“I have dreamed about it”

Overtime in the first Stanley Cup final.
Then André Burakovsky stepped forward and saved the Colorado Avalanche.
– I have dreamed about this, says the Swedish star.

The Colorado Avalanche has made a truly fabulous playoff and really steamed forward, round after round. Team captain Gabriel Landeskog has been the great leader, but all of the team’s stars have delivered. But for André Burakovsky, it has been harder.

Became a great hero

The forward has had problems with injuries, but had when he played – during ten games – only managed to score a single goal. It was therefore – to say the least – timely that he stepped forward tonight with his second goal in the prestigious playoffs.

The score was 3-3 in the match when 60 minutes had been played, but the extra time was only just over 73 seconds old. Valery Nitushkin played the puck forward, and André Burakovsky stood in just the right place, pounding the puck into a touch on an open goal – and the roof of Colorado’s home arena was about to lift. It was the team’s first Stanley Cup final in 22 years, and it was a Swede who gave the team victory immediately.

“Have dreamed about this”

Afterwards, Burakovsky was lyrical, and he was not late to pay tribute to the supporters, who have been waiting for this day ever since Peter Forsberg had to lift the dent in 2001.

– It’s incredible to play here, and in front of these supporters. It is something I have dreamed about since I was a child, he says afterwards.

Burakovsky was not the only Swede who stepped forward last night. Gabriel Landeskog opened the scoring and also had an assist in the match. In addition, Victor Hedman had a first-assist to Tampa’s first goal of the game.