Nylander looks to extend point streak for Maple Leafs against Red Wings

STOCKHOLM -- One Swedish player will try to keep his historic streak alive when the Toronto Maple Leafs play their first game in Sweden while another won't be in the lineup.

When Toronto plays the Detroit Red Wings at the 2023 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal on Friday (2 p.m. ET; BSDET, NHLN, TSN4), they will be without defenseman John Klingberg because of an undisclosed injury.

The native of Gothenburg took part in the morning skate at Avicii Arena but the results were not encouraging.

"I mean, it's the first time I've skated in, I don't know, a week or so, and I didn't feel very good out there," Klingberg said. "Very stiff, a little bit of pain and not a lot of motion. So we've got a lot of stuff to work on here."

The 31-year-old said the injury, which has lingered for years, is about as bad as it's ever been. It also makes him doubtful for the game against the Minnesota Wild here on Sunday (8 a.m. ET; BSWIX, BSN, NHLN, SNO).

"It's always been there throughout my career, but I've been able to deal with it and work through it," he said. "But it's kind of hit rock bottom the past few weeks and it's something we're trying to figure out."

Klingberg dealt with hamstring injuries in 2020 and 2022. He had hip surgery in 2014.

"It's just kind of disappointing that I can't play," he said. "That we're back home in Sweden and all that, it doesn't really matter. I mean, it's big for us to be in Sweden as a Swedish player, but I mean, if it would have been in Toronto or on the road or whatever, it still would be disappointing that you can't dress up and play.

"That's just the way it is."

Klingberg has five assists in 14 games this season, his first with the Maple Leafs after signing a one-year, $4.15 million contract July 1.

The Maple Leafs' trip to Stockholm has been far more pleasant for fellow Swede William Nylander, who enters the game on a 15-game point streak, a Toronto record to start a season.

The 27-year-old has been acting as a tour guide for his teammates during the trip. He's also found time to give back to the community, leading the initiative to donate $30,000 in hockey equipment to Fritidsbanken, a business that lends out sports equipment free of charge, as part of the National Hockey League Players' Association's Goals & Dreams program.

"In the past I've been doing stuff with hockey equipment, giving it away to people in need and trying to get them to start playing hockey, for kids who might not be able to afford it," Nylander said. "That's kind of how it started, and I'm happy it worked out this way."

Nylander and his teammates will face a Red Wings team that lost 5-4 in overtime to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. Detroit (8-5-3) rallied from down 4-0 early in the second period to force overtime.

Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said fatigue could play a factor for his team in the second of back-to-back games.

The Maple Leafs (8-5-2), on the other hand, have not played since Saturday, which makes rust a concern for coach Sheldon Keefe.

"We just need to go out and find our game again," he said. "This has been a long break by NHL standards."

Alex Lyon will start in goal for Detroit. Ilya Samsonov was in the starters' net during Toronto's morning skate.