 Sweden send the reigning World Champions USA to the bronze medal match by winning the semi final after penalty shots.
The game was very tight and even after over time it was 5-5. In the penalty shots only Brad Parsons succeeded to make a goal. In the Sweden team Marcus Weinstock and Mathias Luukkonen scored. Sweden went to final by scores 6-5.
The first period was even more controlled hockey than expected. Both teams concentrated in defence and they scored only once on power play. Even the saves of the goalies were almost even. Sweden´s Peter Hermansson got eight saves and the colleague Jeff Reynaert had seven saves.
The second period was like the first until Sweden scored twice in the last minute. USA was first time leading the match in the beginning of the second period when the first timer in World Championships, Christopher Popescu scored.
Before the last minute the match was 3-3. But in the last minute both Rickard Wallin and Björn Östlund scored and in the half time Sweden was leading 5-3.
To the third period USA came very consentrated. USA scored twice. The first goal was power play goal. The second one game right after winning a face off. The goal was made by Derek Kern.
After three periods the game was 5-5.
Because there were no goals in the fourth period though Sweden had two power plays, the teams went to over time. After the scoreless over time the match continued with penalty shots.
The first shooter Marcus Weinstock and Brad Parsons scored, but after that only Sweden´s Mathias Luukkonen scored as a fourth shooter. That ment that Sweden is a Final team and they just waited Czhec Republic or Finland to be their opponent. |
