William Nylander dedicates game-winning goal to Borje Salming.

The hockey world lost a true legend of the sport this week when Swedish hockey pioneer Borje Salming succumbed to the horrible disease known as ALS.

The news came shortly after Salming had made a number of difficult public appearances in order to accept honors from around the hockey world, honors that he unquestionably deserved for his impact on the sport of hockey. It was a moment for Salming to shine bright in spite of the terrible disease that was rapidly stripping his life from him, and although he may be gone he will never be forgotten.

The Maple Leafs, perhaps with an assist from the hockey gods, proved that on Friday night when they took on the Minnesota Wild in what was undoubtedly an emotional game for the Leafs who had learned of Salming's passing just one day earlier. It would be none other than Swedish forward William Nylander who would eventually put the game away for the Maple Leafs, a fitting tribute to Salming in it's own right.

Nylander though would go a step further and dedicated his game winning goal to Salming.

"That goal was for Borje," said Nylander following the game.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe agreed that Nylander scoring the game winner in the team's first game since Salming's passing was fitting, but Keefe also pointed to another curious coincidence related to the late Borje Salming. The night prior to Salming's passing, the Maple Leafs triumphed over the red hot New Jersey Devils, ending their 13 game winning streak, by a score of 2-1.

Salming of course wore #21 for the Maple Leafs.