The Vancouver Canucks continued their recent run of high-scoring games as they defeated the visiting Florida Panthers 7-2 on Monday, and once again Elias Pettersson was in the middle of the action.
For the third straight game, Vancouver scored five or more goals. Pettersson has been integral to that run, as he extended his point streak to four games with a trio of assists in Monday's game, giving him 11 for the campaign so far.
The Canucks, who have averaged five goals per game this season within the friendly confines of the Rogers Arena, came out of the gates flying. Brandon Sutter, Tim Schaller and Jake Virtanen all scored by the 6:18 mark of the opening period to give the home team a 3-0 lead before the Panthers pulled one back through Brian Boyle. The Canucks weren't allowing thoughts of a Florida comeback to become a reality, however, as Pettersson set up J.T. Miller to restore Vancouver's three-goal cushion less than 90 seconds after the Panthers got on the board.
Josh Leivo capped off the early flood of goals with a last-minute tally to close out the first period, and the Canucks — with their second five-goal period of the young season — already had victory well in hand after 20 minutes.
A Mike Hoffman power-play goal for the Panthers made things slightly interesting midway through the second, but Pettersson and Miller hooked up again (along with Alex Edler) in the final minute of the middle frame to maintain the Canucks' four-goal advantage.
To put icing on the cake, Pettersson served a pass to Brock Boeser for Vancouver's seventh and final goal of the night.
Monday's outburst by the Canucks put an end to an eight-game streak in which the Panthers earned at least a point.
For Pettersson, his three assists boosts his season point total to a team-high 14.