New York. William Carlson sent the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final last night.
He scored two goals, and even played one goal, in a resounding 6-0 defeat in the Sixth Conference Final against the Dallas Stars.
– Now you are very happy. The Swedish shooting king tells Sportbladet that to be able to play hockey in June, you’re fighting all season long.
After two straight wins, the Dallas Stars returned to the American Airlines Center to continue building on their historic turnaround and force a Game 7 in just a few days.
But this dream was instantly dashed. It soon became apparent that the Las Vegas Knights were stronger, sharper, and better. They made it 1-0 less than four minutes later, took a 3-0 halftime lead and eventually won 6-0.
He said shortly:
It was about disguise.
– Yes, we played a really good game. When we next got to him, says William Carlson, I felt like we had already decided at the beginning.
– the difference? We played straighter, had more weight when attacking and made it harder on the backs with a really hard forward check.
Even with the big names now
Wild Bill himself, as is often the case when it really matters, had a fantastic evening and was responsible for two goals as well as an assist.
This means that he has scored ten goals this spring and that the only other Swedes who have ever scored more in one and the same qualifying match are Daniel Alfredsson, Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg and Gabriel Landskog.
– Oh. Yes, it’s a respectable group of Legendaries, he continues, a bit preoccupied.
– But it went well and, of course, it’s fun to score some goals.
And now the 30-year-old from Marsta gets a chance to score more goals in the second Stanley Cup Final of his career.
– It feels so great. You are really happy. To be able to play hockey in June, you are fighting all season.
You and a few other players have already appeared in the final in 2018. Do you have any use now, do you think?
– Well, it was like one whirlwind. Haven’t been there before and didn’t know what to expect. We know that now and maybe this experience can help a little bit. But at the end of the day we play hockey, you just have to go out and do it.
You are facing the Florida Panthers. What do you say about this opponent?
– They were so good, it really wasn’t going to be easy. But it will be very interesting to play against them, it looks like an interesting match.
Are you celebrating this victory?
– Yeah, we’re staying here in Dallas tonight and we’re having some fun. But tomorrow we go home and then it’s up to work again.
The final kicks off in Las Vegas on Sunday night – 02.00 SST.