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How Vancouver Canucks star Pettersson performed in Sweden's 4 Nations opener

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Feb 13 2025, 8:28 pm
How Vancouver Canucks star Pettersson performed in Sweden's 4 Nations opener
@Canucks/X

Elias Pettersson had a solid yet unspectacular start to the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal. That’s not a critique of the Vancouver Canucks centre, given the ridiculous level of star power in Wednesday’s tournament-opening game featuring Canada and Sweden.

Pettersson played a prominent role for the Swedes. He finished the game with 16:32 of ice time, with one shot on goal and one hit. Not exactly highlight-reel kind of stuff.

Defensively, Pettersson was solid, and he was one of Sweden’s best in terms of Corsi-for percentage (62.96%, fifth-best among Team Sweden players).

And when Sweden was pushing for goals in the third period, their head coach loaded up a line with Pettersson, Forsberg, and William Nylander.

“Good resilience. Worst start imaginable. But we battled back, gave them a good game,” Pettersson told reporters post-game. “Think we could have won it too in overtime. But that’s how it goes.”

Pettersson had two shifts in overtime.

“It felt great. I wanted to be out there all the time,” Pettersson said of the 10-minute three-on-three OT period that’s new for 4 Nations. “We were close to scoring, and then a minute later, they scored. That’s how it goes.”

What is still missing from Pettersson is his explosiveness, which was evident in this play late in the second period. The Canucks star had a two-on-one with Forsberg and was caught by Team Canada defenceman Cale Makar. Pettersson settled for curling away from the goal and passing the puck back to the point.

The hope in Vancouver is that the 4 Nations tournament will help jumpstart Pettersson and have it carry over with the Canucks down the stretch.

Or at the very least, as Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said on Saturday, to see him smiling and having fun.

“I just want him to have fun,” Tocchet said following Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I know it’s a serious tournament; everyone wants to win, it’s serious. I want him to represent his country, go out, and have fun with his countrymen. Just have fun. Try stuff.”

“Hopefully, that tournament, hanging out with his buddies, rejuvenates his whole demeanour.”

Sweden picked up a point in the OT loss to Canada, which really ramps up the pressure for their second game against Finland on Saturday. The top two countries after the four-team round-robin will advance to the final.

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