By AakashSports_
Pettersson Scores as Canucks Outlast Capitals 4–3
The Vancouver Canucks pulled out a gritty 4–3 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday afternoon in D.C., holding on through injuries, a furious Capitals comeback, and late pressure to secure two big road points.
First Period: Flying Start
The Canucks came out buzzing. Just 59 seconds into the game, Elias Pettersson finally found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, beating the Washington goalie cleanly and setting the tone early.
Vancouver kept pressing. Tyler Myers doubled the lead late in the period, jumping into the play and capitalizing on a rebound to make it 2–0. Less than a minute later, Kieffer Sherwood added another on the power play, finishing a slick setup to give the Canucks a 3–0 cushion after twenty minutes.
It was one of Vancouver’s sharpest first periods of the young season — fast, direct, and full of purpose.
Second Period: Adversity Hits
The mood shifted when Filip Chytil left the game after a heavy hit from Tom Wilson. He did not return. A before that Jonathan Lekkerimäki also exited with an upper-body injury. Suddenly, the Canucks were down to ten forwards and had to juggle lines for the rest of the night.
Despite the setbacks, the team stayed focused. Early in the second, Teddy Blueger scored his first of the season, finishing a rebound off an Evander Kane rush to make it 4–0. That goal, as it turned out, would be the difference.
Washington began to push back midway through the period. Ryan Leonard got the Capitals on the board with a power-play goal, cutting the lead to 4–1 heading into the final frame.
Third Period: Holding On
The Capitals made it interesting. Jakob Chychrun scored early in the third to make it 4–2, and John Carlson added another late to close the gap to one. The building came alive as Washington pressed for the equalizer, but Thatcher Demko stood tall when it mattered most.
Vancouver’s penalty kill bent but didn’t break. The defense tightened up, and the forwards blocked shots, ground out shifts, and did just enough to close out the win. It wasn’t perfect, but it was gutsy.
Takeaways
This was the kind of win that says more than the score does. Vancouver jumped ahead fast, faced real adversity, and refused to let go of the rope.
Pettersson getting his first goal should hopefully quiet down talk about his slow start. Myers and Blueger chipping in offensively is a bonus, showing that the secondary scoring can step up when needed.
The bigger concern is health. Losing Chytil and Lekkerimaki hurts, especially on a road trip where every body matters. Their status will be closely watched over the next few days.
Still, this was a statement win, not for dominance, but for resilience. The Canucks showed they can build a lead, absorb pressure, and close out tough games away from home.
Looking Ahead
Vancouver will hope to get healthier before their next outing, but the focus now is carrying this momentum forward. The early-season road swing is always a test of depth and focus, and Sunday’s game showed both.
Four goals on the road, Pettersson scoring, the power play clicking, and a group that didn’t fold when the push came, those are all signs of a team starting to find its stride.
The Canucks left D.C. battered but smiling. They got the job done.
