The home crowd in Washington had reason to celebrate. The match against Columbus ended 1–0. The only goal of the match was scored by Erik Gustavsson at the beginning of the first period.
But the fans could above all be happy that both Nicklas Bäckström and Tom Wilson (who had knee surgery last May) were back on the ice and met them with a standing ovation.
— It was fantastic, everything you could wish for. Really special, says Bäckström from the dressing room after the match.
“You never forget moments like this,” he continues.
Surgery in June
Bäckström has suffered major hip problems in recent years and missed, among other things, the start of the previous ice hockey season. To overcome the problems, the 35-year-old went to Belgium this summer to lie on the operating table.
Now, over six months later, it was finally time for the Swede to play NHL ice hockey again.
Bäckström says he was nervous before the match, more than ever before, but he describes the comeback as successful.
“It went well, just the form that wasn’t quite 100,” he summarizes the match.
— I fell a few times, had close contact a few times and it felt normal. So that part is okay. Now I just have to work on club management, he says jokingly.
Gets better
Bäckström says he believes he will catch up with the rest of the team, who have already played half a season.
— It will get better with time.
Washington’s Darcy Kuemper saved 38 shots on goal and managed to keep a clean sheet for the fourth time this season. That’s the most times of any NHL goaltender so far this season.