BUFFALO — When he left Sweden earlier this month, Elias Pettersson was leading the SHL with 35 points in 26 games. He’s scoring at a rate unseen since the days of Peter Forsberg and Markus Naslund.

And yet, Team Sweden head coach Tomas Monten wasn’t sure that the Vancouver Canucks prospect would be able to replicate that offensive production at the world juniors.

“It’s going to be tougher,” Monten said. “He’s not going to put up points like that because it’s a different ice surface and different game, for sure. You have less time with the puck. But for sure he has a lot of confidence. He’ll put in a puck or two.”

On Tuesday, Pettersson did just that by scoring a goal and picking up an assist in a 6-1 win against Belarus. It was an impressive game for the fifth-overall pick in the 2017 NHL draft. But for anyone who has watched him play this year, it was also fairly ordinary.

“He can score, he can make plays. Give him the puck and he can do great things,” said defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, who had two assists.

Sweden has a lot of players like that. While Belarus is not a great litmus test, it’s difficult to imagine that many teams will be able to keep the Swedes off the scoresheet. From Alex Nylander, who last year tied for first in tournament scoring, to Lias Andersson (seventh overall) and Erik Brannstrom (15th overall), Sweden is overflowing with highly skilled players who have no trouble finding the back of the net.

“Dangerous,” said Dahlin, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. “We have so many talented forwards. Give them the puck and I will protect the goalie.”

Perhaps therein lies the challenge for a team like Sweden. While the team has the offensive firepower to score its way out of trouble, playing a balanced game will determine whether the Swedes — who lost 5-2 to Canada in last year’s semi-final and finished fourth overall — can win their first gold medal since 2012.

“I need to choose more when I can go,” Dahlin said. “I want to be a two-way D.”

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The Toronto Maple Leafs allowed William Nylander to return to Sweden after selecting him with the eighth-overall pick in 2014. Two years later, the team decided to keep Timothy Liljegren, this year’s 17th overall pick, in the American Hockey League.

It was a decision that Monten, the Swedish coach, said has benefited the defenceman’s defensive game.

“I think he’s developed a lot and made the right call to stay here and play for the Marlies,” Monten said. “He could always play with the puck and had his offensive skills, but I think he’s developed the other 80 per cent of his game, which is the defensive part. He plays with a better gap, has a better stick and commits to the physical part of the game. That’s helped him a lot.”

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Unlike several of his teammates, Dillon Dube has not worn the ‘C’ during his four years with the Kelowna Rockets. But he was still an easy choice to be named Canada’s captain.

For one, the 19-year-old has the experience of playing in last year’s tournament. And more importantly, the speedy and versatile Dube, who is a second-round pick of the Calgary Flames, embodies the type of game that head coach Dominique Ducharme wants the entire team to play.

“Being the captain, one part of it is the way he plays and his personality,” Ducharme said. “His speed, he can be bringing a lot of energy, he can be playing in many different situations. Yeah, he defines our team.”

Dube, who is playing on one of the top lines with Sam Steel and Jordan Kyrou, said the team’s main strength is the unselfishness of the players.

“Every guy is worried about winning,” Dube said. “If you put your egos aside you can accomplish great things. That’s the biggest thing for us. You know every single guy’s a leader. So you know they can accept that and move on.“

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Colton Point, who was to start in net against Slovakia on Wednesday night, unexpectedly beat out Memorial Cup-winning goalie Michael DiPietro for a spot on the team thanks to a breakthrough year with Colgate University. But according to his teammates, it’s his outgoing personality that made him the perfect choice to be a backup goalie.

“I don’t know if you guys remember Connor Ingram, but he reminds me a lot of him,” Dube said of last year’s backup goalie, who endeared himself to reporters with his quirky personality. “I know you guys liked him a lot. It’s great. He’s a character guy. I love spending time with him a lot.”

Point, a fifth-round pick of the Dallas Stars, has a 1.90 goals-against average and .938 save percentage in 16 games.

“We knew he was a good goalie, for sure,” Ducharme said. “Obviously we follow him. But to see him and his presence in net, he’s a smart kid also and he’s good at adjusting. We’re confident with him.”

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Adam Ruzicka, who is tied for fifth with 20 goals in the Ontario Hockey League this season, is five away from the number he scored as a rookie. A big reason for the jump has to do with his comfort level.

“It’s my second year,” said the Slovakian-born Ruzicka, who is a fourth-round pick of the Calgary Flames. “My English is getting better. The North American style is different from Europe right? The first year was a little difficult for me, so I had to catch up. It’s hard. It’s not easy.”

With 39 points in 34 games, the 6-foot-4 Ruzicka is looking like he might be a steal. The Flames certainly think so, who have kept in constant contact with the late-blooming star.

“We were communicating almost after every game. They were checking in with me and communicating with me,” Ruzicka said. “They’re a great organization and they wish me luck. I’m feeling pretty good.”

• Email: mtraikos@postmedia.com | Twitter: @Michael_Traikos