Four teams left. The toughest competitor Canada eliminated.
And an impressive and relatively easy 5–2 win over the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.
The situation could hardly have been better for "Blågult".
After a short training session on Friday with a few teammates – most chose to skip training on ice – the 29-year-old Toronto star is asked how he views the description of himself as a gold fixer.
I have a win in three tries, so I don't know if I fix it just like that, he responds regarding his World Championship history where it became World Championship gold in 2017.
"Skilled group"
Instead, he highlights the entire team.
It's an incredibly skilled group with awesome players and awesome people. It's been super fun since I got here, says Nylander who landed in Sweden on Wednesday evening.
Nylander went point-less from the game against the Czech Republic and got to see teammate Lucas Raymond and super talent Leo Carlsson, 20, become two-goal scorers.
Nylander praises Carlsson, the Anaheim forward.
He's incredibly smart, a skilled skater, nice hands, and sees the ice very well. I played a bit with him in Four Nations, an incredible talent.
"Just want to win"
Are you surprised that Canada was eliminated?
It's clear that it's surprising, but Denmark probably played a great game, so cool for them to advance, he says.
Would it have been more fun to have Canada still in the game?
You meet them pretty often in tournaments, so for me, it doesn't matter, you just want to win. It doesn't matter who you meet, he says.
Now USA awaits in the semifinal, a young American team that has stepped up towards the end and finished group play by defeating the Czech Republic before the quarterfinal win over Finland.
It's going to be a fun game. It's a skilled team, says Nylander.
National team coach Sam Hallam was pleased with what William Nylander showed in his first game together with Lucas Raymond and center William Karlsson.
It was good, he started the first shift by completing a tackle and worked hard in defense. So it was perfect. "Wille" played well, physically and skated. I thought the line played smart and good hockey, says he.
