After two seasons in the NHL and Detroit, the former Frölunda player was back in Scandinavium in front of 6,837 spectators.
The national team debut was fun almost at once for the 21-year-old.
After only 5.23 of the match, Raymond struck and scored 1-0 in numerical superiority. Performed by defender Rasmus Sandin, Washington, who also made his national team debut, and Örebro’s 18-year-old super talent Leo Carlsson.
– It is fun. You start on the right side, says Raymond to SVT about scoring a goal directly in the national team debut.
The match against Switzerland is part of the Czech Hockey Games, the repeat tournament before the WC in Tampere where Tre Kronor plays its first match next Friday.
Sweden plays its two remaining games, against the Czech Republic on Saturday and Finland on Sunday, in Brno, Czech Republic.
Strengthened national team
Since last week’s training matches against Finland, Tre Kronors had been reinforced with five players from the SM final teams Växjö and Skellefteå and not least six players from the NHL.
Of the NHL players, all but Fabian Zetterlund, who played in San Jose’s farm team, are ready for the WC.
The rest of the Tre Kronor players are fighting for WC places.
Union captain Sam Hallam had paired Lucas Raymond in the first chain with Leo Carlsson and Zetterlund.
They started inspired, but the Swedish advantage did not yield more than one goal.
Until the chain stepped forward again – this time also in the power play.
Second full hit
Raymond scored his second goal of the evening after 12:56 in the third period played by Leo Carlsson – two assists in the game – and Jonatan Berggren, teammate of Raymond in Detroit.
Alexander Nylander, Pittsburgh, established 3-0 in empty Swiss box. Jonatan Berggren passed forward and was also noted for two assists.
Union captain Sam Hallam was pleased that Raymond and Nylander got to score straight away.
— It’s great for the boys who come here and have high expectations of themselves. To then be able to score a goal immediately and let go of that mindset is nice, says Hallam to SVT.
About the Swedish effort, he says:
— We have some work to do, but we knew that. The leading players step forward and show what they mean.
Goalkeeper Lasse Johansson, Frölunda, kept a clean sheet in his home arena and took 19 shots.