VANCOUVER -- Rick Tocchet might try to get struggling Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson more help by changing his wings for Game 5 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Edmonton Oilers.
But the coach and his player both conceded that Pettersson needs to be better.
Pettersson was among a handful of players Tocchet criticized after the Canucks were outshot 30-21 and gave up the deciding goal with 39 seconds remaining in the third period in Game 4 in Edmonton on Tuesday, losing 3-2 after battling back from a 2-0 deficit.
The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2 entering Game 5 on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TNT, truTV, MAX).
“He sends a message to the group that we all need to be better, and obviously myself I know I can be better,” Pettersson said of the criticism. “I'm trying out there, maybe not going the best way right now, but I'm trying. I want to win.”
Pettersson had 89 points (34 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games in the regular season after finishing with an NHL career-high 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in 80 games last season. But Pettersson has four points (one goal, three assists) in 10 games during these Stanley Cup Playoffs, including two assists at even strength. He has one point in this series, a power-play goal in Game 2.
“It's challenged me, but I always said I like challenges and I always like to think I've answered them,” Pettersson said. “I like the challenge, but yeah, it's been a tough one.”