WOLVES COME UP SHORT IN NASH/LUNDQVIST DEBUT

Thunder Bay, ON- With the very recent acquisition of Rick Nash (pictured) and Henrik Lundqvist, Canadian National Gardens was buzzing on Sunday as the Timberwolves welcomed the Budapest Honved to Thunder Bay.

>>>Rick Nash did not look worn down from the trade and travel and was announced after the morning skate as the 2nd line right-winger. Taking the place of an injured Ales Hemsky.

>>>What was not clear though even after the morning skate was if Lundqvist would be ready to start immediately. Both he and Brian Elliott spent extra time in practise with goaltending coach, Felix Potvin and the typical nod to the media of who starts by who leaves the ice first still wasn't clear when Elliott stepped off first but returned and then Lundqvist led the pair to the dressing room.

>>>But as the warm-up progressed, it became clear that Lundqvist would start.

>>>Lundqvist looked sharp early and some of the butterflies dissipated when Patrick Sharp gave him a small cushion at 8:12 for the Thunder Bay-native's 9th of the season off a break-away goal on Evgeni Nabokov.

>>>Dainius Zubrus tied things up at 16:07 for Honved. A 1-1 score would hold into the first intermission.

>>>"Thought we all played a little tight," said Sharp between periods. "We've been jacked up since Nash and Lundqvist got here. But we have to settle things down and get into a groove of executing our game and keeping them on their heels."

>>>The Timberwolves were not on their 'A' game in the 2nd period. After outshooting Budapest 13-6 in the 1st, Honved countered by outshooting Thunder Bay 13-5. Lundqvist let in one at 7:11 off a hard point shot from Niklas Kronwall.

>>>Thunder Bay lost the lead and the game then as they were unable to counter themselves and Budapest scored a 3rd in the third to finish off the Timberwolves 3-1.

>>>"Obviously not the outcome we wanted," said coach, Ryan McGill. "Thought we played pretty even most of the game. But we gave them too many chances and they made the best of them."

>>>"Felt good to get out there," said Nash. "I was pretty nervous. Probably not this nervous since my first pro game. Of course the end result isn't want we wanted. But it was a nice to one under my belt and start to develop some chemistry with these guys."

>>>"I had my legs and was physically ready to go," said Lundqvist. "But they got some lucky bounces and I gave up a really bad rebound on that first one. Otherwise I felt great and the communication was great."

>>>The Timberwolves next game is Tuesday at home against their provincial-rival, Niagara Falls Thunder.

>>>

>>>3-STARS

>>>

>>>*Niklas Kronwall (BUD) - Game-winning goal

>>**Evgeni Nabokov (BUD) - 1 goal against and 32 saves

>***Patrick Sharp (THU) - Goal