The Canuck Way
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The Canuck Way: Ranking Pettersson’s five best plays in the NHL

By Brayden Ursel

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 06: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks takes a shot while playing the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on November 06, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 3-2. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 06: Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks takes a shot while playing the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on November 06, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 3-2. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Elias Pettersson scores. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
Elias Pettersson scores. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

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.

Next. The Canucks should offer Anthony Duclair a contract. dark

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.

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