At different times, both Toronto Maple Leafs players have shared the spotlight in the 2017 IIHF World Championships, receiving gushing praise from analysts, coaches and teammates alike. Anyone that watched the Leafs closely this year will not be surprised to hear any of it, but it’s a chance for fans of other fan bases to see both players up-close for extended periods of time.
“Backstrom and Nylander have been really huge for us,” said Viktor Rask. “They have been scoring big goals for us since being put together. Today was no different. It is great to watch them play out there, especially Backstrom when he is on the power play.