William Nylander's Sweden fell to Canada after his Toronto teammate, Mitch Marner, scored the 4-3 overtime winner.
William Nylander is enjoying the 4 Nations Face-Off despite falling to Canada in Sweden's first game of the tournament.
The 28-year-old didn't register a point in Wednesday's loss but thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere Canadian fans brought to the Bell Centre. Nylander and Sweden will face their rivals, Finland, at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday in Montreal.
One day prior, the forward spoke with the media about that rivalry, what he texted Marner after the overtime goal, and what he expected in the tournament's opening game against Canada.
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Q: What's the importance of this game, not just from a tournament perspective, like trying to get to the final, but just from the Sweden-Finland rivalry perspective?
"Yeah, obviously it's going to be a fun game. I played against Finland a lot in my international career, so it'll be fun. And, most importantly, like you said, to try to get to the final, I think tomorrow's game is pretty big for us."
Q: Can you kind of explain for us in North America what the Swedish-Finland rivalry has been all about?
"I mean, I would say it's the same as Canada vs. USA, like, that's just what it is."
Q: What stood out about the atmosphere on Wednesday against Canada?
"Yeah, it was insane. It was wild. Something that I'll never forget, that's for sure. When Mario (Lemieux) came out on the ice, it was crazy. Something you won't forget. Tough start for me taking that high-sticking penalty, but I mean, battle back, and I mean, we're close in OT."
Q: Auston's (Matthews) getting booed pretty regularly. You heard some boos, like, what was that moment like when they started?
"Yeah, it was just funny. Funny moment."
Q: How did you feel? You mentioned the penalty, not an easy start. How did you feel about your game just in general?
"I think it got better as the game went on. Just building off of it, I mean, going into next game."
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Q: You probably hated to see it, but what did you think of Mitch's goal in that one?
"Yeah, obviously it was a nice goal. I wish we would have scored, but, that's the way it goes, and I'm happy for him."
Q: Did you message him at all? Afterwards?
"Yeah, yeah, I texted him."
Q: What did you say? Just congrats?
"I forgot what I said, but I said, like, nice game or whatever, nice goal. I can't remember, but, yeah."
Q: Beyond the hockey and the Bell Centre, what have you come to like about Montreal?
"It's a wonderful city. Great restaurants. We don't usually get to spend a lot of time when we fly in, have a dinner, go to bed and a game the next day."
Q: How have you found playing with Victor? I think you said that was the guy you were kind of looking forward to sharing the room with. What's the experience been like with Victor Hedman?
"Yeah, it's been great. I mean, I played with him when I was younger too. I think it's always fun to play with a guy of his caliber."
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Q: What's the next step for your line with you, Mika (Zibanejad), Rickard (Rakell)?
"Yeah, look, like last game I thought we were just a couple bounces, a little play there, play there, here and there off. So, just building that chemistry and I think that poise a little bit in the game and yeah, we'll be good."
Q: Do you feel like you got better as the game went on?
"Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think the game was very, very intense in the beginning. Just chipping pucks in and out, not so much playing, but then I think that built as the game went on."
Q: Did you find it the fastest game or one of the fastest games you were ever in? Like the speed of it?
"Probably it would be up there. I think it was like a playoff atmosphere. Like starting a series, I think that's kind of what it felt like."
Q: Did that surprise you at all?
"No, I mean, that's what you were expecting. I mean, coming into a building in Canada, playing against Canada, I don't expect anything more than the best."
Q: What do you expect tomorrow?
"I mean, tomorrow I think it will be similar. I mean, Sweden and Finland, we'll both want to win. It's a big game for both teams."
Q: Mitch said you guys maybe caught each other's eyes a couple of times in that game. So you guys have like any moments, did you say anything to each other during the actual game?
"I can't remember, to be honest. Everything was just, I mean, I'm not really focusing on saying something to Mitchy during the game. But I mean, we kind of maybe just skated out. I think we're on the ice against each other quite a bit though during the game, but yeah."
Q: What do you think of how (Sidney) Crosby played in that game? Because he had been out and we weren't sure kind of what to expect. What did you notice?
"I mean, just incredible plays that he made on, I mean, all three goals. It's just unreal just leading the team."
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