Pettersson scored twice in a span of 46 seconds for his first two-goal game of the season, but left the game early in the third period and didn’t return
The Christmas spirit of giving and receiving was alive Monday at Rogers Arena.
The vibe was right in what turned into a festive night for a 4-3 victory.
Pettersson, who had gone six games without a goal and had just one in his previous 12 outings, struck twice in a span of 46 seconds of the second period to turn a nail-biter into a celebration.
Fans stood and cheered his first goal. And they chanted his name after the second. It was also Pettersson’s first two-goal game of the season, so stick that present in your Christmas stocking.
He first snapped a rebound from the slot and then wired a power play wrister to the far side from the faceoff dot on a power play in which Miller and Hughes fittingly drew assists. The band was back together.
However, Pettersson left the game early in the third period and did not return.
Luke Kunin scored with 5.4 seconds remaining in regulation with the goalie pulled as the Sharks fired 31 shots.
He’ll play, you know he’ll play
The pre-game summation sounded like something that Grinch would deliver just before Christmas.
“He’s dealing with a couple of things and we’ll figure it out at game time,” said Tocchet. “He’ll probably want to play, but I’ll make that decision. It just happened last game.”
What happened after Hughes finally arrived late to the warm-up skate shouldn’t be surprising. He was going to play, just like when he came back to play and score after taking a high stick to the face and donning a full face shield on Dec. 8 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On Monday, Hughes was wheeling and dealing and it was hard to surmise what sort of ailments he was playing through.
In the second period, he had the puck at top of the slot and sent a no-look backhander through a mosh pit in an attempt to pick the short side.
Brock Boeser has a new office
Boeser got the message a long time ago.
Get to the net. Stay at the net. Don’t drift from the net. The Canucks winger had strayed from where goals are scored in today’s game — on the porch and not the perimeter — and he was reward in the second period by gaining position and holding it.
Hughes saw that and zipped a pass right on the winger’s tape for his 11th goal the season and second-straight game in which he has scored. Boeser had gone 19 games since that feat and his three goals in the last two games bodes well for everything that consumes this marketplace.
His future worth has always been a hot topic of debate but the pending unrestricted free agent has sent some recent reminders that a knack for scoring and playing a responsible two-way game are worthy of an extension.
Tyler Myers hits, drops mitts
Myers has fought 24 times during his NHL career, but just six times in the last two seasons.
His last scrap came in the 2022-23 pre-season when he was given the decision in a bout with John Hayden of the Seattle Kraken. It was more a brief wrestling match against the end boards.
Danton Heinen has mean streak
Danton Heinen took line chemistry and camaraderie to another level Monday.
OVERTIME — North Vancouver product Macklin Celebrini, the first-overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, had an assist and six shots, while two attempts were blocked and two missed the net in his first game at Rogers Arena.