MENU
In a dramatic finish to an all-important game where the winner would advance to the semi-finals, Daniel Lundman scored the winning goal in the seventh shootout round to bring victory to Sweden. It was a heartbreaking finish for the Americans, who had led 3-1 after two periods.
Penalties: 7:4. PP goals: 1:2. SH goals: 0:0.
Referees: Štefik, Stano – Konc ml., Vyšný. Attendance: 348.
Report
Big game, great drama. The Swedes wanted to get the job done and clinch a semi-final spot after last year's succesful bronze medal game. However, the U.S. team was better at the outset outset. Helge Grans was send to the penalty box after less then two minutes of the play and Alex Gaffney opened the scoring with a power-play goal from the rebound.
Tre Kronor's equalizer came at 16:23. Zion Nybeck got the puck at the blue line after the face-off and made it 1-1 with the bar-down wrister. The Americans did well offensively at the start of the second period and the effort paid off. The first goal came from Ryan Kirwan, who beat Jesper Wallstedt with a quick slapper from the right cirle.
They inscreased their lead just two minutes later on a great pass from Donald Kempf to Matthew Samoskevich. The Swedes were struggling but they did not give up.
Two goals just 72 seconds apart tied the game. Oskar Olausson came up with a power-play goal and Daniel Ljungman beat Louden Hogg at the near side. But the Americans regained the lead when Noah Ellis went with a slapper from the point halfway through the third period.
However, the Americans made mistakes in defensive zone and created chances for the Scandinavian team to get back in the game. William Eklund showed great skill with the puck and scored on a brilliant individual effort.
Both teames were heading to overtime. The biggest chance to score came from Ljungman but Jacob Ratzlaff took it from him with a great defensive play. In the shootout, the USA got goals from Cross Hanas and Mark Estapa, while the Swedes replied with strikes Grans, Ljungman. The deciding goal came in the seventh round from a determined Daniel Ljungman with a quick wrister. The Swedes beat the USA 5-4 to reach the semi-finals.