Three Stars
1. Elias Pettersson
Last season, Brock Boeser dazzled as a sniping rookie for the Canucks, eventually becoming perhaps the most well-coiffed All-Star Game MVP in NHL history (only because Al Iafrate didn’t get it, agreed).
This season, Elias Pettersson is dazzling just as much. Honestly, in some ways, the 19-year-old’s been even more impressive, as he’s been mixing quality shooting with magical playmaking.
One thing’s clear: it’s the type of debate that must really delight Vancouver fans hoping that this rebuild is on track.
Pettersson scored two goals on Monday, giving him seven tallies in as many games as he storms out of the gate in the Calder race. The young Swede put together a brilliant all-around game, firing three shots on goal, enjoying a +2 rating, and even blocking three shots. Considering all of the injury headaches in Vancouver, the Canucks will probably ask him to maybe dial that habit back a notch or three.
2. Elias Lindholm
It’s such a good night for dudes named Elias, the headline just needed to be a reference to the WWE superstar. (Honestly, the Devils should have lowered Patrik Elias’ jersey just to raise it up again for this momentous occasion.)
Lindholm isn’t a rookie, yet he is new to Calgary Flames fans, and so far he’s - for the most part - been a dynamite addition to Calgary’s lethal top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan.
Much like Pettersson, Lindholm generated the game-winning goal for his team on Monday. Lindholm’s assist was also a primary one, which boosts him a bit beyond Monahan (who had a goal and an assist, but his was a secondary helper ... also his goal was the GWG).
This gives Lindholm 12 points in as many games. If reasonably healthy, he should demolish his previous career-high of 45 points.
3. Jacob Markstrom
OK, so Monday was a pretty strong night for Swedes, even ones not named Elias.
It’s easy to forget that Markstrom was once arguably the most hyped goalie prospect during his development years, frequently dubbed “the best goalie outside of the NHL” as he tried to claw his way to a full-time gig with the Florida Panthers.
The big netminder was sharp against the Flames, making 37 out of 39 saves, including all 17 in the third period as Minnesota was trailing. Markstrom’s start has been up-and-down, but he’s now improve to above .500 in 2018-19 (4-3-0).
Highlights of the Night
Much of the Maple Leafs’ best moments were “almost” moments, like this almost-goal (and Kasperi Kapanen making outstanding moves against Flames, but to no avail).
The Eliases both scored some emphatic one-timer goals. Pettersson probably scored the best one:
Yet Lindholm’s one-timer was pretty nice, too:
Factoids
- Calgary has been up-and-down this season, but it’s promising that the Flames are closing out games so well.
#Flames now lead the NHL with 19 goals in the 3rd period
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 30, 2018
- If it weren’t for those trifling Eliases, Monday might have been the day of the Granlund clan. Markus Granlund opened the scoring for Vancouver, while Mikael Granlund extended his point streak to eight games with an assist.
- No surprise that Pettersson’s making some history with his red-hot start:
Scores
Flames 3, Maple Leafs 1
Canucks 5, Wild 2
MORE: Your 2018-19 NHL on NBC TV schedule
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.
