Vintage Elias Pettersson returns in Canucks' good-vibes win over Panthers

VANCOUVER — Elias Pettersson scored his first goals in 21 games, Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser had three-point nights, and 10 Canucks made it onto the scoresheet as Vancouver beat the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 5-2 on St. Patrick’s Day.

For the Canucks, this season, Tuesday’s win is about as fun as it has been at Rogers Arena, where the home team has won just eight times but led wire-to-wire (almost) against the depleted Panthers.

“It was nice to get off to a good start and play with the lead,” winger Drew O’Connor said. “We haven't had that for a while, so it's fun. You see Marco’s line going and Petey had a couple of goals, so it was a big night for a lot of guys.”

“It's different when you're not chasing and you can kind of control the play,” centre Aatu Raty said after ending his own goal drought at 24 games. “And obviously, winning is fun. I really liked the way the building was going today. I think our bench has been great for, like, the last five games. We’re having some fun.”

Since the stifling tension and uncertainty surrounding the team and its players was eased by the March 6 passing of the National Hockey League trade deadline, the last-overall Canucks are 3-2-1 and been noticeably more competitive. They’ve allowed 24 or fewer shots in four of the six games and are getting goalie Kevin Lankinen’s best form this season.

How they finish this disaster of a campaign can help them start building a more stable foundation for next year.

“I think it's really important,” Boeser said. “We’ve talked about holding each other accountable and setting kind of new culture with the new guys and the young guys, and making sure everyone's putting in the work. And that starts now, and kind of setting the example so they know. . . what you have to do over the summer and how we need to be when we come back.”

Pettersson opened the scoring with his first of two power-play goals just 3:49 into the first period, and Vancouver led for all but two of the final 56 minutes as Lankinen stopped 21 of 23 Florida shots and outplayed Panther goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

IF HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES

Seeing the way Pettersson one-timed the puck Tuesday like it was 2023, it’s almost inconceivable that the Canucks’ $92.8-million enigma could go 20 games without scoring. His previous goal was Jan. 13, more than two months ago.

His vintage blast from the right-wing circle on the Canucks’ first power play ended the longest goal slump of Pettersson’s career, and the centre made it two goals in 10 minutes when his double-doink off Panther defenders made it 2-1 at 13:40 of the opening period.

Here’s a thought: maybe he should shoot more often.

During his 20-game sabbatical from scoring, Pettersson put only 24 shots on target and in seven of those games did not test the opposition goalie. During his 39-goal, 102-point season three years ago, Pettersson led the Canucks with 257 shots – 3.2 per game.

“I’ve been trying to simplify and shoot more,” Pettersson told reporters. “I'm glad two went in tonight.”

Boeser said he saw “a confident Petey.”

 So far, the Canucks have kept their bets on Pettersson, doubling down a couple of times when they could have tried trading him, in the belief that the 27-year-old can become elite again. He demonstrated Tuesday that his shot, at least, is still world class. When he uses it.

LUCK OF THE IRISH

Of course, O’Connor had to score on St. Paddy’s Day. O’Connor scored the only goal of the third period on a nice pass from Linus Karlsson, who found his linemate alone in front of Bobrovsky. It was the winger's 16^th goal of the season, tying him with Boeser for the lead among Canucks — but still one goal behind Kiefer Sherwood, who was traded by Vancouver in January.

“I'm like 75 per cent Irish,” O’Connor, who is from Chatham, N.J., told Sportsnet. “My mom's half Italian, but my dad's full Irish. I mean, my dad's got five brothers and a sister so they’re a true Irish family.

“It’s a special day. I got some texts today like, you know, hopefully luck's on my side tonight. I had a green sweater on today. I had to represent.”

MARCO GOAL-O

After collecting just two goals and five points in his first 15 games for the Canucks after his December trade from Minnesota, centre Marco Rossi suddenly has three goals and seven points in three games while playing with wingers Boeser and Liam Ohgren, who was also part of the blockbuster that sent Quinn Hughes to the Wild.

“I think he’s just getting more comfortable with our systems,” Boeser said. “I think kind of sticking with the same linemates, I think that's helping. I thought our first few games together — me, him and Liam — weren’t great. And then the last few, I thought we've been a lot better and creating chances and reading off each other. So I think the chemistry is coming.”

So has Rossi’s health. He injured his foot blocking a shot for Minnesota on Nov. 11, and was still hurt when he was traded a month later and, initially, tried to play for the Canucks. After taking a month off, plus the Olympic break, Rossi said he was finally fit when the NHL resumed on Feb. 25. He has nine points in 10 games since.

FLORIDA MEN

When a veteran-heavy team that has been as dominant as the Panthers has a season like this one, there is a breezy tendency to declare that their championship days may be over. That would be a mistake with these Florida men.

After three straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final, and two epic series wins against the Edmonton Oilers, injuries to the Panthers reached a critical mass earlier this season. With seven players currently hurt, they’ve lost 11 of their last 16 games to fall so far down the Eastern Conference standings that they’re even behind the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But while the Panthers’ fuel talk may be empty now, their motor and chassis are still formidable. 

Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Aaron Ekblad and Carter Verhaeghe are still just 30 years old, and Sam Bennett, Gustav Forsling and Niko Mikkola are 29. Matthew Tkachuk is only 28, Anton Lundell 24, and Paul Maurice is still their coach. Sure, they’ve accumulated some hard mileage, but there’s still lots there for the Panthers.

Re-signing 37-year-old Brad Marchand may have been a sentimental mistake, and Florida will have to find a goalie to replace Bobrovsky. But we’re predicting the Panthers will be back challenging for the Stanley Cup next season.

In the meantime — and because this is the NHL — they’ll probably win the draft lottery.