. “That is unbelievable.”
Lucas and Daniel would have been proud of their dad on Sunday night. Playing with absolutely no sleep, Hansen was perhaps the best of the Canucks. He set up Chris Higgins’ breakaway goal in the first period and then scored Vancouver’s other goal early in the second period.
When his wife went into labour, Hansen didn’t figure he would make Sunday’s game. But it was a relatively quick labour and with Karen’s blessing and after having had a chance to hold his two boys, Hansen made the early Sunday afternoon flight with his teammates to Calgary.
“It’s a special feeling, it’s hard to describe,” Hansen said. “You don’t know how quick it (the labour) is going to be and if it’s still going on and the flight is leaving, obviously I am not here.”
His teammates were impressed with Hansen’s performance in Sunday night’s game.
“Jannik didn’t sleep at all, had twins last night and played a hell of a game,” said Alex Burrows.
BALLARD, BIEKSA OUT: Defenceman Keith Ballard appears to be back in coach Alain Vigneault’s doghouse. Ballard was scratched Saturday night when fellow defenceman Kevin Bieksa returned to the lineup after missing two games with a groin injury.
And Ballard was scratched again Sunday, even when Bieksa sat out after apparently reaggravating his injury on Saturday night.
Cam Barker instead played his first game as a Canuck on Sunday night and assisted on Hansen’s goal early in the second period.
“It feels good, obviously,” said Barker, who was paired most of the night with Alex Edler. “It would have been better with a win, but I thought for the most part, coming in right before the game and playing last night, I think the guys battled hard.”
Barker logged 15:32 of ice time and was even on the night.
There was no update available after the game from the Canucks on Bieksa as coach Alain Vigneault walked away from reporters after criticizing the officials for a bench minor he received in the third period.
On Saturday morning, Bieksa had said he wanted to be cautious about his return to the lineup.
“If I feel good enough to play (Saturday), then I should feel good enough to play back-to-back,” he said after Saturday morning’s skate. “That’s why we kind of want to take our time with this.”
The Canucks may now be wishing they had taken their time.
BACK TO BACK BOUTS: Two games and two fights for big winger Tom Sestito. One night after fighting Kings’ winger Jordan Nolan, Sestito tangled with new Calgary forward Brian McGrattan in the second period on Sunday night.
Both players landed hard punches, but McGrattan seemed to have a slight edge in the tilt.
Sestito, who was claimed on waivers last week from the Philadelphia Flyers, had 6:52 of ice time Sunday night. He played on a line with Jordan Schroeder and Dale Weise and was not credited with a hit in the game.
ICE CHIPS: The Canucks were scheduled to charter home after Sunday night’s game and meet the San Jose Sharks at Rogers Arena on Tuesday night. . .One night after winning just one of nine faceoffs, newly minted centre Mason Raymond went 5-3 in the circle on Sunday. . .David Booth and Alex Burrows each had five shots for the Canucks, who outshot the Flames 31-25.
bziemer@vancouversun.com
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