Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson is poised for his Stanley Cup playoff debut against Connor McDavid's Edmonton Oilers. The 21-year-old Swede embraces the underdog role ahead of the first-round series. Carlsson highlighted the excitement of ending an eight-year playoff drought for his team.
Leo Carlsson will lead the Ducks into the playoffs on Monday night, following Rasmus Dahlin's debut the previous evening. Both Swedish stars are chasing the Stanley Cup for the first time in their NHL careers. Carlsson, wrapping up his third season and rookie contract, anticipates a major extension soon after the postseason. Anaheim faces a formidable Edmonton side that reached the finals in each of the past two years, but the Ducks enter without the burden of expectations. The franchise has not seen playoff hockey in eight years, making this a fresh challenge for Carlsson, who previously played postseason games with Örebro in Sweden but knows it will differ markedly. 'It is something one has thought about all season. We started so well too and there has been a possibility... It will be incredibly fun,' Carlsson said. He relishes the underdog status: 'They can be the favorites, nice to be underdogs. They have two finals in a row and great players but it is a good chance for us to shock the hockey world.' Carlsson praised Dahlin, who waited eight years for his playoff moment. 'Insanely impressive. Dahlin one has always known is great, a top 5 defenseman in the league for many years already... I hope one gets to meet him more in the future,' he added.
