Elias Pettersson scored the go-ahead goal as the Vancouver Canucks erased an early deficit and defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1 at Rogers Arena on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The result moved Vancouver to 2-1-0 at the start of the 2026-27 season, while Calgary fell to 0-2-0 after opening its schedule with consecutive losses.
The Canucks scored four times in the third period, turning a one-goal deficit into a convincing victory in front of their home crowd.
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Elias Pettersson puts Vancouver ahead
Pettersson, the Vancouver defenceman wearing No. 25, gave the Canucks their first lead at 2:44 of the third period.
Liam Öhgren found Pettersson moving into the offensive zone, and Pettersson finished the play from the face-off circle with a quick backhand shot that beat Calgary goaltender Devin Cooley.
The goal came shortly after Öhgren tied the game at 1-1 at 1:28 of the third period.
Öhgren’s initial attempt was stopped, but he recovered the rebound and chipped the puck toward the net.
The goal was initially waved off before video review confirmed that the puck had crossed the goal line through the webbing of Cooley’s glove.
Pettersson’s goal then completed Vancouver’s turnaround and gave the Canucks momentum for the remainder of the game.
Canucks take control in the third period
Calgary opened the scoring at 14:51 of the first period when Matt Coronato converted on the power play.
Coronato’s wrist shot went over Leevi Meriläinen’s blocker and gave the Flames a 1-0 lead that held through the second intermission.
Meriläinen kept Vancouver within reach during the opening two periods and finished the night with 23 saves in his first start for the Canucks since the club claimed him off waivers from the Ottawa Senators on September 25.
After Öhgren and Pettersson scored early in the third, Drew O’Connor added another Vancouver goal at 16:33.
O’Connor finished a two-on-one rush after centre Elias Pettersson delivered a heavy neutral-zone hit on Calgary defenceman Zayne Parekh.
The Canucks then added an empty-net goal from Aatu Räty at 17:16 to complete the scoring.
Tom Willander and Linus Karlsson each recorded two assists in the victory, while Öhgren finished with one goal and one assist.
Two Canucks share the Elias Pettersson name
The game featured two Vancouver players named Elias Pettersson, making the scoring summary unusually difficult to follow.
The goal was scored by the 22-year-old Swedish defenceman, who was selected by Vancouver in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
The other Elias Pettersson is the club’s veteran Swedish centre and one of its leading offensive players.
The centre did not score against Calgary, but he helped create O’Connor’s goal with the hit that started the odd-man rush.
The distinction is also relevant because both players have appeared in the Canucks’ lineup during the opening games of the season.
Vancouver continues busy opening homestand
The win was Vancouver’s second victory in three games to begin the season.
The Canucks opened their campaign with a 6-5 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers on September 29 before losing 8-6 to Edmonton in their home opener two nights later.
Vancouver was scheduled to close its three-game homestand against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, October 4.
That game gives the Canucks an immediate opportunity to build on the comeback against Calgary while managing the demands of a back-to-back schedule.
For Calgary, the early challenge is to stabilize defensively after allowing six goals against Seattle and four more against Vancouver.
The Flames led after the first period on Saturday, but Vancouver’s pressure and puck movement increased sharply after the intermission.
The Canucks’ four-goal third period ultimately turned a close game into a comfortable home victory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Elias Pettersson scored for the Canucks against Calgary?
The goal was scored by Vancouver’s 22-year-old defenceman Elias Pettersson, not the team’s veteran centre who has the same name.
What was the final score between the Canucks and Flames?
The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Calgary Flames 4-1 on October 3, 2026.
When did Elias Pettersson score?
The Canucks defenceman scored early in the third period to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead.
Who else scored for Vancouver?
Liam Öhgren, Drew O’Connor and Aatu Räty also scored for the Canucks.
What is Vancouver’s record after the win?
The Canucks improved to 2-1-0 through their first three games of the 2026-27 season.
Fact-Checked: Key game details, player identities, scoring sequence and schedule information were checked against NHL and Vancouver Canucks primary information.
Disclaimer: Game information reflects the official result and available team and league records as of October 4, 2026.