Instant Reaction: Elias Pettersson scores reverse toe drag goal in Canucks’ loss to Kraken

This was one of those games where it might be wise to just stop reading about it halfway through. So let’s get into it.

Folks, this one was all Canucks early on — kind of. The Seattle Kraken controlled play for the most part, but it was the Canucks who scored the first two goals of the game. Elias Pettersson opened the scoring with a move so nice that we felt it was worthy of being the subject of our headline.

Yes, Elias Pettersson scored on a move that I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone pull off before. A reverse toe drag in tight that seemed to catch everybody off guard.

Not to gloss over Andrei Kuzmenko’s nice move to set the goal up, but that finish by Pettersson was just too good. Anthony Beauvillier scored later and just like that, the Canucks had a 2-0 lead. Yanni Gourde knocked the lead down to one before the first period came to a close.

In the second period, the Kraken took over, scoring three unanswered goals and looking like the Kraken team that we’ve seen find success this season.

This game came to a close like so many before it have. The Canucks pull the goalie, keep possession and create some exciting chances, but come up short in their effort to play catch up. Matty Beniers got his revenge on Tyler Myers, as the likely Calder Trophy-winner scored his 22nd of the year via an empty net goal with the assist going to Jared McCann. 5-2 Seattle final.

But hey, at least that Pettersson goal was nice!

Tonight’s loss was also really good for the Canucks’ draft positioning, as the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings both won their games and kept their slim leads ahead of the Canucks intact. See, there were more than just one positive in this one!

What’s your instant reaction tonight? Let us know in the comments section below!