Pettersson lifts Canucks to victory with wicked shot in shootout

The kid continues to shine.

Canucks rookie sensation, Elias Pettersson, led his team to a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night after scoring the shootout winner in smooth fashion.

The winning shootout goal for the #Canucks came courtesy Elias Pettersson, who makes it look easy. pic.twitter.com/fYKrfUGxcU

— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) February 10, 2019

“I was thinking high glove all the way,” Pettersson told a media scrum after the game.

Sure enough, he wired a wicked wrist shot top corner, over the glove of Flames goaltender David Rittich. Canucks goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who made 44 saves on the night, shut the door on all three Flames shooters in order to seal the win. Bo Horvat, Josh Leivo, and Brock Boeser scored the goals in regulation for Vancouver.

Along with the shootout goal, Pettersson also notched two assists during the game, bringing his season total up to 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists). With having played just 45 career games, Pettersson’s impressive stats puts him in some pretty elite company.

With 2 assists in the @Canucks win Saturday, Elias Pettersson reached 50 points in just his 45th game. That has the 20-year old behind only 5 rookies on a list dating back 30 seasons pic.twitter.com/XdnKvVAATJ

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) February 10, 2019

He ranks behind only five other players in the last 30 seasons who have amassed 50 points in 45 games played.

Although Pettersson was a standout on the night, when asked about his performance by the media, the young Swede was quick to say it was his netminder who was the hero of the game.

“Marky played really good and kept us in the game for 65 minutes,” he said.

The victory snapped a three-game losing skid for the Canucks (25-24-7), moving them into ninth in the Western Conference standings – one position outside the playoffs. The club will be back in action on Monday, February 11th, at home against the San Jose Sharks.