Sandin-Pellikka's teammate and team captain Dylan Larkin started the match in the right way with a goal in the fourth minute.
Then it went downhill. Three goals for Montreal in the first period were followed by two more in the second period.
We shot ourselves in the foot so many times that we didn't have time to get started with our game and create attacks. It's quite disappointing, says Larkin to Detroit Free Press after the match.
Caused penalties
It didn't get better because Swedish teammate Simon Edvinsson drew a penalty in the second period. The last period was goalless for both teams.
Axel Sandin-Pellikka can comfort himself with the fact that he was not involved in any of the goals against and that he received praise from club legend Mickey Redmond.
Pellikka played 22.34 minutes. Wow, that was surprisingly much, commented Mickey Redmond in his role as TV expert at Fanduel, according to Expressen.
Norwegian Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Canadian Emmitt Finnie also made their NHL debut with Detroit during Thursday's match.
Tough start for this talented trio, but they have earned their place and none of them did anything wrong. They belong in the NHL and will develop into important players in the team, said Redmond according to Expressen.
Best in World Championship
Defensive talent Sandin-Pellikka was recruited to Detroit from Skellefteå before the current season. He was named best defender in the World Championship both in 2024 and 2025. Last year, he was also awarded the Börje Salming honorary prize.
Although the evening was a disappointment for Sandin-Pellikka, it went somewhat better for other Swedes in the NHL. Boston's Elias Lindholm and Viktor Andersson scored a goal and an assist respectively in the 4–3 win over Chicago.
