ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, Sweden – Peter Forsberg has crashed a few nets in his time, but on Monday, he - together with a lifelong buddy, Markus Näslund - crashed the Modo Hockey web server when it was announced that both of them would return to the team this season.

Forsberg played three games early in the season, collecting four points (three goals), before taking a timeout, and to heal from a stress fracture in his foot. Näslund, on the other hand, retired from hockey after last season, and has followed Modo’s struggles this season as a board member of the club.

“I will do everything in my power to get back in game shape, and I hope I can contribute to the team’s success, but I’m sure everybody understands that you can’t just jump in and dominate the league,” Näslund says. “I’m looking forward to playing with Modo again and of course, the fact that Peter and I can do this together, makes it even more special.”

Forsberg and Näslund also announced that they would play the remainder of the season without pay.

“They truly have pure Modo hearts, and the club will naturally see if there’s a way to reward them if the teams plays really well,” said Fredrik Andersson, Modo’s director of hockey operations.

Modo is currently dead last in the Elitserien standings, with 16 points in 19 games, and nine points from the last playoff spot, held by Brynäs, their opponent tonight.

In 2003, Peter Forsberg won the NHL scoring title with 106 points. Markus Näslund was second, 104 points.

The two 36-year-old Örnsköldsvik natives haven’t played together since the 2004 World Cup. The last time they played together in a club team was in 1993 when they dominated the Modo offence as 19-year-olds.

Forsberg is considered a candidate for the Vancouver Olympics.

RISTO PAKARINEN