It sounds like the Vancouver Canucks will have to pull off their miracle playoff bid without one of their best players available.
Third-year standout Elias Pettersson is likely done for the season despite making some progress in his recovery. He hasn’t appeared in a game since March 2.
“Things are actually moving in a positive direction with his injury recovery, it sounds like, but from what I’m hearing it’s considered quite doubtful that we’ll see him back playing games for the Canucks before the end of the regular season,” Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported on Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada.
“Pettersson has been making his way back from a wrist injury and recently has resumed skating, but unfortunately it sounds like time is going to run out on his bid to rejoin the team’s playoff push.”
Prior to suffering the wrist injury, he posted 10 goals and 11 assists in 26 games in 2020-21. The 22-year-old Swede is scheduled to hit restricted free agency in the off-season.
Vancouver entered play Saturday 10 points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the North Division’s final playoff spot with five games in hand.
