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“When I got out there I didn’t want to obviously make plays that I’d be doing in junior. (My mindset was) keeping it simple, getting it in deep and being physical.”

Virtanen broke into the AHL on a line with Calgarian and fellow Canucks prospect Hunter Shinkaruk and Utica’s own Mike Zalewski. The winger joined the Comets earlier this month after the Calgary Hitmen were swept out of the Western Hockey League playoffs by the Brandon Wheat Kings.

In Game 6, the power forward didn’t look out of place.

“I liked his game,” Utica defenceman Alex Biega told Vancouver’s TSN 1040. “Obviously for everyone, for your first professional game, you’re a little nervous, excited at the same time. You want to get your first hit and first shot. You could definitely tell he’s a big boy. I think he delivered two pretty good hits and got the crowd into it right away.

“He’s got an NHL release. It’s quick, it’s hard, it’s accurate. I think for the first game, I think he did pretty well. I would like to think people are pretty happy with his first game. I think especially for younger players coming into the league, you have to really get your first couple of games and find your confidence. From there, that’s where you see players flourish.”

The winner of Wednesday’s game meets the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL’s Western Conference final. The Comets won their best-of-five opening-round playoff series against the Chicago Wolves in five games.