The SHL’s leading scorer has high expectations for himself and has been critical of his own performance through two games at the World Hockey Championships. Elias Pettersson had no points and just one shot on goal heading into Monday’s game against France.
Swedish defenceman John Klingberg took notice of Pettersson’s self-criticism.
“I think that's precisely why he's so good,” said Klingberg, then described Pettersson as a “vinnarskalle,” which translates literally as a “winner skull,” but has a meaning closer to having a “killer instinct” or “winning mentality. “He...wants to contribute all the time...I still think he does what he needs to do, goes into the tough areas and back checks. We know he has the offensive skill.”
“He does not have to be so tough on himself,” he concluded.
Sure enough, the offence came for Pettersson in Sweden’s third game of the tournament, as he tallied a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win.
It looked like this game was going to be a rout when Rickard Rakell opened the scoring just 24 seconds into the game, but goals were much harder to come by through the rest of the game. France locked things down, blocking a ton of shots, while pestering Sweden’s skilled players. Alexandre Texier, a Blue Jackets draft pick, was particularly aggravating.
Meanwhile, goaltender Ronan Quemener stood tall in the net, making 31 saves.
France couldn’t hold off Pettersson on the power play, however. Pettersson is the focal point of Sweden’s second power play unit, generally setting up on the right side where his one-timer can be most effective. Pettersson had two chances with his one-timer on Sweden’s first power play, but missed the net both times.
On the same shift, Pettersson took the puck and held onto it instead, waiting for just the right moment to thread a pass through to Mikael Backlund in front of the net. Backlund just put his stick on the ice, making a target for Pettersson, who hit it for the five-hole deflection.
Elias Pettersson picks up his first point of the World Championships - great pass for the Backlund deflection#Canucks pic.twitter.com/qCUEUElSUJ
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) May 7, 2018
That was a nice demonstration of Pettersson’s “passing genius,” as his head coach Rikard Gronborg described it. That goal doesn’t happen without Pettersson’s patience to wait for the perfect passing lane and the precision of the pass itself.
Pettersson also showed some unexpected physicality, leaning into a French defender and knocking him to the ice in a battle for the puck. He may not have much weight on his frame, but he knows how to use what he has.
Elias Pettersson (@_EPettersson) drops the boom with his booty. #Canucks #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/7Y8jGZEMui
— Grady Sas (@GradySas) May 7, 2018
Anders Nilsson got his first start of the tournament for Sweden and posted a shutout. He only had to make 14 saves, but several of those were tough tests, particularly off the stick of Damien Fleury, France’s most dangerous forward. Fleury, who plays in the KHL, had speed to burn and created some quality chances for himself with that speed, dancing around Swedish defenders.
Nilsson also made two big stops on Valentin Claireaux off a faceoff in the Swedish zone. While Nilsson will likely be limited to just a few starts against weaker competition this tournament, the shutout should be a confidence booster in case he’s called upon for more.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson made it 3-0 for Sweden in the second period, then things got rough. Prior to the goal, Adam Larsson got his elbow up high on Guillaume Leclerc with no call. From that point on, the game got chippier and chippier, with 13 more minor penalties called between the two teams in the second half of the game.
On one of the Swedish power plays in the third period, Pettersson went to work, this time on the opposite side of the ice. He picked up the pass from Klingberg, patiently waited for Thomas Thiry, who went down to block the shot, to slide out of the way, then ripped a wrist shot into the top corner, just inside the far post.
#Canucks prospect Elias Pettersson showed the world his world class curl shot at the #IIHFWorlds today for @Trekronorse . So much patience when he loads it up. pic.twitter.com/7l7dcIvwyt
— Grady Sas (@GradySas) May 7, 2018
That’s just a perfect shot; there was nothing Quemener could do.
The two-point game should give Pettersson some confidence heading into the rest of the tournament.
Elsewhere at the World Hockey Championships...
Simultaneous with Pettersson helping Sweden to a 4-0 win, Bo Horvat and Canada picked up their second win of the tournament. They dominated Denmark, the host country for this tournament, defeating them 7-1.
Horvat had a quiet game and uncharacteristically struggled in the faceoff circle. He was 2-for-8 and had two shots on goal in just under 15 minutes of ice time. He was also on the ice for Denmark’s lone goal; he was a little passive in the defensive zone, but wasn’t directly at fault on the goal.
Former Canuck Nicklas Jensen was one of Denmark’s best players, playing just over 17 minutes on the second line.
