The Vancouver Canucks had the knife to their throats.
Then Elias Pettersson became a great hero.
And it wasn’t with just any punishment that he decided with.
Elias Pettersson is having an absolutely brilliant season in the NHL. When you look at initial numbers, beyond the usual scoring stats, it turns out that he is one of the absolute most efficient and skilled players in the entire league. But it is difficult for him to get everything out considering the team he plays for.
Decided last night
The Vancouver Canucks entered this season with high expectations and hopes for them. But it has become a huge flatfall. The Canucks have already broken the record for being the team that has lost the most two-goal leads in a season – despite only half being played. You are far from a playoff spot, and the coach is really hanging loose.
A loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, certainly a top team, last night meant that Bruce Boudreau had to pay for himself. But now the coach has Elias Pettersson to thank for keeping his job. The score was 3-3 in the game after full time, after the Canucks equalized with just 17 seconds left in regulation. And then it was time for Pettersson’s show.
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Incredible penalties
Elias Pettersson has made a name for himself as a bit of a penalty specialist, and it’s hard for the goalkeeper to know what’s coming. Last night he brought out an old sorcery trick, which is close to the heart of every Swede. Several times during his time in the NHL, Pettersson has redone the classic Foppa penalty from the Olympic final in 1994 – and last night it was time again.
Pettersson feinted to the left, got the goalie with him in the lateral movement, and in the same movement he moved the puck to the right, teasingly poking it past the goalie’s shin guards. Pettersson took the third penalty, after goaltender Thatcher Demko had saved in that round, giving the Canucks the win. Vancouver is thus sixth in its division, but still has a good distance to a playoff spot. But Pettersson can at least give his coach a little, a little breathing room.
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