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“I knew I had a tough game in Florida and I’ve sat out before and it’s part of developing,” said Baertschi. “It didn’t really phase me. I’m a confident player and it’s a privilege being on the power play. Some great opportunities there and I get to handle the puck more and make plays.”

That won’t be easy. The Hurricanes have the league’s top-ranked penalty kill at 92.1 per cent efficiency and they’re also ninth on the power play at 20.7 per cent. The Canucks are 26th.

“We haven’t had the success we want (0-for-5 Sunday in Washington, one shot) on the power play and we just want to simplify it and get shots,” added Baertschi. “It’s going to be about making plays. I’m going to be there as a shooter because Hank and Danny (Sedin) have great vision and are going to find me somehow. And I’ve got to fight for rebounds.”

There is also a compete level that’s been missing. And whether Baertschi is scoring or not, his place in the lineup was always predicated on being just as good without the puck as he can be with it. It’s why Willie Desjardins stuck with the left winger last season when he needed a dozen games to score his first goal.

Same story this season when Baertschi needed his first 14 games to finally pot one. But when you start playing with one hand on the stick and aren’t engaged in one-on-one battles, you sit for the fist time since Dec. 5, 2015 after playing in 72 consecutive games, not including injuries.

“We all have to be better,” added Baertschi. “We can’t be satisfied with playing well and still losing — it doesn’t work that way. It’s holding each other accountable.”