Alex Nylander, 21, and William Nylander, 23, grew up competing not just in hockey, but also in golf, tennis, ping pong and more.
Being two years older, William always had the upper hand strength-wise, Alex admitted Sunday. But now that they’re both full grown and in the NHL, the table has evened and the sibling rivalry has entered the national spotlight.
“It’s crazy how we’re both at this level now,” Alex said before Sunday’s game. “Our goal was to make it to the NHL. It’s just going to be really fun tonight.”
“Sometimes we’re friends, sometimes we come out of it not friends, but at the end of the day, we’re brothers,” he added, grinning.
As children, both briefly played for the Chicago Mission youth hockey program, so Alex has the home-ice advantage in multiple ways Sunday. Both of their previous NHL meetings came when Alex played for Buffalo, and despite scoring in their contest last spring, Alex’s Sabres lost 4-2 to William’s Maple Leafs both times.
The two brothers weren’t able to meet for lunch Sunday, with both teams traveling in from games Saturday night, but they expected to have a lot of their extended family watching on television.
Alex said their sibling competition has often spilled over to comparing point totals throughout their hockey careers, and that’s certainly no different in the NHL. This is the first season Alex has a real shot of keeping up, although William still entered Sunday with a 13-7 lead.
“We obviously want to help each other get better, individually, as hockey players,” Alex said. “Just a real easy brother to have. It’s been great growing up with him.”
Kubalik responds perfectly to healthy scratch
Even in a game with the likes of Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews on both sides, there was hardly no surer bet to score in Saturday’s Blackhawks-Penguins matchup than Dominik Kubalik.
That’s because the Hawks’ healthy scratches this season have consistently responded to their demotions with huge goals upon their return to the lineup.
First it was Alex Nylander, scratched Oct. 12 against the Jets, scoring on Oct. 14 against the Oilers. Then it was Drake Caggiula, scratched Oct. 26 against the Hurricanes, scoring Oct. 27 against the Kings.
And then Saturday, it was Kubalik — scratched Thursday against the Canucks, prompting fan outrage — predictably potting the opening goal of the night off a beautiful feed from Brandon Saad.
“I think that’s probably the best response that I could do,” he said. “I was trying to make some plays to show up.”
Hawks still skating in mornings
Some teams around the league are scaling back the frequency of their morning skates. The Penguins are one such group: despite not playing Friday, they didn’t skate Saturday morning at home.
But the Hawks are still going strong, skating virtually every game day except on the second legs of back-to-backs.
Asked about that Saturday, Colliton said the pattern is more due to players’ preferences than his own.
“I don’t think you need it. It’s unnecessary,” the coach said. “But some guys it’s they feel they need it to get out there and feel the puck and just get in their routine.”
