"We have some very offensive-minded players, and then we have a lot of guys that just work hard," said Pettinger, an Edmonton native.
Through 22 games this season, however, Pettinger has muscled his way up the stat sheet. Suddenly, the grunt has become a goal-scorer.
"I just think that, with experience, you figure out the game a little more. Know what it takes to play hard every night," said Pettinger, who was fifth on the team in goals (10) and points (17) through the team's first 32 games (13-10-6, 32 points).
Since Nov. 6, Pettinger has netted 10 goals, including the game-winner against Buffalo on Dec. 2.
His play has quickly moved him up the Capitals' lineup. Already considered one of the team's peskiest penalty killers, Pettinger has earned time on the powerplay this season – he's already matched his powerplay goal total (4) of last year.
Pettinger has flourished as the team's second-line winger, playing opposite Semin and frequently centered by Kris Beech. That was a line combination Pettinger prospered with in training camp, before what was described by the team as an "upper body injury" caused him to miss the start of Washington's regular season.
Washington's second-round choice (43rd overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Pettinger scored a career-high 20 goals in 71 games last season in what was often a defensive role.
"Last year was a good stepping stone. It comes with having the coaches having a lot of confidence in you," he said.
Pettinger, in many ways, is a microcosm of the majority of the Capitals' roster: a group of versatile, physical players whose hard work and determination have managed to overcome whatever their limitations are.
"I'm not great offensively, but I'm not bad. I'm not great on the penalty kill, but I'm not bad, either. I'm good at a fair amount of things, and that keeps me in the lineup," said Pettinger.
Just like it keeps a slew of other players — like Beech, Brian Sutherby, Matt Bradley, Jakub Klepis, Boyd Gordon, Brooks Laich and a cast of thousands — on the roster as they battle for ice time.
Pettinger, whose goal-scoring has cemented his place on that roster for now, said that despite sharing a locker room with so many similar players, it hasn't made for any tension between teammates.
"There's no competition. We're all good buddies."
