Pettersson has faced heavy questioning in Vancouver as his goal production has declined, and he has also been in a dry spell with the national team.
Three matches in the Four Nations last year did not yield a single point, and the same was true in the opening two matches at the Olympics.
Before that, his last national team appearance was in the 2019 World Cup, when he scored his last national team goals before Saturday.
“Unfortunate ending”
Against Slovakia he scored two goals: first on a free kick played by Filip Forsberg, when he shot under Slovak goalkeeper Samuel Hlavaj, and then on a direct shot after Lucas Raymond's perfect pass.
It felt good. I had a few chances in the previous matches, but I'm happy with the two today.
He also thinks the team took steps forward - even if it wasn't enough to secure the group victory on its own.
Unlucky ending. I think we played a good game, especially in the third period, when we pushed and scored two goals. But that's hockey; we put ourselves in this situation.
“That's why he's here”
National team captain Sam Hallam on the importance of goals for Elias Pettersson:
It's great. First of all, the speed he builds through the middle zone is great, and that composure. That's one of the reasons why Elias is on this team, so he can get into those situations and push it there.
Goalkeeper Jacob Markström made his Olympic debut between the posts but was upset about conceding the last goal.
It's awesome; it's an honor to go out there on the ice, but it would have been better with a slightly better result.
About Slovakia's 5 - 3 numerical superiority, he says:
It slipped under the arm. It still got quite a bit of elbow on it and I hoped it would stay under the arm, but it didn't, and so they poked the rebound in.
