Nashville Predators Forsberg Impressing on World Stage
The Nashville Predators star forward is putting his name on the world map with his play for Team Sweden.
The Nashville Predators are looking forward to getting their four World Cup of Hockey participants back nice and healthy- but in the meantime, Filip Forsberg is busy making his presence felt against the best hockey players the planet has to offer.
Forsberg marked two points (one goal, one assist) and a +2 rating during Team Sweden’s 4-3 overtime loss to the speed-injected Team North America on Wednesday.
Even with the loss, Team Sweden has locked their advancement to the World Cup semifinals, currently holding a 2-0-1 record in Round Robin play. And on a team bursting with talent (including Nashville Predators defender Mattias Ekholm), Forsberg has been a highlight.
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Since World Cup competition has began (preliminary matches included) the 22-year-old winger has notched 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 6 games. The point-per-game average is good enough to make the Nashville Predators sniper the top point-scorer for Team Sweden this far into action against other World Cup rosters.
Tournament matches only, his 2-point outing on Wednesday ties him for third on the club with Henrik Sedin, behind only Erik Karlsson and Niklas Backstrom‘s 3-points.
Forsberg’s +2 tournament rating falls behind only the Washington Capital’s center Backstrom on Team Sweden- though if we again chose to widen the scope to include the preliminary matches on the world stage, his +5 rating would set him on top.
The winger’s placement amongst his World Cup teammates becomes more impressive when keeping in mind that at 2-0-1, Team Sweden is still undefeated in regulation- meaning they’re regularly besting the world class rosters set on the ice with them.
In a past World Cup tournament, Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn put on a breakout performance that loudly announced his arrival into the elite-tier of hockey talent. And while most eyes are turned towards the roster full of future hockey legends in Team North America, there’s another skater under 24 years of age who’s toeing that elite-line, and he wears a Nashville Predators jersey.
Filip Forsberg and Mattias Ekholm will be joined in the World Cup semifinals by fellow Smashville resident Roman Josi of Team Europe, who have clinched their pass with a 2-1 record. The fourth Predator in world class action will not be so lucky, as goaltender Pekka Rinne‘s Team Finland stands at 0-2. Though as we have mentioned, he’s not the weak link there.
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