On Wally Buono night, the Vancouver Canucks' offence produced a touchdown.

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Photograph by : Jenelle Schneider

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Canuck coach Alain Vigneault got the breakout game his team needed. Now, he'd like a breakout season from Mason Raymond.

The 24-year-old winger from Cochrane, Alta., probably the best Canuck outside the first line during Vancouver's 0-3 start to the National Hockey League season, scored the prettiest goal of the night in a 7-1 walk over the Montreal Canadiens.

Raymond has always had the speed to be an offensive threat in the NHL. It was a compass he seemed to lack at times, unable or unwilling to find his way to the net.

But he has 16 shots in the first four games and has been regularly turning right from his left wing to cut with authority to the net.

His play has earned Raymond a promotion alongside Ryan Kesler on the second line, which was very good Wednesday. It may also get him that breakthrough season after a disappointing sophomore campaign that saw him score only 11 times in 72 games.

"Who doesn't want to play better every year?" Raymond said after the game. "It's easier said than done. It's not like you set yourself up not to play good.

"It's something I'm working on, trying to [get to the net] for sure. That's the hard areas to go to, but you've got to go there to pay the price to score goals."

Raymond's compass last season seemed to be missing due north.

There was lots of east and west. Even as a rookie two years ago, Raymond had the jets to manoeuvre the puck up ice, but he seemed to lose his bearings in the offensive zone.

How many times last season did he dash up left wing with the puck only, once the opposition net was in view, to pull up in the hopes of dishing to a teammate?

As Raymond says, there is no easy way to the net. If there was, everyone would go there. It takes drive and confidence and the courage to sustain abuse along the way. And if you have speed, all the better. But without the other traits, speed is useless.

After scoring nine goals and 21 points in 49 games as a rookie just out of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Raymond went backwards last season finishing with just 23 points.

It's why Raymond came into this season being chased by all the bubble-players trying to make the Canucks.

Not only did Raymond get a job, he got "it." Through four games, he looks like a player who has had an epiphany, discovering how he needs to play to not merely survive in the NHL but thrive.

On his goal, Raymond chipped the puck past flat-footed defenceman Yannick Weber and, using his right leg to block the backcheck of Maxim Lapierre, veered hard to the net and deftly backhanded the puck through goalie Carey Price.

It was a beautiful goal. There could be many more of them this season if Raymond continues to play with as much determination and offensive ambition.

"He's definitely, with his speed right now, catching some opponents offguard," Vigneault said. "He is trying to use his speed to get to the net more. We need him to have a breakout season. Hopefully, tonight will be the start of it."

Kesler, who scored a pretty breakaway goal, said: "He has always been a good player. I think he has a bit more confidence. And when you're confident, you start taking pucks to the net. With his speed, when he's driving to the net, you can't stop him."

Raymond was asked often enough his first two seasons about confidence and his lack of productivity that he is wary of the subjects. He insists he is the same player he was, that he isn't approaching the game differently or is any hungrier to score.

"There's no real answer to it," he said. "It's a little more experience. You feel better out there, knowing a little more what's going to happen.

"I think you're always trying to push yourself. You always strive to be the best. There are steps along the way to get there. I've been through a couple of years and learned a lot, through the highs and the lows. That's the past; I'm looking forward now."

And what he sees is a direct path to the net and the chance to score.

imacintyre@vancouversun.com