New York. Eric Carlsson performed in Boston last night – but the Swedish linebacker who was responsible for the dramatic art in the game between the Bruins and Sharks was Hampus Lindholm.
He scored one of the best goals of his career.
– You’ll be sure to inspire Eric. With a laugh, Scanian tells Sportbladet he’s having a very good season after winning 4-0.
The duel at TD Garden lasted just over seven minutes when Hampus Lindholm performed the kind of feat a fellow countryman usually saves us.
He got the puck on the left side of the blue line, maneuvered into the middle and took a few forward cuts to shoot. Everyone believed. But instead, the fine-rushed San Jose Shark scrimmage feinted him by breaking his neck, made the cut, and only then whipped it 1-0 behind a helpless James Reimer.
– Actually, I wanted to shoot, that was the plan. But then I saw out of the corner of my eye that Bergeron had gone too far on the left flank and thus opened up in the area. So I did that drag and then I got on the Autostrada. It doesn’t happen often, says the 29-year-old Skaneyan as we got to him after the final whistle.
– Like Eric? Haha, yeah, you have to make sure to be inspired. He’s having a really great season.
In the end, the league leaders won 4-0 and they showed they had the ability to maintain the same high level even in matches against inferior opposition.
– Yes, this is a process we work in, so that we never stray from the basics of our game, continues Hampus, who was also responsible for assisting in the match.
– He makes up for who we meet. We try to play the same way all the time and I think we were strong tonight.
Behind, All Star goalkeeper Linus Ollmark didn’t have much to do, but he stopped the 17 shots he faced and kept another clean sheet (as did teammate Jeremy Swaiman during the minutes when Linus disappeared into the booth to replace a lost skate!).
– He’s great and he’s been great all season, but you have to know that there’s a lot of hard work behind the success,” said compatriot Lindholm.
Felix Sandström had a tough start in Philadelphia territory at home against Winnipeg. After eight and a half minutes, the guests were 3-0 up – after goals, among others, by Axel Johnson-Felby.
Then the Flyers and Felix battled their way into the game – catching up 3-3 early in game three. After that, the Jets definitely managed to take the lead, and Kevin Stenlund finally made it 5-3 on an empty net, but still.
– It was a difficult start, but we fought and played well the rest of the match. It shows just how hard this group can work, said the 26-year-old host, who stopped a total of 25 shots.
Arizona, who beat Vegas 4-1 at home at Mullett Arena, was responsible for the roar of the night. Clayton Keeler completed a hat-trick and Venom stopped Karel Vimelka’s 35 shots.
William Carlson had an assist on the Golden Knights’ consolation goal.
The Los Angeles Kings had to work unexpectedly hard at the United Center in Chicago, but in the end they managed to beat the Blackhawks 2-1,