The bright glow of a two-goal performance by Elias Pettersson was dimmed a little when the Vancouver Canuck centre left Monday’s 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks early in the third period.
Pettersson broke out of a seven-game scoring drought with goals 44 seconds apart in the second period. He played briefly in the third before leaving the bench.
Pettersson didn’t return to the ice when he was named the game’s first star.
“He got banged up,” head coach Rick Tocchet said when asked about Pettersson. “I think it was the second period. He tried one shift (in the third.). We have the break. I don’t think it’s too bad.”
Pettersson last scored in a 4-3 overtime loss to St. Louis on Dec. 10. A 34-goal scorer last season, he has 10 goals so far this year. It was his first two-goal game of the season.
Canuck captain Quinn Hughes was happy to see Pettersson find his groove again.
“It felt really good,” said Hughes, who had two assists. “He’s too good. He’s going to break out at some point. I’m glad he was able to do that tonight.
“Hopefully for him, he can enjoy the next couple of days like all of us, regroup and get ready to go.”
Vancouver broke open a close game with three goals in 70 seconds in the second period. Kiefer Sherwood and Pettersson scored just 26 seconds apart to give Vancouver a 3-1 lead.
The Sharks argued for goaltender interference on Pettersson’s goal, but the officials didn’t agree. Pettersson scored 44 seconds into the resulting delay of game penalty.
Tocchet was happy to see Pettersson give a fist pump after his first goal.
“Hopefully this will kick-start him,” said the coach. “I like the celebration. It was nice to see him scoring and get excited.”