It's a bit of a premiere nervousness, but now it's done. We win and keep the zero, it's just to move on, national team captain Sam Hallam tells Radiosporten.
The Globe (Avicii Arena) was bathed in yellow colors when the World Championship started.
A young and unmerited Slovakia started best, but the home crowd got to cheer first.
Emil Heinemann served Backlund, the Calgary forward, who scored directly and 1-0 was behind the Slovak goalkeeper Patrik Rybar after more than half of the first period.
Very nice, of course, to take the lead. It was good work by Elias (Lindholm) to win the puck, then a good pass by Heinemann, so it was just to push it in, says Backlund to Viaplay.
No doubt in Four Nations
Backlund was not selected for the star tournament Four Nations in February, but said yes when national team captain Sam Hallam wanted to bet on him in the home World Championship.
The Calgary forward led Sweden to the last gold, 2018 in Copenhagen, as team captain.
Now Tre Kronor are chasing gold on home soil, just like 2013.
In the end of the first period, the Swedes put in the winning shot.
Anaheim's super talent Leo Carlsson shot 2-0 and just seconds before the period whistle came 3-0 through defenseman Jonas Brodin, Minnesota.
In the middle period, Elias Lindholm scored 4-0 after Backlund had made the second assist.
So both players stood for a goal and an assist.
Mika Zibanejad established 5-0 in the third period.
Markström stepped forward
Sweden's star team - with 17 NHL players so far – was a big favorite against a Slovakia without NHL players, but several young players from the farm league AHL.
Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Markström, the star from New Jersey, had to show himself on the tightrope in the beginning of the match when Tre Kronor acted nervously.
Markström saved 15 shots on his way to the premiere zero.
Great. The guys did a great job in front of me and cleaned up the rebounds, says Jacob Markström to Viaplay.
I think the Slovaks started well, they threw in a few pucks and we got a good goalkeeper play in the beginning when we needed it, says Sam Hallam to Radiosporten.
Mikael Backlund's leading goal solved some of the nervous knots.
Nice that the first match is over. It was a bit of premiere nervousness, says Markström.
Sweden plays their next match already on Saturday when Austria awaits.
May 9: Sweden-Slovakia 5-0.
May 10: Sweden-Austria (16.20).
May 12: Finland-Sweden (20.20).
May 14: Latvia-Sweden (20.20).
May 16: Sweden-Slovenia (20.20).
May 17: France-Sweden (16.20).
May 20: Sweden-Canada (20.20).
