Updated on 06.45 | Published on 06.44
Newark. Gustav Nyquist’s adventure in Nashville got off to a great start.
Last night he scored his first goal for the new club – and learned what it feels like to win at Bridgestone Arena.
– Very funny, but it was a really bad goal I scored, says Skåne to Sportbladet after the 3-0 win over Seattle.
Already in the season opener in Tampa earlier this week, Gustav Nyquist — who signed after a long career in Detroit, San Jose, Columbus and Minnesota with Nashville this summer — was being noted for his first assist for the new club.
In the first game at home tonight against Seattle, it just got a lot more fun.
During a pending ejection midway through the second period, he received the puck on the right wing and sent it to compatriot Philipp Forsberg in the penalty area – but there it caught Seattle’s skate and went behind Philipp Grubauer.
– Yes, it was a really bad goal. “I actually thought it would be a good fit, but I got really lucky,” Gus says over the phone from his hometown in Tennessee.
Well, your old friend Henrik Zetterberg always said that you deserve your luck.
– Ha ha ha. Yes, he actually said that. Well, goals like that count too.
In the end, the Preds were able to defeat the Kraken 3-0, earning their first win of the year.
– It is very good to win directly in the first match at home, continues Nyquist.
– Aside from the first period against Tampa, I think we played well, and things are getting better and better. But it will take some time, there is a lot of new stuff here. We have a new coach, a new system and a lot of new players.
However, Finnish goaltender José Saros is an old acquaintance and was notable for keeping the 21st clean sheet of his NHL career with 23 saves.
1/2Photograph: George Walker IV/AP