National Post

Alex Nylander steps up for Sweden

Injured brother William misses second game

- By Michael Traikos

• The “big red flag” remains on display regarding William Nylander’s return to the world junior hockey championsh­ip. He missed Sweden’s second game Monday because of a suspected concussion, but his others, including his younger brother, picked up the offensive load against the United States.

Alex Nylander scored the lone goal in the 1- 0 win. The 2016 draft- eligible winger leads Sweden in scoring with five points, while Dmytro Timashov, a Maple Leafs prospect like William Nylander, is second with two goals and four points.

“Those guys are the guys that are supposed to do what they did tonight,” Sweden head coach Rikard Gronborg said of Nylander and Timashov. “Of course, I’m impressed.” ( Alex Nylander is) born in ’ 98 and to play as well as he has, hats off so far.”

William Nylander, who was injured after receiving a hit to the head against Switzerlan­d on Boxing Day, reportedly went for a 40-minute walk on Monday and his health status is reportedly improving. No diagnosis has been made on his injury and no timetable has been given on his potential return. But Sweden is optimistic that he might play again in the tournament.

“I think William felt fine yesterday and is feeling fine again today,” said Sweden team doctor P. A. Bergsten, who added that Nylander would “probably ( need) a couple of more days” before he is cleared to play.

The team said it has been in continuous contact with the Maple Leafs regarding his treatment. Nylander is playing this season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and leads the league with 34 points ( 14 goals and 20 assists) in 27 games.

“Right now, I have a big red flag saying that he’s not playing,” Gronborg said. “I talked to him today and he looked fine. So far, so good. Mainly, for his sake, he’s feeling well and doing well.”

While Gronborg called Nylander “a franchise player,” others have stepped up in his absence. In particular, Alex Nylander has shown why scouts are saying he could get selected higher than his brother was two years ago.

A smooth skater who possesses skilled hands, Alex Nylander caught the U. S. sleeping early in the second period by taking a breakaway pass from Timashov and then freezing Alex Nedeljkovi­c with a backhand deke that put the goaltender on his backside.

“It was a great pass. From there, I just beat the goalie,” said Nylander, a rookie with the Mississaug­a Steeleads who is sixth in Ontario Hockey League scoring with 49 points. “( Timashov’s) been great. He’s very good with the puck and has very good vision on the ice and can get the puck anywhere. It’s very fun to play with him.”

Timashov, who was a fifthround pick ( 125th overall) in 2015, might be the least heralded of the five Maple Leafs prospects at this tournament ( including Finland’s Kasperi Kapanen and Canada’s Mitch Marner and Travis Dermott), but the team had high hopes for him.

Prior to the tournament, Leafs director of players personnel Mark Hunter predicted Timashov, who has 53 points in 29 games this season with the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts, “could be the sleeper of the bunch in this tournament that surprises a lot of people.”

“I’m happy that he said that,” Timashov said when told of Hunter’s comments. “I hope he’s not wrong.”

Two games in, Timashov has lived up to the advanced billing.

“Offensivel­y he’s obviously a very creative player,” Gronborg said. “He’s the kind of guy that breaks the mould a little bit. He can take it on a oneon- one situation and be very creative to beat a guy. Not just beat him on skating or power or anything like that. But just out-think him.”

Timashov finished second with 71 assists in the Quebec league last season, but has made a point of shooting more this year. He had two goals in Sweden’s 8- 3 win against Switzerlan­d and said he is finding that defencemen are playing him differentl­y now that they have to respect his shot.

“All summer, I tried to shoot more pucks and get that in my head, because I think it’s more mentally. But I’ve got a good shot and it’s working out,” Timashov said. “Of course, I’m happy to get some points. We’ve won two games now, against one of the best teams, and I’m pretty happy we’re on a winning streak.”

Sweden plays Canada on New Year’s Eve. Even if William Nyander is not back with the team, his younger brother and Timashov have shown that Canada could still have its hands full.

“There’s got to be guys filling his spot, but hopefully he can be back as soon as possible,” Alex Nylander said of his brother. “He’s feeling pretty good from the hit. Maybe the playoffs or something like that he’ll be back.”

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