On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal broke down the Vancouver Canucks‘ crucial 4-3 shootout win against the Calgary Flames and what the team needs to do to continue from that game to keep their playoff hopes alive as the Wild Card race tightens.

The victory snapped a troubling trend for the Canucks, who had not won a single game this season when trailing after two periods. But more than just the result, it was the way they found a way to win — led by their best players stepping up in the biggest moments — that gave a glimpse into the formula they’ll need to follow in the final stretch of the season.

“Going into the second intermission, the vibes weren’t looking good at all,” said Harm. “There was every reason to believe they wouldn’t get the job done and write them off. They had tired legs on the second half of a back-to-back, their defense core was banged up, only 12 shots through the first two periods, and most importantly, they hadn’t won a single game this season when trailing after two periods.

“In that spot, with their backs against the wall, they came back swinging — not just getting the tying goal and eventually winning in the shootout, but throttling the Flames 17-4 in shots in the third period and completely taking over the game. They played with the urgency and desperation they needed in that moment, and it was huge.

“This could really be a turning point for this team, not just because of the result or the good vibes of a come-from-behind victory — but because of who was leading the charge. Elias Pettersson. Quinn Hughes returned to the lineup as well, logging nearly 30 minutes and looking much closer to his healthy form. For your best players to look like your best players in a crucial moment, that’s a massive shot in the arm and a real statement victory.”

If the Canucks are going to make a push for the playoffs, Elias Pettersson’s resurgence will be crucial. After struggling to find his game for much of the season, his dominant third period against Calgary — where he drove play, created chances, and scored the tying goal — was an encouraging sign.

“When you needed that push in the third period, you had to go with your top guys and live and die by the sword there,” Harm continued. “[Pettersson] really came alive in the third period; he started driving play, creating chances, and pounced on that rebound goal.

“The shootout finish as well — sneaky, silky smooth. That tells me he’s starting to get some of his swagger back. To be able to slide it five-hole where there wasn’t a ton of space, and to hit that with pinpoint accuracy and make it look so easy, that’s a sign he’s getting his confidence back.

“Pettersson is a player who requires swagger to his game — that ambition to try things, to feel really good about his skillset. When he has that confidence, he’s dangling the puck off the rush, taking defenders one-on-one, hitting pinpoint targets. When he’s feeling it like that, it’s a world of difference in terms of the player he can be.”

Beyond just the points, the volume of chances Pettersson has been generating lately has been another positive indicator of his return to form.

“He’s got 12 shots in his last five games,” Harm noted. “So it’s not just him getting some points, he’s making a concerted effort to shoot the puck a lot more, and he’s getting rewarded for it.”

You can watch the full segment below: