In terms of Pettersson's recent performance, where he has scored four goals and added four assists in his last six games, he firmly believes that he is simply feeling more at ease overall. He attributes this to the team's play in the defensive zone, which has granted them more time and scoring opportunities in the offensive zone.
Leading in Control of Expected Goals
Pettersson is currently leading the Canucks in the control of expected goals at five-on-five over the past six games, boasting a remarkable 65.6% xGF%. During this period, he has been on the ice for six goals scored by the team and only three goals against. He credits his improved skating as a key factor in his recent success, stating that he feels more agile and has increased his speed in recent games.Stepping Up as a Leader
With players like J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, and Thatcher Demko out of the lineup, Pettersson is expected to take on a greater burden and serve as a leader on the ice. His focus remains on maintaining his pace and giving his best effort every night. "I'm just trying to play my hardest. I know the guys are doing the same. I'm just trying to do my part, playing the right way, and continuing to get better as the season goes," he said.Improving Defensive Play
Pettersson recognizes that while the team is working hard, there are specific areas related to system and structure that need to be enhanced. He emphasizes the importance of a strong defensive foundation, stating that good defence helps every other aspect of the game. "I definitely think our effort is there. I think we just have some minor details to improve on out there. I think we can do better on defence and that will put us in a better position for breakouts. Good defence pretty much helps every other area of the ice. It's just a lot of small details we want to improve on."The New Line Combination
The 26-year-old centre has been paired with Jake DeBrusk and Kiefer Sherwood for three games now, and this trio is starting to gel and develop a successful game plan. "Kiefer brings so much energy and playing with him makes it easy because you always know he's going to be first on pucks and then from there I read where the puck will go next. For Jake, it's the same thing – he's good on the puck and allows us, the other two, to read from there. We've had three games together, and it's been feeling good."Early Success of the New Line
The newly formed DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sherwood line has achieved significant success in their first three games. They have been on the ice for four goals scored by the team while only allowing one goal against. In just 37:49 of ice time, they have generated 23 scoring chances and allowed only 10. This shows the potential and synergy of this line combination.New
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