Pettersson: I put Canucks 'in a bad spot' in loss to Preds

Elias Pettersson took responsibility for a performance he feels cost his Vancouver Canucks a chance to win Game 2 against the Nashville Predators.

Pettersson made a couple of plays he regretted in the 4-1 loss. He hit the side of the goal with a wide-open cage and a golden opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds of the first period.

"I just knew I had an open net, and I think the puck stood on high edge, but either way, I've got to score," he said postgame.

Later, the Swede coughed up the puck at his own blue line, and Colton Sissons made him pay to give the Predators a 3-0 lead.

"I put us in a bad spot with my mistake on their third goal, (that) can't happen," Pettersson said before reiterating his regret about the open-net miss. "If I score in the first period, and it's a 1-1 game, maybe it's a different outlook."

Pettersson put the defeat squarely on his shoulders.

"I'm always my biggest critic, and I take a lot of blame for this one," he said.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet defended Pettersson but also offered some constructive criticism of the talented forward.

"He's a young kid," the bench boss said. "This is his first taste of pressure ... this is good for him ... He's got to dust himself off and be ready for Game 3. He's got to be very decisive with the puck. I want to see him shoot the puck ... but I think he'll be fine."

Pettersson will have a chance to redeem himself on Friday night when the Predators host the Canucks with the series tied at one game apiece.