The Canuck Way
Fansided

Vancouver Canucks: 3 takeaways from shootout loss to New Jersey Devils

By David Quadrelli

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 15: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks scores on Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils during their NHL game at Rogers Arena March 15, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. New Jersey won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 15: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks scores on Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils during their NHL game at Rogers Arena March 15, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. New Jersey won 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 15: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammate Brock Boeser #6 after scoring during their NHL game against the New Jersey Devils at Rogers Arena March 15, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 15: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by teammate Brock Boeser #6 after scoring during their NHL game against the New Jersey Devils at Rogers Arena March 15, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Debut of #SelfishPetey

Last night marked the debut of the selfish version of Elias Pettersson. For those that haven’t already heard, Pettersson said the following in an interview yesterday. “Maybe I need to be more selfish to score more goals, but I’m always looking to pass and set up my teammates. I haven’t scored in a few games, which bothers me, so maybe I’ll be more selfish tonight.”

We know Pettersson loves to shoot the puck and loves to score goals, but most of all, he loves winning. I think he’s quickly beginning to realize that the team has a better chance of scoring, and in turn, winning if he’s the one shooting the puck.

When I was watching the game Wednesday night against New York, I noticed a few instances when Pettersson looked like he had a good opportunity to shoot but instead tried to set up one of his teammates rather than let go of a shot. It’s odd too because, at the start of the season, Pettersson was giving goalies nightmares with his incredible shot, but as more and more teams begin to zero in and focus more attention on him, his chances have decreased.

So last night was the debut of the selfish version of Pettersson, and boy did selfish Pettersson ever come as good as advertised. On a line with Leivo and Brock Boeser, selfish Pettersson came to play last night. He scored a beauty of a wrist shot set up by Boeser on the power play that beat Blackwood over the shoulder. What a shot it was.

Selfish Pettersson wasn’t as selfish as we may have hoped, however, as the Canucks had a three-on-one rush through the neutral zone led by none other than Pettersson in overtime in which he turned down a good chance to shoot to try to set up one of his teammates for the overtime winner.

Had Pettersson picked up a point in OT, he would have tied the Canucks rookie scoring record held by Pavel Bure at 60 points. Instead, he saved his best for last, and it’s a shame that this beauty of a shootout goal doesn’t count toward his goal or point total on the season.

Last night, Pettersson’s performance looked very similar to how he was playing at the start of the year. I think I like selfish Pettersson.

Home/Editorials