William Nylander and Auston Matthews: A Potential Olympic Showdown
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, are heating up, and a compelling storyline is emerging for Toronto Maple Leafs fans. If Team Sweden defeats Latvia on Tuesday, all three Leafs – Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson – will find themselves on opposing sides in a high-stakes, do-or-die quarterfinal game. This sets the stage for a captivating face-off between Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and his teammate, William Nylander.
A Rare Opportunity
This potential matchup is particularly noteworthy as it would be the first time Sweden and the United States have clashed since the 4 Nations Face-Off in February of last year (excluding the 2025 World Championships, where none of the three Leafs participated). While both players have had numerous opportunities to compete against each other on the international stage – including the World Juniors and World Championships – their last direct confrontation dates back to the 2014 Under-18 World Championships.
In that 2014 semifinal, the United States emerged victorious with a 4-1 win over Sweden. Matthews scored a goal, while William Nylander contributed with an assist. However, the stakes were considerably lower then compared to what awaits them in Milan.
Past Encounters and Missed Connections
Several circumstances have prevented more frequent clashes between these two stars. During the 4 Nations Face-Off, Matthews was sidelined with a lingering injury, missing the USA’s game against Sweden, which Sweden won 2-1. At the World Juniors, the two teams didn’t meet in 2015, and in 2016, Nylander’s tournament was cut short by a concussion after playing a portion of a game against Switzerland.
Ekman-Larsson’s History with Matthews
While Matthews and Nylander’s international history is relatively sparse, Matthews has faced Oliver Ekman-Larsson before. They competed against each other in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where Matthews represented North America and Ekman-Larsson played for Sweden. Sweden won that game 4-3 in overtime, with Matthews scoring a goal.
Current Olympic Performance
As the tournament progresses, Matthews currently leads the US in goals (3) and points (5). William Nylander has contributed with a goal and an assist in three games, while Ekman-Larsson is yet to register a point. Regardless of whether they face Sweden or Latvia, Matthews and the United States are bracing for a challenging quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday at 3:10 p.m. ET (9:10 p.m. local time).
“We have to play Latvia first,” William Nylander told reporters, including TSN’s Mark Masters, with a smile, when asked about the possibility of facing Matthews. The anticipation is building, and fans are eager to see if these Maple Leafs teammates will become fierce rivals on the Olympic ice.
For more information on the Winter Olympics, visit the official Olympic website.
