William Nylander likely to play, as Sweden plays coy with goalie plan at Olympics

Although the Swedish superstar missed Tuesday’s practice due to maintenance and has been battling a groin injury this season, he was a full participant at Wednesday’s morning skate ahead of Sweden’s opening game against host Italy.

“He looked good on the ice. He felt good before,” coach Sam Hallam said. “We’re positive that he was out on the ice today.”

While a case could be made to rest Nylander considering the opponent, the player has been yearning for this chance for years.

He took reps on the top line and top power-play unit.

“Willy? Awesome. Great,” captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “He’s a very elite player, and when we play against him (in the NHL), he’s hard to read and he’s hard to knock off the puck. Therefore, just very exciting that he’s a part of our team.”

Added Lucas Raymond: “Kind of that X-factor that that every team wants. So, yeah, hopefully he’s feeling good and will be ready to go tonight.”

Hallam is playing coy with his goaltending plans for the event, refusing to announce Sweden’s Game 1 starter until his roster must be submitted.

But with a day off before facing Finland on Friday, Hallam suggested his Game 1 starter will also be his Game 2 starter.

“Then it’s a back-to-back. That’s maybe a good opportunity to change and get a second goalie in,” Hallam said. “If we can get two goalies in during the round-robin, yeah. But I’m not looking to play three goalies, no.”

Filip Gustavsson was Sweden’s first goalie off the ice. The veteran Jacob Markstrom and upstart Jesper Wallstedt are the country’s other options.