Pettersson scores twice in 44 seconds, the Canucks hold off the Sharks

Pettersson left the game with 3:14 left in the third period and did not return, but it was not immediately clear if or when he suffered an injury.

Quinn Hughes had two assists and Thatcher Demko made 28 saves for the Canucks (17-10-7), who had lost three straight (0-2-1).

William Eklund and Cody Ceci scored and Yaroslav Askarov made 21 saves for the Sharks (11-20-6), who have lost five straight (0-4-1).

Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks’ 18-year-old forward selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, had an assist in his first NHL game in his hometown.

Eklund gave the Sharks a 1-0 lead during a 5-on-3 power play at 11:36 of the first period with a one-timer from the right faceoff dot past Demko’s blocker.

Eklund, who took a heavy hit from defenseman Tyler Myers before scoring, finished the first period but did not return.

Brock Boeser made it 14:10 with a deflection off Askarov’s legs from the top of the goal area after defender Quinn Hughes, who was on a game-time decision due to an undisclosed injury, knocked down the left wing and passed into the goal area.

Kiefer Sherwood gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead at 16:42 of the second period. He took a pass from Teddy Blueger as he entered the offensive zone and beat Askarov over his blocker with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle.

Petersson made it 3-1 26 seconds later after Askarov grabbed the rebound off a rush chance from Jake DeBrusk in the slot, where the Canucks center was alone and fired a quick shot over the glove at 17:08.

San Jose fought unsuccessfully due to goaltender interference, then conceded a penalty 12 seconds later and Pettersson scored again on the 5-on-3 power play at 17:52 to make it 4-1, firing from the right over Askarov’s glove at the point.

Ceci made it 4-2 at 4:21 of the third period with a slap shot from the top of the right circle that hit defenseman Derek Forbort in the leg and deflected off Demko.

Luke Kunin scored a rebound while Askarov came in as an additional attacker at 19:54 to make the final score 4-3.