VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Elias Pettersson put an end to his seven-game scoring slump by netting two goals within a span of 44 seconds during the second period, as the Vancouver Canucks narrowly defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-3 on Monday night.
Kiefer Sherwood and Brock Boeser also contributed to Vancouver’s tally, allowing the team to break a three-game winless streak. Quinn Hughes notched two assists in the match, while goaltender Thatcher Demko made 26 saves to secure the victory.
However, Pettersson’s night ended early when he left the ice in the third period and did not return.
For San Jose, William Eklund found the back of the net during a two-man advantage, and Cody Ceci also scored, but the team extended its winless streak to five games, now sitting at 0-4-1. Luke Kunin added another goal with just 4.7 seconds remaining in regulation.
Yaroslav Askarov was between the pipes for the Sharks, making 20 saves throughout the contest.
In terms of takeaways, it was notable that the Canucks have allowed the first goal of the game for the 18th time out of 34 games this season, yet they maintain a record of 10-6-2 in those situations. Boeser, who scored twice in Saturday’s close 5-4 overtime loss to Ottawa, managed to find the net in consecutive games for the first time since mid-October.
For the Sharks, North Vancouver native Macklin Celebrini, the first overall pick in June’s NHL draft, made a memorable return to his hometown by recording two assists. Eklund’s goal marked San Jose’s first power-play goal in two games, showcasing a much-needed offensive spark.
A significant moment in the match came when the Canucks surged forward, scoring three times in just 70 seconds during the second period. Sherwood and Pettersson’s strikes added to Vancouver’s momentum, giving them a 3-1 lead. Although the Sharks contested the validity of Pettersson’s goal due to potential goaltender interference, officials upheld the call, and Pettersson subsequently scored shortly thereafter.
In terms of standout performances, Hughes has been impressive lately, compiling nine assists over the Canucks’ last seven games.
Looking ahead, the Sharks will be hosting the Calgary Flames this coming Saturday, while the Canucks will face off against the Seattle Kraken at home on the same day.