No player had a more Jekyll and Hyde season then big Finnish centre Henri Nikkanen who was still doing good things early in the season but just couldn’t get rewarded on the scoresheet. This resulted in his being in the lineup for a game and then sitting the next. After going pointless through 35 games, on March 2nd which was appropriately Hockey Day in Finland he finally got his first point when he scored from in close. Evidently when it rains, it pours as, after he tossed the monkey from his back, Nikkanen would pick up a goal and two assist in his next game which was part of quite the run which saw him get five goals and four assists for nine points in seven games for the Moose. He was understandably all smiles during this stretch.
While it doesn’t count in his goal totals this shootout goal was the highlight of his season as it looked like he simply lost the handle but upon watching the replay it was clear he intentionally made the move. Even his coach didn’t know it was intentional.
We discussed his up and down season, his growth this season, his defensive acumen, his shootout move, his summer plans, being connected to Winnipeg, having other Finns around the team and more.
