Sophomore Gustav Nyquist can take a lot of pride in leading Maine’s turnaround. The Hobey Baker candidate was the runner-up for Hockey East Player of the Year and has 18 goals and 41 assists this season. Most importantly, he has led Maine to the Garden for the first time in four years, and on his way he took a few minutes to speak with INCH about beating Lowell, signing autographs and light-haired European girls (our words, not his).

Gustav Nyquist is the second straight Swedish forward out of Hockey East to be a Hobey Baker finalist, following Vermont's Viktor Stalberg

Inside College Hockey: Take us through that Lowell series.

Gustav Nyquist: They’re a good team, and we know they’re a good team. We lost the last four games going into the playoffs, and then we lost the first game there. [Goalie] Dave Wilson stepped up for us the second night, and we had a shutout there, won 2-0. It gave us a lot of momentum going into that third game. I think we played great team defense all week and really stepped up big. That was a nice way to end the weekend there with the OT goal by Tanner House. That was obviously huge for us.

INCH: What changed for you? What was different between the losing streak and those last two wins to take the series?

GN: We knew that if we lost, we’d be out of the tournament and everything. We weren’t really ready to end the season like that. Wilson stepped up big for us, and that shutout changed the momentum. That’s the biggest part, I think.

INCH: How was the celebration after Game 3?

GN: It was a lot of fun, especially up in Maine when the crowd goes nuts. It’s a special place to play. I think they were excited, and we were very excited, too. It feels great to go down to the Garden this weekend.

INCH: BU has a ton of experience after last season’s run, and it’s got a good feel for the Garden due to that and the Beanpot. They’ve also got some experience in playing the second game of the semifinals, which can present some challenges with time management and things of that sort. Is that something you have to take into consideration, or will you just take things as they come?

GN: We’ll just take it as it comes. Last year, we played BU in the quarterfinals, and we took it to three games. I think we gained a lot of experience from that. We know they have a great team. They have a lot of skilled guys on their team that we have to look out for. I don’t think we’ll be too worried about [outside challenges]. I think we’re just very excited to play in front of a big crowd at the Garden. I think a lot of Maine fans will show up, as well. We know they’re a good team, but we know we’re a good team, as well, so it’s going to be a fun game.

INCH: Hockey is obviously the biggest thing going in Orono, and you’re a Hobey Baker candidate. How much do you get recognized around town and walking through campus?

GN: It happens a lot. Hockey is the biggest sport up in Maine. When we walk around the city, people will be like, ‘Good luck this weekend,’ and stuff like that. It’s a lot of fun to be recognized, and the whole team enjoys that. But at the same time, you can’t make a lot of mistakes out there because the eyes are on us all the time. I enjoy it up there. It’s a lot of fun to get attention, so it’s fun.

INCH: Do you guys sign a lot of autographs?

GN: Yeah, we do. We probably do 100 every week, and that’s pretty fun.

INCH: Did any of your struggles late in the season have anything to do with the uncertainty with your goaltending situation? (Starter Scott Darling was suspended for violating team rules and will not play this weekend.)

GN: I think we’ve handled it good. We showed this week that we can play good with the issues off the ice, too. Scotty is obviously still a huge part of our team, and we’re here for him as much as we can. We’re trying to support him right now when he’s going through some tough times. It’s been a little distracting, but not too much, I think. Our backup goalies have been taking it great, and they’ve stepped up big for us.

INCH: What’s the most common question that friends ask you about coming from Sweden?

GN: There’s a lot of questions about the girls because there’s a lot of rumors about there being beautiful blond girls out there. That’s probably the most common question.

INCH: On the opposite side, what do people from Sweden ask you about America?

GN: I don’t really know. I think we’re kind of the same people. It hasn’t been a big adjustment for me. I think we’re kind of similar in the way we act maybe. Americans might be a little more outgoing, I’d say. You can chat them up in the city, where in Sweden you wouldn’t really start a conversation with a complete stranger. I think you’re a little more outgoing, but that’s pretty much it.

INCH: What kind of prediction can you offer me for this weekend?

GN: You should expect a very tight game. We’ll try to shut down their offense as much as possible and not give them a lot of scoring chances.