Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson reacts after missing a scoring chance against the Nashville Predators during the first period in Game 2. Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Canucks star can't believe he missed wide-open net

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 4/23/24

Elias Pettersson is the Vancouver Canucks' best and most dynamic forward, and when he has a chance to put a shot into a wide-open net, he generally does not miss.

In the closing seconds of the first period of Tuesday's Game 2 against the Nashville Predators, he missed.

With the Canucks trailing 1-0 and trying to score the equalizer on the power play, Pettersson was set up for a wide-open look with a yawning net sitting in front of him. Then this happened.

Oh no, Petey... pic.twitter.com/cxQxHYHFLU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 24, 2024

With Predators goalie Juuse Saros stuck out of position, Pettersson simply rushed the shot and was just a few inches from where he wanted it to be. Pettersson immediately dropped to his knees and looked to the ceiling in complete disbelief at what he just did.

Pettersson has scored at least 32 goals in each of the past three seasons, including 34 this season.

He had a great chance to get his first of the 2023-24 playoffs right there and just shanked it wide off the side of the net. It is easy to say with the benefit of hindsight, but he probably had more time than he realized and probably did not need to rush it as much as he did. If he had just taken an extra split second he might have had the easy goal.

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