William Nylander’s participation in Sweden’s Olympic opener is currently in question. The Swedish forward did not practice with the team on Tuesday, casting uncertainty over his availability for the highly anticipated match against Italy.
Nylander’s Status Ahead of Olympic Opener
Sweden aims to secure its first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 2006. They will face Team Italy on Wednesday at Santagiulia Arena, with the game scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. Various platforms will broadcast the match, including Peacock, USA, CBC Gem, SN, and TSN.
Coach Sam Hallam provided an update on Nylander’s condition, stating it is a precautionary measure. “It’s a maintenance thing,” he explained. “He’s done two full ice practices with us and felt after yesterday a bit sore, so just give him an extra day. And then we’ll see for tomorrow if he’s ready to go.” The decision on Nylander’s status will be made late on Wednesday.
Morning Skate Scheduled
Sweden will hold a morning skate at noon local time (6 a.m. ET) before the match against Italy. Coach Hallam expressed confidence in Nylander’s performance leading up to this point, noting, “I’m not overly concerned at all. He’s been looking really sharp and good on the ice for two days.”
Nylander’s Season at a Glance
- Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
- Current Season Stats: 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists) in 40 games
- Injury Update: Missed seven games due to a groin injury sustained on January 15
- Recent Games: Played in the last three games before the Olympic break
Sweden’s Olympic journey continues after the Group B opener against Italy. The team will compete against neighboring rival Team Finland on Friday, followed by a game against Team Slovakia on Saturday. The tournament format includes three preliminary games for each of the 12 participating teams, advancing to a single-elimination playoff. The gold medal game is set for February 22.
