Pettersson shines in debut to hep Cancuks get past Calgary Flames on Wednesday

Elias Pettersson collected a goal and an assist in his National Hockey League debut to lead the host Vancouver Canucks to a 5-2 win over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Pettersson, a 19-year-old drafted fifth overall by Canucks in 2017, made the franchise's first game without one of the Sedin twins since the 1999-2000 campaign a roaring success.

Nikolay Goldobin, Brendan Leipsic, Jake Virtanen and Tyler Motte also scored for the Canucks, while goalie Jacob Markstrom made 33 saves to earn the victory.

Pettersson, the club's top prospect whose arrival was anticipated throughout a horrendous 2017-18 for the Vancouver squad, delivered a memorable performance for a fan base hoping this won't be as dreadful of a season as most prognosticators have predicted.

Pettersson opened the scoring with a rocket of a first-period tally and then set up the club's second goal in a wild third period that saw the teams combine for six goals. He became only the fourth player in Canucks history to collect a multiple-point game in his NHL debut.

Goldobin and Loui Eriksson also posted two-point games for the Canucks.

Matthew Tkachuk and Sean Monahan scored for the Flames, who trailed 3-0 early in the third period before finally getting on the board. Calgary subsequently lost its ninth consecutive season opener.

As much as the Flames were victimized by Pettersson and Markstrom, they were victimized by their own ineptness, especially while on the power play.

Calgary failed to convert on all seven of its man-advantage opportunities, during which it managed only six shots on goal, which often killed any momentum gained during five-on-five play. The Flames were also guilty of a lack of execution in the first two periods, putting 17 of their 35 shots on goal in the final frame when they cranked up their effort.

Calgary goalie Mike Smith made 18 saves in the loss.

The clubs meet again on Saturday in Calgary's home opener.

(With inputs from agencies.)