Elias Pettersson didn't get the outcome he wanted, but the 20-year-old Canucks superstar was turning heads and making plays on Day 1 of the IIHF World Championship.
Playing in the tournament for the second straight year, the Swede picked up one assist in a losing defeat where he set up Patric Hornqvist for the country's first goal in the tournament.
Down 1-0 early in the first, Pettersson took a chip from linemate William Nylander on the entry that turned into somewhat of a broken play.
Under pressure from a Czech defender, Pettersson contorted his body around before falling to his knees. As he twisted, he was able to dish the back to Nylander through his feet. Nylander gently grazed the puck over to Hornqvist, who buried his own rebound off a backhander in close.
Later on in the game, Pettersson took the puck on an entry and used his stick as a shield to block the defender's stick from attacking. Taking a page out of the "dead controller" playbook, the odds-on favourite to win the NHL's Rookie of the Year Award used his foot to swipe the puck back to Nylander.
Who in their mind thinks to make a play like that?
Only those with the talent and creativity that Elias Pettersson possesses. Pettersson and the Swedes ended up falling 5-2 to the Czech Republic. Capitals forward Jakub Vrana picked up a pair of goals, while Philly's Jakub Voracek notched two helpers.
Pettersson wasn't the only NHL star to leave spectators and hockey fans in awe.
The loaded up American squad saw last year's tournament MVP and scoring leader Patrick Kane connect on a beautiful saucer pass to Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat in a 4-1 loss to the host Slovaks.
You can catch the entire IIHF tournament live on TSN from May 10-26.
For more information, including the broadcast schedule, click here.
