It didn't take long for Elias Pettersson to get back into the scoring groove.
After missing the Vancouver Canucks' five previous games with a knee injury, Pettersson wasted little time showing exactly why he's considered the runaway candidate for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year.
Returning to the Canucks' lineup Sunday, Pettersson needed just over 10 minutes to find the back of the net, giving Vancouver a 1-0 lead over the visiting Detroit Red Wings. Skating out from behind the Red Wings' net, the 20-year-old tipped a booming Brock Boeser shot past Detroit goaltender Jonathan Bernier to create a perfect start to his return to action.
Pettersson wasn't done for the day, as he also notched an assist on Bo Horvat's third-period marker to help the Canucks defeat the Red Wings 3-2.
The young Swede, who increased his point total to 44 on the season Sunday, told reporters Saturday that he would likely need some time to regain the torrid form that has made him a first-year sensation in Vancouver.
That doesn't seem to be the case.