The Canuck Way: Ranking Pettersson’s five best plays in the NHL
Elias Pettersson has only played two years with the Vancouver Canucks, but he’s racked up an incredible highlight-reel. Here are TCW’s top five plays by EP40.
Elias Pettersson is an incredible hockey player, maybe even one of the best players the Vancouver Canucks have ever had…
Through two seasons playing in the National Hockey League, Pettersson has already built himself a jaw-dropping highlight-reel. And for a 22-year-old kid from Sweden who only weighs 176 pounds, he sure knows how to maneuver his way around a hockey rink.
Pettersson wasted no time putting his skills under the spotlight for the whole world to see. He’s a determined young man who has the ability to make some of the best defensive players on the planet look ridiculous.
He has the entire NHL in the palm of his hand. And did I mention that his hands are pretty damn slick? He’s super shifty, has an insane hockey IQ, and stops at nothing to be the best player he can be.
The NHL just dropped his 10 best plays from the 2019-20 season, and I’ve gone through it and compiled some of its best clips with the top 10 plays from his rookie year. Together, I’ve decided which five plays are his ultimate best to date. Let’s take a look at The Canuck Way‘s top five plays by Pettersson through his career so far. You can watch them in the links above!
5. The breakaway goal versus the Columbus Blue Jackets
March 8, 2020
Down 2-0 and nearing the halfway mark of the third period, Pettersson is sprung from the penalty box as he bursts past defender Ryan Murray. With one hand on the stick, he brings it into himself from his back-hand as he carves around Murray for a one-on-one opportunity versus the netminder.
As Pettersson “puts it into sport mode”, he appears to be going wide past Elvis Merzlikins, but at the last minute, he tucks it past Merzlikins short side as he falls down and crashes the net. It’s a beautiful play that takes hard work, determination, and a “never die” attitude. Even then, it’s a goal that’s scored by only the most talented of professional hockey players. Watch it here.
4. The debut
October 3, 2018
Pettersson made his debut in the National Hockey League and did not disappoint. For a team that had just lost the Sedin twins to retirement, the future was looking pretty dark. But, nobody knew that Vancouver had a secret weapon in EP40.
With 6:13 left to play in the first period, Pettersson receives the puck from Loui Eriksson with time and space as he dashes up the right-wing. Head up the entire way, debating whether or not he should make the cross-crease pass on a two-on-one opportunity, Pettersson elects to shoot the puck. He rips it top shelf past Mike Smith and the entire building erupts.
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I remember watching this game on the couch and let me tell you… I soared to my feet screaming in excitement when that puck bulged twine. It was an incredible snipe from a very confident player. He went on to score 10 goals in his first 10 NHL games. Watch it here.