Canucks star Elias Pettersson's injury 'not a long-term thing'

Notebook: Coach Bruce Boudreau doesn’t know if it’s a recurring ailment, says star will likely be back in lineup Thursday if further practice goes well

Canucks center Elias Pettersson gets run into the boards by rugged Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson during last Friday’s game at Rogers Arena. Pettersson has been out of the Canucks lineup since the Capitals game with an undetermined upper-body injury. Photo by Bob Frid /USA TODAY Sports files

Riddles in the middle were hopefully being solved Tuesday.

Elias Pettersson skated on his own before the morning session to test an upper-body ailment. The center could practice Wednesday and may play Thursday when the Vancouver Canucks host the Detroit Red Wings.

Nic Petan has been summoned from the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate in Abbotsford to slot between Vasily Podkolzin and Alex Chiasson against New Jersey on Tuesday. The hope is that the well-travelled Delta, BC, native will provide speed and experience. Matthew Highmore played center Sunday, but is better suited as a winger on the fourth line.

JT Miller, who was riding a career-high, 12-game explosion with 24 points (8-16), vowed to get the forecheck in check so the Canucks can start smartly in another must-win game to remain in the playoff positioning race .

Pettersson was the only regular roster absent from an optional skate Sunday morning. The center had practiced Saturday and Bruce Boudreau labeled the Sunday no-show as “maintenance.” It was later announced that the slick Swede was out day-to-day.

His absence had an immediate impact Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. His sizzling scoring streak of 18 points (7-11) in his previous 17 games, to go with 17 power-play points (7-10) this season, were sorely missed.

On Tuesday, the coach gave more Pettersson injury clarity.

“This is not a long-term thing with him,” said Boudreau. “We’ll see if he can practice tomorrow (Wednesday) and then the possibility of playing Thursday would be great.

“He has had trouble in the past with a big-time injury, but I don’t think this is anything serious at all. He was out there this morning skating (on his own), so we’ll see how it goes.

Canucks center Elias Pettersson shields the puck from Washington Capitals winger Axel Jonsson-Fjallby during last Friday's game at Rogers Arena. — Canucks center Elias Pettersson shields the puck from Washington Capitals winger Axel Jonsson-Fjallby during last Friday’s game at Rogers Arena. Photo by Bob Frid /USA TODAY Sports files

Boudreau didn’t know if it was an injury recurrence. Pettersson has had wrist, knee, leg and back setbacks and a concussion in October 2018 that sidelined him for 10 days.

It was originally thought that Pettersson’s absence Sunday had something to do with discomfort Friday against the Washington Capitals. In the third period, he appeared to sustain some sort of wrist support and went to the bench where he tried to shake it off.

Pettersson injured his wrist March 1, 2021 in Winnipeg and would miss the final 30 games of the regular season. He suffered a hyper-extension, and while surgery wasn’t required, he was slow to find his shot and level of engagement early this season.

NEXT GAME

tuesday

New Jersey Devils vs. Vancouver Canucks

7 pm, Roger’s Arena. TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650.

Starting sharper, smarter

“Safe is death.”

That strange game-system summation once came from former Canucks coach John Tortorella.

What he meant was that you can’t dummy down your game and you have to play to your strengths. But you also have to play sharp and smart.

Miller played for Tortorella in New York and knows the Canucks are at their best when they push the forecheck pace early. Let the opposition get flustered, turn pucks over and then take advantage with scoring opportunities.

Players call it playing on your toes.

“Our game isn’t trying to come out even after the first period or playing safe,” said Miller. “When we’re playing our game, we’re playing in your face and very direct. We have a great forecheck and when we play to our strengths, there’s nothing safe about it. We’re playing very aggressive, if anything.

“When we don’t execute coming out of our own end, or are sloppy with our forecheck, we typically spend a lot of time in our own end. We’ve got to get away from that.”

Yes, Petan really can

When you’re undersized and with your third NHL organization over seven years, it says something about resilience and drive.

Petan, 26, will play his 137th career game in The Show on Tuesday night against New Jersey and the opportunity to play at home is not lost on the 5-9 center.

He has 44 points (12-32) in 37 AHL games with resurgent Abbotsford this season and the point he wants to keep making at this level is that he still has game. He takes 28 career NHL points (6-22) into Tuesday’s test.

“With time and experience and coming into a lineup in this role, I’m pretty used to it,” said Petan, a 2013 second round pick of the Winnipeg Jets who also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. “It’s obviously an exciting time and I’m looking forward to playing my game and not changing much — just execute.

“This is pretty cool. I was waiting for the call for awhile and to finally get it, my family and friends are excited as well.”

Petan was a Canucks fan from a young age and had posters on his wall.

“I had the West Coast Express line,” said a smiling Petan.

OVERTIME: Jason Dickinson is on injured reserve and hopes to practice Wednesday to gauge lower-body injury progress. Tucker Poolman (migraine headaches) skated Tuesday morning but is being held out until he gets the green light from trainers. Brandon Sutter, who is still suffering the long-haul effects of COVID-19, finally skated for the first time this season on Monday. But any timeline to return is uncertain. “I do n’t know where he is in his recovery from him right now and I’d love to get him back with his leadership from him,” said Boudreau.

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