Leo Carlsson will make his Stanley Cup playoff debut when the Anaheim Ducks face the Edmonton Oilers on the night leading into Tuesday. The Swedish forward spoke to reporters during Monday's practice, expressing strong anticipation for the postseason. He described the playoffs as something special due to the atmosphere and intensity.
Carlsson emphasized the significance of reaching the playoffs after a long wait. 'It means a lot,' he said via reporter Jung. 'We've waited a long time to make the playoffs, so it feels really fun and we're very pumped.' The Ducks ended a rollercoaster regular season on a high note to qualify, despite a stretch of nine straight losses and just one win in ten games earlier on. Carlsson called it an up-and-down year overall but still a good one for the team, which started strong before faltering midseason. He particularly looks forward to the heightened tempo, electric atmosphere, and high stakes where every match counts. Carlsson ranked eighth among Swedish players in points with 67 in 70 games, missing 12 due to injury. His 0.96 points-per-game average tied him for second among Swedes with Mika Zibanejad and Rasmus Dahlin. The matchup features fellow Swedes Mattias Ekholm and Mattias Janmark on the Oilers side, including star Connor McDavid. Other first-round series include several Swedish players across teams like Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, and more.
