Ehlers Continues Dominance with Denmark at World Championship

2022-23 was another disappointing NHL campaign for Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers. Having struggled with injury for the second-straight season, the 27-year-old is finally playing meaningful hockey in May. No, it's not in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which he would no doubt prefer, but it is for his country of Denmark in the IIHF World Championship.

As the best ice hockey skater ever from Denmark - and we are saying 'skater' as Frederik Andersen certainly would have something to say if the term, 'player' was used - Ehlers has begun his 2023 World Championship with a bang. In fact, he's done it three times.

What are we talking about?

Well, so far, Denmark has played three games of its round robin preliminary schedule. Each of those games has resulted in a win.

And on top of that, Ehlers has scored in each outing. Making matters even more interesting is the fact that he has potted the game-opening goal every time. 

"As long as we're winning, I'm happy," Ehlers laughed. "It doesn't mean anything if you score goals and you lose games."

The speedy Jets forward scored his first two goals of Worlds in his team's tournament-opening 3-1 win over Hungary on Saturday, before recording the game-opener in Sunday's 4-3 overtime victory over France. Ehlers added an assist on the winner that came 1:43 into overtime. 

Then, with the Danes facing off against Austria on Tuesday, he followed suit with another first goal and an assist on the final goal. 

"Nikolaj being hot means that we have a chance to win every night," teammate Mikkel Boedker said. "He dusts a little stardust on this tournament. For us, he comes in and scores two right off the bat and has chances for a third. I think that shows you everything you need to know about what kind of player he is and what he means to our team."

Through three games, Ehlers has four goals and six points. Additionally, three of his tallies have come with the man advantage. 

He sits in first-place in the tournament for goals scored, while tied for first in points. Oh, and his team - coached by his father Hanz Ehlers - has won each of its three games. Not a bad start for Ehlers and his fellow countrymen. 

“There’s no easy games, which is what makes it exciting,” he added. “So being able to say we got eight points after three games, that’s pretty good.”

The 2-1-0-0 Danes next face off against a German squad that has lost each of its three contests. 

But following that Thursday game, things will get significantly more difficult with games against the United States, Finland and Sweden forthcoming. Riding the tails of a tournament-leading power play (46 percent success rate) and some quality goaltending from Frederik Dichow, it has been Ehlers' offence up-front that has helped Denmark to its hottest start in club history. 

Having finished the tournament in ninth-place last year, the Danes will need to see their success continue into these tougher matchups, with Ehlers also maintaining his scoring touch. With just one goal in each of his past two World Championships, this start has certainly given much promise to Ehlers and Danish team supporters.