It would be nice for Anton Forsberg to make the start for the Senators

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This homecoming to Sweden has already been special for Anton Forsberg.

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We’ll find out Saturday morning if the Ottawa Senators goaltender will get the chance to make it even more memorable.

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Coming off a 5-4 overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, head coach D.J. Smith wouldn’t tip his cap on which goalie would start against the Minnesota Wild at the Avicii Arena as the Senators wrap up the two-game Global Series in Stockholm.

Nobody would blame Smith if he opted to go back to Joonas Korpisalo, who made 37 saves in Thursday’s victory over the Red Wings, but it would be nice for Forsberg to get the opportunity to start in his home country because chances like this don’t come along very often.

It’s a decision Smith has already made with goalie coach Zac Bierk, and it would be no surprise to see Forsberg make the start, but we won’t know until the Senators come out of the tunnel.

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“We work with the goalie coach and everyone involved to make the right decision that gives us the best chance to win,” Smith told reporters in Stockholm. “And that’s where we got with it.”

First, and foremost, Smith is a coach who factors in how a decision will impact the players before making a final determination. He has always had a tremendous amount of respect for the 30-year-old Forsberg’s work ethic and the difficult road he followed to make it to the NHL.

Forsberg didn’t grow up in Stockholm, but he will have friends and family in the stands that would cherish the chance to see him play. His struggles this season — a 3.79 goals-against average and a .833 save percentage — have been real, but Smith knows this might be the perfect stage for Forsberg.

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In his last appearance, Forsberg gave up five goals on 18 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at home. Smith is quick in moving on after a bad game and he’ll take into account that Forsberg grew up in Sweden and that playing this game would mean a lot to him.

His hometown is only four hours away, so Forsberg will have a cheering section if he does play.

“I do, personally, (factor in that he’s from Sweden), I have relationships with my players,” Smith said. “I think there’s some times when you’ve got to play a guy in a certain situation, whether it’s his hometown or whatever. I just think you get a little more out of a guy in that scenario.”

GUS THE BUS RETURNS

If Forsberg does start, he’ll be up against former Senators goaltender Filip Gustavsson in the Wild net.

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Minnesota coach Dean Evason confirmed Friday that Gustavsson, who spent four seasons in the Ottawa organization after being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2018 as part of a deal for forward Derick Brassard, will start against the Senators.

Gustavsson, 25, couldn’t be more excited.

“It’s what you dreamt of growing up. You always wanted to play in the NHL,” Gustavsson said. “And then to get to do it in Sweden in front of my family and grandparents that may not get the opportunity to fly over to North America, it’s going to be awesome.”

Gustavsson has also struggled, with losses in his last three starts. He gave up three goals on 25 shots to the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 10, so this is a chance for him to get back on track.

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A NICE TOUCH

After Tim Stutzle scored the winner Thursday in amazing fashion, former Senators defenceman Ron Hainsey, an executive with the National Hockey League Players’ Association, presented him with a Rolex as player of the game because of his three-point effort.

That should be a little extra motivation for Stutzle’s teammates.

“Everybody’s going to be ready to play tomorrow,” Senators defenceman Travis Hamonic said with a laugh. “That’s everyone’s reaction at the start, right? It was a great gift. It was really nice of the NHLPA and the NHL to give a gift like that.

“We’re all very fortunate to be over here and be able to experience this. To be able to come here and do this is something some people won’t get the chance to do in their career. For the league and the players’ association to recognize that isn’t needed, but it was certainly well-received.

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“I’m sure (Stutzle) will be wearing it in no time.”

THE LAST WORDS

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stood by his 41-game suspension for centre Shane Pinto for breaking gambling rules while speaking with the media in Stockholm on Thursday.

“What’s clear is there was no betting on NHL hockey, but there are lots of ways that you can involve yourself in sports betting that are inappropriate. Most of them are common sense,” Bettman said.

“Without telling you what Shane did or didn’t do, if you’re in a jurisdiction where you’re not supposed to be betting, you shouldn’t be betting. If you’re betting on a platform that says you shouldn’t be sharing an account, you shouldn’t be sharing an account. Or in a jurisdiction where people shouldn’t be placing bets for you, you shouldn’t be doing that.

“I mean, there’s a litany of things that, as a matter of common sense, people know. And the players get briefed on this annually by security. We do briefings on it at the rookie orientation program. There’s no surprise here.”

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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