New York. Last night the hockey fans in Washington cheered at the top of their lungs.
Not so much because D.C. won a tough game against Columbus 1-0 — but because Niklas Backstrom is finally back on the ice after a nine-month absence.
– I was rusty and heavy in my lungs, but I had no pain in my hip and I’m very happy to be able to play again, he told Sportbladet.
Well, the game between the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets at Capital One Arena wasn’t much to watch.
Swedish defender Erik Gustafsson scored his seventh goal of the season 2.43 in the first half – and nothing else happened after that.
But like I said: the applause in the old barn in the US capital’s Chinatown continues to deafen, because after nearly nine months out due to injury, crowd favorites Niklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson are back.
The exhilaration when they were introduced before the first drop was like none.
– It was great, you really appreciate that kind of thing. I’m going to live on it for a long time, Backis says when we talk to him next.
Nervous about coming back
Who was more nervous than he usually is – and even the youngest members of the family noticed.
– I got up at half past seven this morning because the little man tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I was going to play a game until evening. “Okay, I said, I will.” Then he asked me if I was nervous, haha. So it was clear then. Then he sat all day in his match gear and waited.
And in the evening, dad saw the star quarterback, who had surgery on a broken hip this summer, played just over 14 minutes – and went, storming changes up front, okay.
– I was rusty and heavy in the lungs, but I’m very happy to be able to participate and play again and everything will be fine soon, Niklas continues.
– The thigh felt fine, and I didn’t feel any pain at all. The important thing was to be able to test in different match situations and it worked well when I fell down and gave and received tackles.
His fellow Swede tried
The 35-year-old host fully agrees with the view that the match itself didn’t carry any higher class, but takes the opportunity to honor the citizen who decided the event with the sole purpose of the evening.
– I knew that Eric was a good hockey player, but not like that. He was so cool and so much fun to play with, because he’s a great guy too, he says.
Washington’s season continues with an away game against Philadelphia on Thursday night.