toronto. It was exactly as usual when Henrik Lundqvist returned last night.
He kept a clean sheet.
– And I got a penalty kick from Peter Forsberg. It was the perfect ending, says the Hall of Fame goalkeeper with a wide smile to Sportbladet while at the same time confirming “Foppa” information that preparations for the senior match consisted of late nights in Toronto…
As part of Toronto’s Hall of Fame ceremonies, those elected to the always-exclusive association play an exhibition game, called the “Legend’s Classic,” with other veterans at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena – and so Henrik Lundqvist came in last place night in and night out for the first time since August 2020.
How did it go?
Just as it was during an active career.
Hinkie kept a clean sheet during his 30 minutes – and then stopped all the penalties that the likes of Peter Forsberg, Ryan Getzlaf, Pierre Turgeon, Adam Oates and Caroline Ouellet tried to take on him.
– Yes, the old competitive instincts are back in play. I didn’t want to get any balls in, he says and smiles contentedly when we meet him after the show.
– Better yet, it wasn’t too fast and I’m glad about that. My pulse didn’t go much higher, my doctor will be very happy, hehe.
I enjoyed stopping Foppa
The 41-year-old New Yorker was particularly pleased to have stopped compatriot Forsberg’s final penalty attempt.
– In general, I felt particularly discriminated against during the penalty shootout. He continued: “I missed this challenge against one player.”
– But the fact that I received Peter’s punishment was very impressive. It was the perfect ending, as I followed it throughout my upbringing.
“Foppa” had a good position even during the same match, but he scored zero at that time as well.
– Yes, it was not possible to register on it this time either. He says it’s nothing new, and he clearly still has that in him.
– How did you feel in general? It was a little daunting. But then I was hanging out with “Henke” for a few days too. Then it will come late at night…
Lundqvist confirms – with another broad smile:
– Well, we played a little differently for this match than the other matches we played together, hehe. Had hamburgers for breakfast at one o’clock today
-I had a very enjoyable evening with family and friends yesterday, and at the end of the hour Peter showed up too. So it turns out that an hour is too much, yeah.
The eighth Swede to be inducted into the Hall of Fame – after Børe Salming, Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, Niklas Lidström, Daniel Alfredsson, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin – will now pay for the closing ceremony the following night and then return to the Nieuw. York.
There, it is not unlikely that there will be more participation in similar matches in the future, because the night training gave greater flavor.
– A few weeks ago I would have said “no” if someone asked me if I wanted to play more exhibition matches, but being on the ice was so much fun that it’s probably not impossible for me to do it again, at least sometime down the line. now.