The Canucks should keep Pettersson and Boeser on the same line

Ever since Elias Pettersson broke into the league with the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018-19 season, he was often put on a line with Brock Boeser.

The two were together at the start of this season along with J.T. Miller to form the “Lotto Line.” Unfortunately, the Lotto Line couldn’t hit the jackpot and were split up. Pettersson and Boeser did struggle together and without each other and eventually got back to form after Bruce Boudreau replaced Travis Green behind the bench. Boeser found new life with Miller and Tanner Pearson while Pettersson started producing with the likes of Conor Garland, Nils Höglander and Vasily Podkolzin.

Boudreau decided to put Pettersson and Boeser back together with Bo Horvat as the centre in the last few games. Pettersson is a lot better at centre and is on the wing probably due to his wrist not being 100% yet.

Pettersson and Boeser’s chemistry displayed in the Canucks’ big 3-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Boeser opened the scoring on a slick wrist shot which was set up by Pettersson finding the puck and making a backwards pass to Boeser.

The game in Denver was probably Pettersson’s best defensive game of the season and he was doing a good job of retrieving the puck from the Avalanche players and knew where to find Boeser. They both were determined and looked good playing on the same line.

The connection continued in St.Paul in the Canucks 3-2 overtime loss to the Wild. Like the game against the Avalanche, the Canucks battled hard the whole game but they only managed to get a single point this game. Getting three points against two good teams is big for their playoff hopes despite how slim they are. Pettersson and Boeser both got points in that game. Boeser got an assist on Horvat’s goal and despite not getting an assist, the goal wouldn’t have happened without Pettersson picking up the loose puck and coasting down the ice on a two-on-one.

Boeser has spent 493:01 total ice time away from Pettersson and only 284:28 TOI together per NaturalStatTrick. 

Boeser has been inconsistent in the last ten games which includes a four-game goal drought. The Canucks are going to need him to put the puck in the net if they want to push for a playoff spot. Pettersson, after a sluggish first few months of the season, has 11 points in his last 12 games. Why not keep them together? Pettersson is displaying great playmaking abilities again and in the last two games, has connected his passes to Boeser.

Pettersson has a 49.84% Corsi for without Boeser and with him has 54.68%.

The two of them have shown chemistry in the past and know how to find each other on the ice and after some time apart on different lines, it would be best for the Canucks to have Pettersson and Boeser on the same line. Though, it would be better to have Pettersson as the centre instead of being on the wing.