(WGR 550) – Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin got off to a good start at the Olympics as his three assists led Sweden to a 5-2 win over Italy.
Dahlin was on the ice for two goals against, but neither were even remotely his fault. On the first one, Minnesota Wild goaltender Flip Gustavsson shoveled a puck right to an Italian player and it was 1-0.
Later, Sweden got caught in a horrific change costing them another. Dahlin was coming off the bench, but there was nothing he could do to catch up to the play.
Dahlin was usually playing right defense with Florida Panthers left defenseman Gus Forsling. They played together in the 4-Nations Tournament too.
Dahlin was very active in the offensive zone. On Forsling’s goal he retrieved the puck off the wall and got it to Jesper Bratt of the New Jersey Devils who found Forsling.
On another goal he brought the puck down the middle to the crease. He got his own rebound and kicked the puck to Toronto Maple Leafs winger Will Nylander.
It was such a weird game. Midway through it was 2-2, but the shots were 33-4.
Starting goaltender Damian Clara did the best he could for 46:08, but he had to leave after an injury. He stopped 46-of-49 shots. New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad made the score 4-2 after receiving a pass from Dahlin. The 21-year-old Clara was a second-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2023 Draft. In 2024-25 he played two games in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls. Davide Fadani took his place and played 13:52 allowing one goal on 11 shots.
Dahlin played 19:52, but still is not on the penalty kill. In three Olympic games in his career he has four assists. Sweden’s 60 shots set a new Olympic record for shots in the NHL era.
Tage Thompson gets to work Thursday for Team USA against Latvia.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett Getty Images