Filip Forsberg's neat backhand in the crossbar came with only 70 seconds left in regular time and Pittsburgh led 1–0.
Then Forsberg missed a free throw in overtime before Steven Stamkos scored.
It would have been too good to be true if I had scored there too, says the sylvan forward who this Friday evening in the Avicii arena showed why he should be in the Olympics.
It's always there in the back of my mind. The Olympics is something I've always dreamed of.
Sparkling entrance
Forsberg made a spectacular entrance into the arena formerly known as Globen. When the team arrived there, Forsberg was dressed in traditional costume, a Leksandsdräkt.
"It was a friend of mine, who is on the municipal board, who had fixed it. It's a traditional costume used at festivals, Midsummer and things like that," he says.
Forsberg and Pittsburgh's Erik Karlsson each received massive cheers when they were introduced in their respective teams' starting lineups in front of a sold-out Avicii Arena.
At first, they didn't get to see any high-profile matches and the hot scoring chances didn't happen. But the ending was spectacular.
Pittsburgh's Erik Karlsson swung his magic wand to the club and offered the crowd some treats and Forsberg had a few half-chances.
Cheeky lead goal
Then veteran Evgeni Malkin, 39 years old, stepped forward.
He offered a clever goal in the middle period when, from a position behind the goal, he scored the lead via the back/shoulder of Nashville goalkeeper Juuse Saros.
However, Malkin will not be allowed to participate in the Olympics as Russia has been suspended from international ice hockey since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Then came the majestic ending with Forsberg's equalizer after 18:50 of the third period and then Stamko's winning shot just 44 seconds into overtime.
The teams meet again on Sunday.
