EHT: Sweden wins Oddset Hockey Games

Sweden won Oddset Hockey Games after beating Finland in the final game 3-1. Sweden was the better team for most of the game but Finland played very well during ten minutes in the third period and almost tied the game but Joel Lundqvist's 3-1 goal with 1:49 left killed the game.

Finland's coach Jukka Jalonen admitted that Sweden was the better team, "We played well in the first period but in the rest of the game Sweden was the better team, especially in the second period".

Finland had problems before the game with both goalies ill before the game so they had to fly in Joel Ortio as a replacement in goal. Finland started best and had a few early chances but Sweden come back in an even first period and tested Ortio on a few occasions but Ortio did well and the score was 0-0 after the first period, the third game in a row for Sweden with a goalless first period.

Sweden had the best chance of the game eight minutes into the second period when Robert Rosén had an open net from a few meters range but the Finns somehow managed to stop the puck from going in. After the goal Sweden had a long pressure against the Finnish net. Danielsson had another great chance for Sweden on a breakaway but Ortio continued to play very well and stopped the backhand attempt.


Sweden on the attack (Photo: Roman Kucera)

At 15:59 Sweden finally took the lead after a long pressure against the Finnish goal. Silfverberg took the puck into offensive zone on the power play and fed Staffan Kronwall who beat Ortio with a hard and high slapshot from the blueline.

Sweden continued to play well in the third but Finland were dangerous on counter attacks and with only a 1-0 lead Sweden couldn't feel safe. But at 5:52 the second goal came to give Sweden some breathing room. During a delayed penalty call Nicklas Danielsson faked a slapshot and instead he passed the puck Jonas Andersson who scored on the open net with Ortio moving out from the goal to stop the shot that never came.

Not long after the goal it was another penalty called against Finland, this time Sweden didn't score on the delayed penalty and instead Finland scored shorthanded when Janne Pesonen a bit luckily stole the puck and found the hole between Fasth's pads.

Finland had a great chance to tie the game halfway through the third with a breakaway for Joensuu, but Viktor Fasth made a great save with his leg. Finland now felt like they had a great chance of turning the game around and win the tournament and played with confidence and created many chances. Janne Pesonen got another breakaway but Fasth saved it again.

"It was a great game", Fasth said after the game. "It feels really good to win the game and the tournament". But as usual he didn't want to talk so much about his own importance "We win like a team and lose like a team".

Finland continued to hunt the equalizer but with 1:49 left to play Joel Lundqvist scored the decisive 3-1 goal on a nice invidiual effort. Stealing the puck skating around the goal and scoring with a backhand shot. "I think we controlled the game, we lost it a bit in the third but Fasth has closed the goal", Lundqvist said after the game.

Sweden head coach Pär Mårts was pleased with his team's effort and said "It was very fun to stand at the bench and see the players perform such a good ice hockey. I think we are much better. Of course I would like to take the lead with some more goals but it's good to win despite we got a bit shaky at the end". When it came to player critics Pär Mårts said "Ekholm has been brilliant, Hjalmarsson fantastic in box play. Joel (Lundqvist) is a warrior".

Sweden won the tournament before the Czech Republic with Russia in third place and Finland in last place. Voted on the Media All Star Team was Viktor Fasth, Ossi Väänenen, Mattias Ekholm, Juhamatti Aaltonen, Yevgeny Kuznetsov and Nicklas Danielsson. Viktor Fasth was given the best goalkeeper award and was also given the MVP award. Mattias Ekholm got the best defender award and Juhamatti Aaltonen got the best forward award.

Ekholm was pleased with his own effort "The first game wasn't so good for the team but I still felt I played well" After being the last scratch before the World Championship last year he hopes he will get a place this year. "But it depends on which players that comes from NHL" he said.

 

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