Playing On the World Stage Will Allow Eriksson Ek To Reset

The 4 Nations Face-Off has been a success as the best of the best hash it out on the ice. However, not everyone expected such a strong showing from the Minnesota Wild. After two games in the tournament, Jonas Brodin, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy have combined for three goals and two assists, making the Wild one of the best-represented teams at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

In a short tournament like the 4 Nations Face-Off, every goal is important for the player and the country they represent. However, not all goals are the same; some could have lasting effects once the regular season resumes. The confidence players can build from scoring a goal in front of the entire world can be a significant factor in their performance once the tournament concludes. 

Joel Eriksson Ek is the Wild player who may need that confidence the most. 

Eriksson Ek has only scored 9 goals and 14 assists in 41 games this year. It has been a down year, to say the least, which could shake any player's confidence. While there isn’t much to worry about in his game, Eriksson Ek’s scoring ability has added a two-way threat for the Wild that’s hard to replace.

I discussed this briefly in my previous article, but the ebbs and flows of a season can make or break a player and, on a larger scale, a team. Whether players get caught up in the storylines, feel down after losing a lead, or have a down year, these factors play a large part in game results. However, the 4 Nations Face-off has given players a unique opportunity to ride the high from an exciting tournament like this to the end of the season.

The 4 Nations Face-Off has allowed Eriksson Ek to reset and emerge stronger. After scoring for Sweden, he seems more likely to be rejuvenated when the regular season restarts. 

From a Wild fan’s perspective, nothing is better than watching No. 14 (No. 20 for Sweden) find the back of the net. Joel Eriksson Ek tied the game at 3 against Canada in the third period in a play that started and finished on his stick. Eriksson Ek wins a faceoff in Canada’s zone, and with some help from Jesper Bratt, Lucas Raymond comes up with the puck to create a beautiful ti-tac-toe play. Raymond passes it back to Bratt, who got it to Eriksson Ek for his first goal of the tournament.

“Maybe the best net-front guy in the league,” Bratt said about Eriksson Ek before the tournament, “so Lucas and I just need to use our speed and skill through the neutral zone, knowing he’ll be at the net.”

Those are high accolades from a fantastic winger who has gotten 47 assists this season. It’s safe to say he knows the best guys on the ice to set up for a goal, and Eriksson Ek is one of those. That should signal to Ek that he’s still got it. 

However, that wasn’t the only thing Eriksson Ek did to help push the Swedes to overtime. Four minutes after Eriksson Ek scored, he returned to form by drawing a high-sticking penalty from Josh Morrissey. The Winnipeg Jets defenseman’s minor took two minutes off the clock from a dangerous Canadian team. 

For many Eriksson Ek fans, his excellent performance was a sigh of relief. The hard-nosed center has suffered injuries all season and even missed the final game before the 4 Nations break, leaving many wondering if he could play in the tournament. 

Even for a player of Eriksson Ek’s caliber, scoring consistently in the NHL isn’t easy. It’s even more challenging for those who can’t stay healthy, so it isn’t surprising to see Eriksson Ek having a down year, especially given his circumstances. However, representing his country could be adding that missing element back to his game could be exactly what the Wild need to have an even stronger push toward the playoffs. 

Now, as fans, all we can do is wait. It will be interesting to see how Eriksson Ek reacts to his success in the tournament and, in turn, the rest of the NHL season. Sweden still has two games left in the tournament with the chance for a third, as they have yet to face Finland or the USA. That allows Ek to continue proving why opponents should fear him.

No one can keep Eriksson Ek down, at least not for long.