Nylander recorded a primary assist on Sweden’s lone goal during a 4-1 loss to Finland on Friday. Slovakia currently tops the group with two regular wins and is in pole position for an automatic qualification to the quarter-finals. The three group winners, along with the best second-place team, will secure the four places for the quarter-finals, while the remaining eight teams will face off in a one-match elimination play-off.
Although Nylander has been central to the Swedish attack for two games, he has missed two training sessions due to maintenance work.
“It’s the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. It’s no problem. Great staff here and back home in Toronto, so they’re helping me,” Nylander told Mark Masters of TSN.
Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has played sparingly in Sweden’s first two games. Ekman-Larsson took his first shift midway through the first period of Friday’s loss to Finland. Afterwards, Ekman-Larsson downplayed the significance of his low Olympic usage to date.
“Obviously it’s a little bit different. I’m here to support my team and do whatever they need from me. It’s nice to come in and do a few shifts. We have a big game tomorrow. I’m going to get back in the room, get ready again and get ready for tomorrow,” Ekman-Larsson said, indicating he was aware of how he would be deployed ahead of the tournament.
Finland will face Italy in the other Group B match.
Auston Matthews and the United States will take on Denmark on Saturday afternoon at 3:10 PM. Matthews scored in the United States’ 5-1 win over Latvia on Thursday, mainly with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy. Germany will take on Latvia in the other Group B match after winning their opening match against Denmark 3-1. The 2018 silver medalists want to surprise the established powers, led by Leon Draisaitl and Moritz Seider.
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