Sedin’s magic takes Sweden to the final

The classice semi final match up between Finland and Sweden was a strange game that never really got going. There were some shifts in momentum for but for the most of it was Finland that had most of the puck control, but without being able to create any really hot chances. For Sweden it was almost only the line with Henrik and Daniel Sedin together with Loui Eriksson that was able to create some pressure against the Finnish net, but once they did they really put pressure on the Finns.

"We have first line that can produce, they are the ones who do it. You can see what kind of respect they have", Henrik Tallinder said praising the Sedin line.

"We didn't play well enought to have the chance to win the game", Finland's Niklas Hagman said after the game. His teammate Marko Anttila had a short analysis, "They had a good power play, they scored, we didn't".

And just as in the quarter final against Canada it was the power play magic of the Sedin's, especially Henrik Sedin who made a great job assisting on both 1-0 and 2-0 and at the end he made the finally score 3-0 hitting the open net from the neutral zone.

Sweden took control from the start and with help of two power plays they clearly took over the momentum. Halfway through the first period Henrik Sedin tried to pass the puck in front of goal on Sweden's power play, the puck bounced off Loui Eriksson giving Sweden the important first goal. A bit lucky but Sweden set up a good power play to give them the goal. Finland also got two power play chances at the end of the first but Sweden and Enroth played well and held on to a 1-0 lead after the first period.

In the second period it was a lot more Team Finland who carried the momentum for most of the period but they failed to create any danger against the Swedish net and Jhonas Enroth played really solid in the Swedish net and when Sweden got a power play late in the period it was time for the Sedin show again. Henrik Sedin held the puck in the Gretzky position behind the net for a few seconds before finding Loui Eriksson in the slot and Eriksson ripping it home in the upper corner for a 2-0 lead for Sweden.

"You have to look up to the defender and then put it in front. Usually it's Daniel who is there but this time it was Loui and it worked out well", Henrik said about the 2-0 goal.

In the third Finland tried desperately but failed to create the really hot chances and when they got some decent ones he stood there calmly, Jhonas Enroth, putting up save after save and didn't really let any rebounds go. Enroth made 30 saves for his second shutout of the tournament. "He is so calm. You can sit down on the bench when they get a chance because you know that he will save", Henrik Sedin said about his goalie.

Enroth was very solid. Photo: Michal Eger

After a hard start to the tournament with some heavy critics against the team Sweden is now only one game from being the first home team winning a WC title since 1986.

"It will be incredibly fun. Now we will do everything to win", Loui Eriksson said about playing a WC final at home ice.

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