Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom just scored his first World Cup of Hockey goal in Sweden’s 6-3 drubbing of Finland. Coming into the game, the line of Filip Forsberg, Backstrom, and Patric Hörnqvist received criticism in the media after Sweden’s first pre-tournament game earlier in the week.
Saturday at Gothenburg’s Scandinavium, the trio combined for seven points and scored four goals together (Hornqvist 2, Backstrom 1, Forsberg ENG).
“We had to start from scratch,” Backstrom said after the game to Aftonbladet, as translated by Magnus Cadelin. “We’ve barely ever played together before. Things got better in the third period. In our previous five periods, we mostly focused on getting to know each other and finding our skating paths.”
[adinserter name=”nation-ad”]Backstrom scored Sweden’s fourth goal of the game after a quick rush up ice by the Tre Kronor. The goal was assisted by former Capitals draft pick Filip Forsberg.
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Sweden’s next pre-tournament game will be Wednesday at Verizon Center as they take on Team Europe.
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