Perfetti shoots Canada into final

At the other end of the ice, Swedish coach Magnus Hävelid sent yesterday's shootout hero, Daniel Ljungman, out to shoot as often as Perfetti did and he shot well again today – but only scored twice.

Perfetti nearly had the game’s first goal at the four minute mark on Canada’s first power play but Wallstedt made a great save. Then the Swedes did make good on their first power play. Ljungman skated in from the point and his initial shot was blocked by Daemon Hunt, but he got back the puck and shot again, finding some room over Tristan Lennox’s glove for his fourth of the tournament.

That was one of only five shots for the Swedes in the opening period as opposed to 10 for Canada, but Wallstedt was a wall, denying Quinton Byfield on a shorthanded attempt and Seth Jarvis with the teams back at even strength.

Perfetti’s first goal came in the first minute of the second period. He took a breakaway pass from Hendrix Lapierre in full flight, skated in, got Wallstedt to commit and beat him high stick side. It was the 10th point for both players.

The game remained tied for less than four minutes, as Hugo Styf unleashed a big slapper from the point through a screen that found the low corner. Then William Eklund nearly gave Sweden a two-goal lead but Lennox robbed him on the backhand.

Perfetti’s second goal came in the 35th minute when a Swedish pointman misplayed the puck at the Canadian blueline and the Canadian sniper was off to the races again. This time he went to the backhand and upstairs in tight to make it 2-2.

For the rest of regulation time, both teams had chances to break the deadlock, especially Canada. Just three minutes after his second goal, Perfetti tried to break loose again but hit Wallstedt in the chest. Indeed every time Perfetti and Lapierre were on the ice, they were dangerous, but the Swedes were well aware of that and made sure they didn’t get free. At the end of the third period, Wallstedt and the Swedes were hanging on for dear life.

The 10-minute overtime period wasn’t chock-full of chances – the shots were only 2-2 – but each team did get a glorious chance. Lapierre streaking down the right wing tried to pick the far post but Wallstedt was quick with the blocker. At the other end, on a wraparound attempt, Erik Hedlund shot high and hit Lennox’s shoulder and the goalpost.

That set the stage for the shootout, where Perfetti gave a legendary performance. Credited with the winning goal, he officially had three goals in the game, which gives him nine for the tournament and a new record of 12 points.

After the last goal, beating Wallstedt just inside the post, the Canadian bench emptied and mobbed Perfetti in both joy and relief. After walking through the group stage with relative ease, the Canadians had their hands full with Sweden in the semi-final, and things are not likely to get easier against Russia in the final.