Overcame 2-goal deficit twice against Canada, ‘happy about the comeback’
Source: Sweden taking positives from OT loss in 4 Nations Face-Off opener | NHL.com
Opinion
International hockey is back and most Canadians will be glued to their sets, watching the crème de la crème from four different countries compete.
I'm no exception. It was fun to watch two Leafs, Mitch Marner and especially William Nylander, play against each other—Marner for Canada and Nylander for Sweden.
Nylander's unfortunate early penalty probably saved Canada's goose. If Canada did not get that early power-play goal it might have been a very different game.
Respect. That is the word that comes to mind while thinking about the Swedish team. Their Nordic resilience, perhaps we could even say 'Viking' fortitude, kept them in the game when many other teams would have got depressed and faltered.
Hosted in Montreal, Game One revealed what Toronto fans have always known. Many of the Montreal fans behave boorishly at their hockey games. When the American captain Auston Matthews, for instance, was introduced at the start of the game, he was roundly booed.
For Gaaad's sake. Matthews is not Trump. He is one of the finest and most fun-to-watch players the league has ever known. I actually like him and Nylander just as much if not more than most of the Canadian players. They not only have skill but also character and personality.
When booed, Matthews gave an appropriately slight wave to the crowd. He knew it was coming but didn't want to look like a stooge and not wave at all. Meanwhile, Nylander after the game while lined up on the blueline was chatting and smiling with a fellow Swede. No self-imposed guilt trips there.
Nylander, especially, is known for his emotional positivity, something which helps him and the Leafs through the dry spells. And I bet he will help team Sweden just as much. It's only a matter of time before he makes up for his early blunder on the scoresheet.
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