Sweden’s Nylander a game-time decision for Olympic opener against Italy
Team Sweden may be without one of its top forwards for its Olympic opener against Team Italy on Wednesday, as Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander is a game-time decision with a groin injury.
Team Sweden head coach Sam Hallam told Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press that Nylander was absent from the team’s practice on Tuesday for maintenance related to a lingering groin issue from the NHL season with Toronto.
William Nylander missed Sweden practice for maintenance, coach Sam Hallam said. Nylander has been dealing with a lingering groin injury with Toronto. Hallam said the team will see how Nylander is and a “very late” decision will be made on whether he’ll play against Italy.
The Swedes are massive favorites in their Olympic opener against the host Italians, so it could make sense to exercise caution with Nylander given the importance he’ll have for the team when high-stakes showdowns against Team USA, Team Canada, Team Finland, or Team Czechia arise.
Sweden will face its Scandinavian rival Finland in the group stage, and the winner of each group gets a bye out of the qualification playoff and into the tournament quarterfinals.
Nylander is enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his NHL career right now with Toronto. He’s missed some time with injury, but with 52 points in his 40 games played, he’s playing at well over a 100-point pace.
The Maple Leafs have largely struggled this season, as they find themselves outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference at the Olympic break, but Nylander’s production has kept them afloat at times.
In the first look at Team Sweden’s lineup, Nylander was skating on the team’s first line, centered by Joel Eriksson-Ek and joined on the left wing by Adrian Kempe.
Nylander was an alternate captain for the Swedes at the 4 Nations Face-Off event last year. In three games played, he produced two assists.
The Swedes’ schedule for the group stage in Milano-Cortina is as follows:
- Wednesday, Feb. 11 – Sweden vs. Italy, 3:10 PM ET
- Friday, Feb. 13 – Finland vs. Sweden, 6:10 AM ET
- Saturday, Feb. 14 – Sweden vs. Slovakia, 6:10 AM ET