Is Pettersson back? Vancouver Canucks star had confident post-game message for Tocchet
Elias Pettersson seems to have found his game, and while the Vancouver Canucks would’ve liked him to produce starting from October, it’s better late than never.
Pettersson has three goals in his last four games and is showing signs of the breakthrough Canucks fans have been waiting for. After what’s been a long season for both Pettersson individually and the Canucks as a team, there’s now some light at the end of the tunnel.
He’s provided reason for optimism moving forward, more than he’s done at any point this year, and he’s not done yet. Tocchet said that when they left the rink after the win over the Calgary Flames, Pettersson had a message for him: “I got more to go.”
The turnaround seemingly started on March 4 when Pettersson opened up on his difficult season, speaking frankly with the media.
“I’ll just be honest, I haven’t been the way I want to be this year, I haven’t played to expectations I have on myself or the franchise has on me,” he said.
That interview seemed to lift a weight off Pettersson’s shoulders. He looked more dynamic starting the next night against the Anaheim Ducks, failing to record a point but racking up five hits and three shots.
It wasn’t just his message that changed. Head coach Rick Tocchet also said he noticed a change in Pettersson’s habits, with the struggling star spending more time on ice and with the coaching staff.
“The last 48 hours or 72 hours, he’s doing stuff that I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s the stuff we need from you.’ The way I look at it, [if] he has a good 22 games for us, we might all forget about the 60 games,” explained Tocchet.
The Canucks have played four games in the six days after that contest against the Ducks. This has been Pettersson’s best stretch of the season. While it’s not enough for him to be declared fully back to vintage EP40 form, it’s much closer than he’s come at any other point this season.
He’s scored twice from long range, including a patented one-timer against the Minnesota Wild and a perfect wrist shot against the Montreal Canadiens. He already has three goals this month, nearly tying the five shots he managed across eight games in February.
Elias Pettersson throws a dart! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hi1M1gkXpf
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 12, 2025
Last night was Pettersson’s most important performance of the season. The Canucks needed the two points for their playoff push, and the left-handed sniper came through when it mattered most. He finished with two points, including the tying goal late in the third period, and scored in the shootout.
Captain Quinn Hughes was clearly thrilled for Pettersson postgame, giving him tons of praise and support.
“It’s been a hard little run for him, but he’s a great player, and he’s going to be just fine, and you saw it tonight,” said Hughes.
It’s been just four games, and the most important matchups are still to come, but Pettersson has shown much improvement this month. It’s too early to declare he’s back, but he sure is showing some very positive signs.