Vancouver Canucks' Andrei Kuzmenko, left, celebrates his goal against Seattle Kraken goalie Martin Jones during the third period in Vancouver. The Canucks won 6-5 on Dec. 22, 2022.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Elias Pettersson admitted he was playing on an empty tank when he scored the goal that ended the Vancouver Canucks’ three-game home losing skid.
Pettersson forced overtime with his second goal of the game with just 1:20 remaining in the third period, then scored the winner in a shootout as the Canucks defeated the Seattle Kraken 6-5 Thursday night.
Pettersson returned to the Canucks lineup after missing two games with a non-COVID illness.
“I was running on no energy, just wanting the puck to go in,” said Pettersson, who also had three assists.
Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau heaped praise on Pettersson.
“That’s six days off the ice and then he came in and did what he did tonight,” said Boudreau. “Pretty amazing.
“I don’t think you guys realize how much of an anomaly that is, being off six days and then playing that great. It defies logic.”
Pettersson tied the game at 5-5 with Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin on the bench for an extra attacker. He took a pass from J.T. Miller and drilled a hard shot from above the faceoff circle.
In the shootout, he scored after deking Kraken goaltender Martin Jones to the ice.
The Canucks were awarded a power play with a minute left in the three-on-three overtime after Seattle’s Jordan Eberle was called for holding but couldn’t score.
Pettersson, Miller and defenceman Quinn Hughes also all hit the post in overtime.
“There’s a force field around that net,” said Miller.
The Canucks erased three, two-goal deficits for the win.
“We don’t do anything the easy way,” said Boudreau. “Give the team credit for not quitting. That’s a testament to the boys in the room.”
Andrei Kuzmenko had a goal and two assists for the Canucks (14-15-3). Lane Pederson scored his first goal in his third NHL game and added an assist. Brock Boeser also scored on a power play for Vancouver, which has beaten the Kraken all six times they have played.
The Canucks have lost seven of their past eight games at Rogers Arena
Daniel Sprong scored twice for Seattle. Jared McCann, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Alex Wennberg also scored for the Kraken (18-10-4), who saw a two-game win streak end.
Martin stopped 31 shots for Vancouver. Jones made 32 saves.
The Kraken had a quick start and controlled much of the play but couldn’t finish the Canucks off.
“The result is disappointing,” said Wennberg. “We just worked really hard.
“I feel like we emptied the tank today and unfortunately it didn’t work out.”
Seattle coach Dave Hakstol felt his team let a win slip away.
“We’re here to win a hockey game and we didn’t do that,” he said. “We have to do better when we’ve got a two-goal lead. That’s a game we feel like we should be able to close out.”
Trailing 4-2 heading into the third period, the Canucks refused to quit. Kuzmenko cut the lead to one at 5:13, scoring off the rebound of a Pederson shot.
Sprong scored his second of the night just over a minute later, tipping in a pass from Brandon Tanev.
Boeser got Vancouver back to within one, redirecting a Pettersson shot past Jones on a power play at 8:52.
Pettersson said it was an important win, but the Canucks still need to play better.
“We scored five goals but also we let five goals in,” he said. “We’ve got to get better in that aspect.
“Obviously it was a big relief. Every point matters for us. We’re still hunting to get a playoff spot.”
Notes
The Canucks first shot on goal came at 8:27 of the first period ... Backup goaltender Collin Deila played for the Canucks AHL franchise in Abbotsford Wednesday night, making 31 saves in a 6-3 win over the San Jose Barracuda ... The Canucks were outscored 23-4 in their previous four home losses ... Miller’s last even-strength goal was Nov. 5 against Nashville ... Jones had to look sharp in the first period when Seattle’s Vince Dunn almost directed a puck into the Kraken net ... The Kraken have 16 players who have scored at least three goals this season ... Seattle forward Jordan Eberle uses a straight blade on his stick ... Prior to their two-game win streak, the Kraken had lost five of their previous six games.
Up next
The Canucks play the Oilers in Edmonton Friday, then return after the Christmas break to face the San Jose Sharks at home.
The Kraken don’t play again until Dec. 28 when they open a three-game home stand against the Calgary Flames.