Updated on 08.29 | Published 08.29
Newark. It was the beginning of a dream the Vancouver Canucks had never dared to dream of before.
They crushed Edmonton itself 8-1 – after four points from the outstanding Elias Pettersson and four (!) goals from his old radar partner Brock Boeser.
– If I had been the one who made the decision in Vancouver, I would have summoned Elias Peterson’s representatives now and offered him seventy-one billion dollars, as the famous Canadian television expert Elliott Friedman exclaims.
For years, the Vancouver Canucks started the regular season poorly and fell into holes so deep that they were never able to recover — despite impressive upgrades during the spring.
So they were determined to start this year stronger, and that determination paid off.
To everyone’s surprise, they beat the star-studded Edmonton Oilers, who plan to win the Stanley Cup this summer, by a resounding 8-1 score.
– Mm, there was a bit of a ‘fuck you’ in our game after last year’s poor opening, says veteran JT Miller.
Four targets for radar partner Elias
Not least because Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson’s former Radar partner, had this attitude. He scored an improbable four goals – becoming the first Canuck since Daniel Sedin 19 years ago to rack up such a tally of goals.
-I never imagined him smiling in advance.
Another person who excelled during opening night was Elias Pettersson. He scored one goal and played up to three, and overall looked very inspiring.
The club’s management will not be able to avoid giving him what he wants, and a little more, in the upcoming contract extension negotiations.
Singing in the TV studio
Or as Elliott Friedman, perhaps Canada’s most respected TV pundit, said overnight:
– If I had made the decision in Vancouver, I would have called Elias Peterson’s representatives now and offered him seventy-one billion dollars. He said he is ready for this season, is he ready?
Understandable concern spread among the home fans when star goaltender Thatcher Demko left the ice in the third period, but fortunately the injury turned out to be nothing serious.
Just a little disgusting thing.
-He was dehydrated after getting the flu and when he vomited while wearing the mask I thought it was time to take him out, says coach Rick Touchette.
It is also worth noting that the young Quinn Hughes played his first match as captain – and before his predecessors celebrated the first landing on the ice such as Henrik Sedin, Trevor Linden, Stan Smail and Orland Kurtenbach.
Hughes returned the favor by playing to three goals.
Nils Hoglander was also booked for an assist.
