Canucks News & Rumours: Rossi, Pettersson & a Team That Doesn’t Quit

The Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers apparently decided that one ridiculous season opener wasn’t enough. After combining for 11 goals in Edmonton, they went one better (or worse, depending on how you look at it) in Vancouver, combining for 16 in a 9-7 Oilers win. At some point, you stop trying to explain the game and just watch it unfold.

But beneath all that chaos, a couple of things were worth watching. The Canucks were down 8-2 and somehow turned the final 20 minutes into a hockey game again. Marco Rossi scored twice, Elias Pettersson added a power-play goal, and suddenly Edmonton was looking over its shoulder. Vancouver didn’t complete the comeback, but this game was about more than the final score.

Marco Rossi Is Giving the Canucks Something to Think About

Rossi was probably the easiest Canucks story to like on Thursday night. He scored twice in the third period and added an assist, giving him four points through Vancouver’s first two games. He was directly involved in three goals during that wild stretch when the Canucks turned an 8-2 disaster into an 8-6 hockey game.

That’s not a bad way to make a case for a regular spot on this team. The interesting part isn’t simply that Rossi scored three points. It’s that he was involved when Vancouver finally started playing with some urgency. The Canucks moved him around a little, and he found ways to get involved. At 25, this is a pretty important opportunity for Rossi. If he can become a dependable offensive centre, that’s a pretty useful piece to have. And after two games, four points isn’t a bad place to start.

Elias Pettersson Looks a Little More Like Elias Pettersson

Then there’s the best news of the night: Elias Pettersson. The Canucks have been waiting for evidence that their star centre might be ready to rediscover the offensive game that made him such an important part of the organization. Thursday wasn’t the whole answer, but three points and a power-play goal certainly didn’t hurt. He also had eight hits, which is a rather conspicuous number for Pettersson.

There was something else I liked. Pettersson wasn’t simply collecting points while the game was going on around him. He was involved in the comeback. His power-play goal cut Edmonton’s lead to 8-6, and he added an assist on Jamie Oleksiak‘s late goal.

Nobody should look at two games and declare that Pettersson is completely back. That’s how hockey gets you into trouble. But four points in two games is certainly more encouraging than the alternative. And, to the eye test, he had some of that old jump back in his game.

The Canucks Can’t Make the Third Period the Plan

This is where I have to put down my party hat. The comeback was entertaining, and it showed real resilience. But the team was overwhelmed by an Oilers squad that is loaded with elite talent. They were down 4-0 after the first period and 8-2 before the third-period rally began. Kevin Lankinen was pulled after allowing eight goals on 20 shots, and the Oilers controlled most of the first 40 minutes.

Brock Boeser said afterward that Edmonton was hungrier and was winning puck battles. That’s probably the simplest explanation. Vancouver eventually found the urgency, but it took far too long. Given what I saw in their first game of the season in Edmonton, that lack of jump surprised me.

Still, there is something here. The Canucks have scored 13 goals in their first two games. They’ve also given up 14. That’s not exactly a formula for a calm hockey season. But Rossi and Pettersson are producing. And the team showed it won’t simply disappear when things go badly.

Now comes the harder part. The team has to play hard from the opening faceoff. Because coming back from 8-2 is fun. Starting 8-2 down is a recipe for disaster.