William Nylander responded with a bounce-back game, but it wasn&#8217;t enough to get Team Sweden over the finish line, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/4-nations-face-off-top-standouts-as-finland-beats-sweden-in-overtime">losing 4-3 in overtime to Team Finland</a> on Saturday.
Nylander recorded an assist in 21:34 of ice-time, the most playing time among any forward in Saturday&#8217;s game. He was zipping around the ice and constantly creating plays for his teammates throughout the game, after going scoreless in Sweden&#8217;s 4-3 loss to Canada on Wednesday. Sweden head coach Sam Hallam stated this week that <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/sweden-head-coach-sam-hallam-william-nylander-one-more-step">Nylander has an extra step</a>, and he displayed it throughout the game, but it was all for naught in the end.
Nylander put pressure on Finland&#8217;s Esa Lindell and capitalized on a turnover, deftly tipping the puck back to Mika Zibanejad, who opened the scoring in the first period. The 28-year-old wasn&#8217;t credited with an assist on Zibanejad&#8217;s goal, as it was adjudged that the puck was swatted off his stick before Zibanejad scored. He&#8217;s adept at turning defence into instant offence, and it&#8217;s something he&#8217;ll need to do constantly against the United States on Monday, if Sweden is to make an uphill push into the final.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇸🇪 SWEDEN GOAL 🇸🇪
Mika Zibanejad opens the scoring for Sweden! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sweden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sweden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Finland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Finland</a> <a href="https://t.co/8NsXUfcZ3o">pic.twitter.com/8NsXUfcZ3o</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1890832418724061418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Nylander was at his best off the rush, and found Erik Karlsson on a terrific pass to give Sweden a 3-2 lead in the third period. The dynamic Maple Leafs winger floated a pass to a speeding Karlsson off the wing, and he made no mistake about it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇸🇪 SWEDEN GOAL 🇸🇪
William Nylander makes a great pass to find Erik Karlsson who buries it! 3-2 Sweden! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sweden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sweden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Finland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Finland</a> <a href="https://t.co/81bTPL5uCC">pic.twitter.com/81bTPL5uCC</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1890847703682142216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Finland tied the game late in the third period off an Aleksander Barkov goal, before Mikael Granlund emerged as the overtime hero, beating Linus Ullmark off the rush.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🇫🇮 FINLAND GOAL 🇫🇮
Mikael Granlund is the overtime hero for Finland! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sweden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sweden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Finland?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Finland</a> <a href="https://t.co/I3gNQ7CTyd">pic.twitter.com/I3gNQ7CTyd</a>
&mdash; Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1890867133539655921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Sweden can still make a push into the final, but it will need some help from its North American friends. USA can punch its ticket to the final with a regulation victory over Canada. Sweden could emerge with five points if it upsets the USA on Tuesday night, while Canada squares off against Finland, and there are still a number of final combinations at play. Canada cannot directly advance to the final Saturday as a result of Finland&#8217;s victory, but it will be an uphill battle for Nylander and his compatriots.
It&#8217;s a tough result for Nylander, who was booed relentlessly by the Montreal crowd, as he was arguably Sweden&#8217;s best player. He&#8217;ll need to elevate his game to yet another gear against the United States, as the tournament has quickly escalated.
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff Live</a> is on the road! From February 10th to 20th, we’re bringing you live shows every weekday straight from Four Nations, delivering exclusive coverage, insider analysis, and all the tournament action as it unfolds. Don’t miss a beat—subscribe to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff YouTube channel</a> and follow us on social for the latest updates. It’s international hockey, so expect intensity, excitement, and maybe even a little chaos. Stay locked in and catch us live from Four Nations!
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William Nylander responded with a bounce-back game, but it wasn't enough to get Team Sweden over the finish line, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/4-nations-face-off-top-standouts-as-finland-beats-sweden-in-overtime">losing 4-3 in overtime to Team Finland</a> on Saturday.

Nylander recorded an assist in 21:34 of ice-time, the most playing time among any forward in Saturday's game. He was zipping around the ice and constantly creating plays for his teammates throughout the game, after going scoreless in Sweden's 4-3 loss to Canada on Wednesday. Sweden head coach Sam Hallam stated this week that <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/sweden-head-coach-sam-hallam-william-nylander-one-more-step">Nylander has an extra step</a>, and he displayed it throughout the game, but it was all for naught in the end.

Nylander put pressure on Finland's Esa Lindell and capitalized on a turnover, deftly tipping the puck back to Mika Zibanejad, who opened the scoring in the first period. The 28-year-old wasn't credited with an assist on Zibanejad's goal, as it was adjudged that the puck was swatted off his stick before Zibanejad scored. He's adept at turning defence into instant offence, and it's something he'll need to do constantly against the United States on Monday, if Sweden is to make an uphill push into the final.

https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1890832418724061418

Nylander was at his best off the rush, and found Erik Karlsson on a terrific pass to give Sweden a 3-2 lead in the third period. The dynamic Maple Leafs winger floated a pass to a speeding Karlsson off the wing, and he made no mistake about it.

https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1890847703682142216

Finland tied the game late in the third period off an Aleksander Barkov goal, before Mikael Granlund emerged as the overtime hero, beating Linus Ullmark off the rush.

https://twitter.com/DailyFaceoff/status/1890867133539655921

Sweden can still make a push into the final, but it will need some help from its North American friends. USA can punch its ticket to the final with a regulation victory over Canada. Sweden could emerge with five points if it upsets the USA on Tuesday night, while Canada squares off against Finland, and there are still a number of final combinations at play. Canada cannot directly advance to the final Saturday as a result of Finland's victory, but it will be an uphill battle for Nylander and his compatriots.

It's a tough result for Nylander, who was booed relentlessly by the Montreal crowd, as he was arguably Sweden's best player. He'll need to elevate his game to yet another gear against the United States, as the tournament has quickly escalated.
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff Live</a> is on the road! From February 10th to 20th, we’re bringing you live shows every weekday straight from Four Nations, delivering exclusive coverage, insider analysis, and all the tournament action as it unfolds. Don’t miss a beat—subscribe to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@daily_faceoff">Daily Faceoff YouTube channel</a> and follow us on social for the latest updates. It’s international hockey, so expect intensity, excitement, and maybe even a little chaos. Stay locked in and catch us live from Four Nations!

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William Nylander’s superior playmaking isn’t enough as Sweden falls in OT to Finland

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