Canucks vs. Hurricanes: How Elias Pettersson’s first goal propels him

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Vancouver Canucks vs. Carolina Hurricanes

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When/where: Monday, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena

TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The buzz: Deep down, Elias Pettersson knows. It’s not up to them. It’s up to him.

No matter how a hockey-mad populace summarizes his struggles to start this NHL season — pressure to meet expectations with a mammoth eight-year contract extension, the lingering affects of knee tendinitis, or closer scrutiny from within the club — only one thing matters.

It doesn’t matter what others say or how hard they push the Vancouver Canucks centre. The only way he’ll return to intimidating pace and playmaking, more strength on the puck and a no-hesitation one-timer, is to look within. A coach shouldn’t have to suggest extra work and teammates shouldn’t have to test his compete level in practice.

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It’s why Pettersson’s first goal of the season Saturday should mean everything. It should bring back the joy and should reduce the angst. He has hit posts and crossbars or completely missed the net on 11 shots and 24 attempts through seven games that amount to four points.

However, that quick wrist-shot release of a Conor Garland feed from behind the net to snap a 1-1 draw against the Pittsburgh Penguins en route to a 4-3 victory was encouraging. Pettersson got into position at the right faceoff dot and picked the top glove-side corner. He responded with a double fist-pump and a celebratory scream that we haven’t seen or heard for some time.

“Good to get one — good play by Conor to find me,” said Pettersson. “I just tried to get it (shot) high on the far side and luckily it went post and in.”

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Tocchet acknowledges there’s progress in Pettersson’s play but wants an increased battled level to complement the awareness that has always been there, especially in the defensive zone.

“We have a plan to chip away at his game,” said the bench boss.

Pettersson has plenty of incentive to be at his best this week, especially Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils and Nico Hischier. Pettersson became the first player from a talent-rich 2017 draft, which included Hischier as the top pick, to hit the 300-point milestone. It came in his 306th game during a 4-3 win over the Nashville Predators on March 6, 2023 and he didn’t hold back with a level of self-satisfaction.

“That feels good,” said Pettersson. “I think a lot of players say they don’t care, but everybody has an ego, so I’m not going to stand here and lie. It’s something I’m really happy about.”

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His 30th goal of that season was a classic case of the visitors giving Pettersson too much time and space to pick the top corner. And when you consider 17 centres were selected in the first round in 2017 — including 10 in the first 13 picks — Pettersson has always had incentive to outperform his peers.

The history: The Canucks won a pair of one-goal games last season. They triumphed 4-3 on home ice on Dec. 9 as Pettersson snapped a 3-3 draw and had three points. They prevailed 3-2 in Raleigh, N.C. on Feb. 6. as J.T. Miller broke a 2-2 deadlock.

The hope: A strong game by veteran winger Daniel Sprong on Saturday is more than a one-and-done. His long dash to create a 2-on-1 with Arshdeep Bains resulted in the rookie potting his first NHL goal off a rebound. Sprong had three shots, three hits.

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The fear: The Canucks can’t deliver with what should be a power play hammer. They failed on two chances Saturday, including a four-minute advantage and had just two goals. They’re 3-for-17 since going 2-for-4 in the season opener.

The top guns: The Canucks are getting quite the production from feisty winger Kiefer Sherwood. He has five points (2-3) in his last four games and leads the league with 50 hits in seven games, including six Saturday.

The wounded: Canucks: Thatcher Demko (knee, IR), Dakota Joshua (testicular cancer, IR, day-to-day). Hurricanes: Jesper Fast (neck, IR).

The quote: “The guys did a good job of adjusting and a 10-minute spurt where we were all over them.” — Rick Tocchet on four-goal explosion in 4-3 win Saturday.

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The projected lineup: 

DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser

Hoglander-Pettersson-Garland

Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood

Bains-Suter-Sprong

Hughes-Hronek

Soucy-Myers

Brannstrom-Desharnais

Lankinen

The prediction: The Canucks snap a power play funk of one goal in previous four games and prevail 3-2 in a tough test.

(FAN FORUM: Do you have a specific question for a player? Pass it along to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future edition.)

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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