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.
3. The falling down pass to Brock Boeser
November 29, 2018
The Sedin twins were mountains above any Canuck in terms of phenomenal passing abilities, but this had to be one of the dirtiest passes I’ve ever witnessed. Just two months into the “Boesersson” magic and the fans got to lay their eyes on something truly special.
The game is knotted at zero just before the midway mark of the first period. The play looks harmless as the Golden Knights are bringing the puck out of their own end. Suddenly, Pettersson intercepts the puck as it’s attempted exiting pass across the blueline gets picked off.
Pettersson then quickly goes outside-in on Nate Schmidt. The defender is completely lost at this point, swings around and trips Elias with his stick. Tumbling forwards, Pettersson manages to Lasoo his stick around the puck while he’s sliding on his stomach, rise to his knees, scoop it around his right side back to a wide-open Boeser before he snipes it past Marc-Andre Fleury. Simply, outstanding work. Watch it here.
2. The OT back-hand versus the Hurricanes
December 12, 2019
In a game the Canucks had no business winning, Pettersson jumped in and stole the show. After being badly outplayed by the Carolina Hurricanes all night, Jacob Markstrom got the team to the extra frame where Pettersson was able to finish the job.
Down 43 shots to 25, Pettersson was on the ice paired with Boeser when Jaccob Slavin dropped his stick in his own defensive end. Boeser, who was battling for the puck on the right-side half-wall, managed to dig the puck out and no-look back-hand pass it out behind him.
Pettersson was streaking towards play as he was coming off the bench but appeared to be a second too late. With a little bit of luck, that’s when the puck was slowed down by Slavin’s abandoned stick.
The way it all happened, the puck was slowed perfectly enough for Pettersson to reach it, carve around the twirling twig and absolutely roof the puck topshelf short side with the back-hand. The puck went up, and that goal went down as one of Petey’s all-time best. I still catch myself drooling when I think about it. Watch it here.
1. The shootout goal versus the NJ Devils
March 15, 2019
Do you know that famous shootout move that gets everyone out of their seat? Yes, I know there is more than one that can do that to a person, but this move, in particular, can only be pulled off by the smoothest of NHLers. You know the one. The one where the player and the goalie end up on one side of the goal, but the puck ends up being scored with one hand at the complete other side of the net.
I believe it’s a move Peter Forsberg used to love trying to score. But in this case, Pettersson perfected it. Coming down on MacKenzie Blackwood in the shootout, Petterson, slightly from the right side goes backhand, forehand, backhand and finished it off with an incredible one-handed backhand tuck with a sliding Blackwood way out of position. Silky smooth and he makes it look oh so easy. Watch it here.
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That wraps it up for our top-five Pettersson plays of all-time. What do you think Canucks Nation? Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments section below.