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Feb 14, 2026; Milan, Italy; Elias Pettersson of Sweden celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates during a Group B men’s ice hockey game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

Canucks Pettersson Has a Great Game Against Slovakia

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Lukas Bernasiewicz | Last updated Feb 14, 2026 5:00 PM ET

It’s no secret that Elias Pettersson has not played up to his potential since he signed his big $11.6 million contract back in 2024. Several factors have contributed to his struggles in the NHL, but he also deserves praise when he has a great game. In this case, he deserves a lot of credit for the amazing game that he had on Saturday for Sweden in their preliminary game against Slovakia. In a huge must-win game for Sweden, Pettersson scored two goals and recorded the game-winning goal, helping his team earn a 5-3 victory.

Pettersson’s Big Game

Saturday’s game was a big one for Sweden. They had just come off a loss to their hated rivals in Finland and didn’t look all that great against Italy in a game that they won. Sweden needed a great performance from their team to get a much-needed win, and they came through with Pettersson leading the charge offensively.

With the game tied at 2-2, Pettersson got a great pass from Filip Forsberg in the offensive zone, and he slid the puck through the legs of the Slovak goaltender to put Sweden up 3-2. For his second goal, Pettersson was on the ice in the third period with the score still at 3-2. He found some open space and one-timed a beautiful pass from Lucas Raymond to put Sweden up 4-2, and eventually this goal became the game-winner as the score ended 5-3 for Sweden.

This game is a reminder of what Petterson is capable of. He can be a difference maker in every hockey game that he plays. His skill is undeniable, and he has a proven track record of delivering great seasons. He recorded 102 points in 2022-23 in a season where the Canucks didn’t make the playoffs, and then the next season he had 89 points. You saw glimpses of that player in this game, and Pettersson was able to remind the NHL that he is still a fantastic hockey player. Unlike what some people have been saying, this game proves his career is not going downhill and that he has lots of great hockey left in him.

What This Means For the Canucks

This could be a great sign for the Vancouver Canucks. A rejuvenated Elias Pettersson will be a welcome sight in Vancouver when the NHL resumes after the Olympic break. If Pettersson can get a bit more confidence after playing for his country, he will be able to bring that back to Vancouver and translate it to his play with the Canucks. If he can record more points in this tournament, there is a chance he can finally find his old form. By gaining a bit more of his swagger back, 100-point Pettersson could be back in Vancouver after taking a leave of absence.

Vancouver is obviously in a rough spot as they are at the bottom of the standings and looking to win the draft lottery and use the first overall pick. But, as I have repeated in previous articles, when you can’t sell wins, you need to sell hope. In this case, you sell the hope that Pettersson is back to his old form and has finally moved past his struggles. If this tournament can bring out his offensive side and have him get back to the form he showed in 2023-24, where he recorded nearly 90 points, that’s a great sight for Canucks fans, as they have been wanting to see him be that point scorer since he signed that massive contract extension back in 2024.

This game does not mean that Pettersson has regained his old form, but it is a strong step in that direction. He was able to turn back the clock a little and become an impactful player for his team once again. This tournament has more games remaining and more opportunities for Pettersson to be a key factor for Sweden. Only time will tell if he can translate this recent success back to the Canucks.