Canucks Defeat Panthers 5-2 Behind Pettersson's Two Goals

Elias Pettersson scores his 200th career NHL goal as Vancouver rebounds from loss to Seattle Kraken.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 9:56am

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Elias Pettersson scored twice, including his 200th career NHL goal, to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Marco Rossi, Aatu Raty, and Drew O'Connor also scored for the Canucks, who rebounded from a lopsided loss to the Seattle Kraken. The Panthers got goals from Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett, but couldn't overcome the Canucks' strong offensive performance.

Why it matters

The win helps the Canucks bounce back after a tough loss to a division rival, while the Panthers' second straight defeat raises questions about their ability to defend their Stanley Cup championship.

The details

Pettersson opened the scoring with a power-play goal in the first period, and the Canucks built a 5-1 lead before the Panthers scored late in the third period to make the final score 5-2. Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen made 21 saves in his first win since January 21st.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
  • Pettersson scored his 200th career NHL goal in the game.

The players

Elias Pettersson

A Swedish center for the Vancouver Canucks who scored two goals, including his 200th career NHL goal, in the game.

Marco Rossi

A forward for the Vancouver Canucks who scored a goal and had two assists in the game.

Matthew Tkachuk

A forward for the Florida Panthers who scored a goal and had an assist in the game.

Kevin Lankinen

The goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks who made 21 saves in the game, earning his first win since January 21st.

Sergei Bobrovsky

The goaltender for the Florida Panthers who made 17 saves in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This game showcases the offensive firepower of the Canucks, led by Pettersson's milestone goal, as they look to bounce back from a recent loss and challenge for a playoff spot in the competitive Pacific Division.