Stockholm. Author Peer Hagman once asserted that going home must be a success.
In this case, William Nylander wrote an evergreen story in the Globe on Friday evening.
But he’s also no less than the third Swedish giant to the Toronto Maple Leafs after Borje Salming and Mats Sundin.
First and last, I have to say that it is the crowd that would have rated highest if I put a plus on the second of the four total World Series games in the Royal Capital.
Frankly, fans in the Slaughter South Soder area didn’t get to watch much hockey until the final two-thirds of the final period, but they still had a regular grassroots party.
Already during the raucous second period, the wave rolled down the steep grandstand sections – and soon after, thunderous singing broke out on “Country Roads,” then dancing to “YMCA.”
Yes, it was actually like Friday night at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit – or Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Nylanders Show
When the Maple Leafs finally woke up and, during a furious second half of the third, turned a 0-2 deficit into a 3-2 win, the blue-and-white fans — the most numerous of them all — exploded in complete disbelief. far.
And of course the most love was given to William Nylander. He made this a stunning homecoming and was de facto involved in all three goals. He scored a goal himself, and set up two more – extending his early-season record streak to sixteen games.
It’s a great performance.
Not because of the scoring itself – a goal and two assists is what a striker of Willis’ caliber scores every night – but because he was able to do it on this first night on the ice at the Globes.’
No normal human being
The pressure was enormous It was expected He led the Leafs to victory in his hometown – whether by fans, an unforgiving Toronto media entourage and no fewer than 91 (!) relatives and friends for whom he arranged tickets. In such circumstances, ordinary humans develop stage fright and become paralyzed, because there is nothing more difficult than carrying out an order.
But William Nylander is no ordinary human being. He is a world-class artist and is gaining the same status in Canada’s largest city as his great Swedish predecessors Borre Salming and Mats Sundin.
Well, it’s almost time to put “Lill-Nyllet” in that category.
He’s now written a big hit about his return home – and we can probably count on him appearing very cool on Sunday.
For the Detroit Red Wings, the visit to Sweden was not a success at all.
Last Thursday, they came back from a 0-4 deficit but lost anyway – and on Friday night they gave up a 2-0 lead themselves.
It will sting on Saturday’s long drive back to Michigan,
But Lucas Raymond can at least console himself with the fact that he has also organized a very good comeback for himself. For a while, it looked like he was going to steal the show from Nylander, as with his second goal in as many days, he gave the Red Wings a 2-0 lead.
But unfortunately, life cannot be successful for everyone.