A new six-part docuseries exploring the lives of NHL players, titled “Faceoff: Inside the NHL,” premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 4. The series dives into the personal stories of the remarkable athletes behind the goals, assists, and saves.
Our Short Shifts team will provide recaps of each episode, highlighting our favorite moments from the series.
Episode 1: “Best of Rivals”
Featured players: William Nylander and David Pastrnak
Episode summary: The episode showcases the friendship between Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander and Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak, who were close friends during their junior hockey days in Europe. They now find themselves on opposing sides of one of the fiercest rivalries in both the NHL and sports in general.
Humorous moment: Nylander shared that despite their language barrier—he spoke English while Pastrnak spoke Czech—they developed outstanding on-ice chemistry as teammates. “We couldn’t talk to each other because he couldn’t speak English, I couldn’t speak Czech,” said Nylander. “But we had this amazing chemistry on the ice.”
Touching moments: The episode highlights Pastrnak’s poignant experiences, including the loss of his father at the age of 17 and the support he received from Nylander during tough times. Reflecting on the tragic death of his son Viggo, who lived for only six days in June 2021, Pastrnak expressed his deep emotional journey. “We have been through some hard times in our life,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of cherishing every moment with his healthy daughter Freya.
Notable quote: Discussing his journey in the demanding hockey culture of Toronto, Nylander stated, “I came in here, I was 18 years old. It has taught me a lot… To have that, you’re battling even harder than you were before.”
This is Hockey Life: After an incredible comeback in the Eastern Conference First Round, tying the series with the Bruins, Nylander reflected on the importance of focusing on the next game. “What’s happened in the past doesn’t actually matter. It comes down to this one game,” he said following Game 6.
Relatable moments: After his pivotal performance in Game 6, Nylander still had to walk his dogs. He humorously remarked on the joy they bring him, stating, “That’s why I love the dogs… They don’t care if you played like s—, they don’t care if you played unbelievable, they’re just happy to see you.”