The big and brash Vancouver Canucks defenceman delivered a clean defensive-zone check on a charging Flames centre Nazem Kadri in the opening period of a 4-3 shootout victory. He then took a cheap shot when Connor Zary responded to the hit with a vicious cross-check to the back of his head.
He made another one Wednesday in Calgary with a good hard and heavy hit and a brutally bad break.
Pettersson was done for the night after just 4:06 of ice time and was being evaluated for an injury which could be anything from a concussion from the blow and whiplash effect to something more serious. The Canucks have yet to release a statement on his health. The team was off Thursday.
Zary somehow only received a minor penalty for clearly targeting the head — it should have been a major and game misconduct, and potentially a match penalty, for reckless endangerment — and he will have a hearing Thursday with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
Pettersson, 21, had seamlessly adjusted to the NHL game following his recall from the AHL affiliate in Abbotsford where he had 13 points (1-12) in 38 games.
The 6-foot-3, 209 pound Vastgeras, Sweden native is a 2022 third-round NHL draft choice and has a pair of assists in 15 games. He has also delivered 20 hits and blocked 12 shots and taken just one minor penalty.
The manner in which he reads and defends so well, moves the puck smoothly and is eager to engage, makes him look more like a seasoned veteran than someone still learning the game at this level.
“He’s showing a lot of consistency and has a great future ahead of him.”
(MORE TO COME) …