There are worse ways to celebrate their birthday. Elias Pettersson became a big match hero for his Vancouver with two goals in tonight's game against the Nashville Predators. After a second period where Calle Järnkrok had leveled the match to 1-1, it was time for Elias Pettersson to step into the action properly.
Chested down the puck to 2-12-1 was a real class goal. Using the chest is often associated with football, but Elias Pettersson is no ordinary hockey player. On a clean-up attempt from the Nashville defense, the birthday child took down the puck on his chest and then whipped the puck into the nearest intersection behind a scoreless Pekka Rinne in the Nashville goal.
Pettersson others were the simpler. Brock Boeser's shot attempt bounced on a defender and the Ånge son could exploit it by just putting the puck in an open box to 4-2.
Shortly thereafter, Filip Forsberg was also able to do his second for the evening when, in powerplay, he shot low, under Thatcher Demko's leg guard, to reduce 4-3. Nashville created good pressure against the Vancouver goal but instead of the receipt, Tanner Pearson managed to put the nail in the coffin in the open box and the match ended 5-3.