Sweden beats the Czech Republic 4-1

This was the game where you for the first time in Stockholm could feel that the World Championship has started and the Swedish fans created a great atmosphere already from the start. And the arena exploded just 2:42 into the game when Johan Franzén scored 1-0. The goal was scored after Jakub Stepanek made a brilliant save on first Swedish chance but Franzén could score in a chaotic situation after the save. The Czechs wanted to get the goal disallowed as Franzén tackled a Czech defender over Stepanek who had no chance to save it. "I believed the first goal should not be allowed", Czech coach Alois Hadamczik said on the post game press conference but added "But I think Sweden was one step ahead of us and I congratulate them to the victory.


The Swedish 1-0 goal
Photo: Roman Kucera

"Fantastic, a really good atmosphere", Niklas Kronwall said about that is was more home fans here today (10 076). "This is this way it should be", he added. "It felt like night and day" (compared with yesterday), Swedish goalie Viktor Fasth commented.

The goal gave the Swedes a great momentum and especially the first line played well and had good chances to make it 2-0. Loui Eriksson had the best one but didn't hit the puck properly when he had the net half open. The Swedes did a very good work of getting the puck through to neutral zone and create quick attacks against the net while the Czechs didn't get many organized attacks at all.

Sweden "only" had 1-0 after the first period but it only took 50 seconds for Sweden to double the lead after a bad mistake by Jakub Stepanek. Niklas Kronwall took a shot from the corner that Stepanek didn't manage to stop at the near post. After the goal it felt like Sweden was a complete control of the game but the Czechs came in some dangerous counter attacks and had one puck almost dancing on the goal line at the end of the second period just when they became full strength after a good Swedish power play.

Sweden should have got an early goal also early in the third period Gabriel Landeskog some how managed to miss a wide open net from two meters when his backhand shot went wide. It was bad Czech line change that gave Viktor Stålberg the chance, Stepanek saved it made dropped the puck behind him but Landeskog couldn't take advantage of it and instead just seconds later Fasth let a bad rebound loose on the other end and Jakub Petruzalek could put the Czechs on the scoreboard and back into the game.

"That is something that happens", Fasth said about the goal. "It felt good, we played good defensively", Fasth added and gave himself a three on a five graded scale for his effort.

For a couple of minutes after the goal it felt uncertain which way the game would take, if Sweden would take back the initiative or if the Czechs would start an offensive to tie the game but then the Swedish fans started to the wave around the arena and carried forward by the fans Joel Lundqvist deflected a shot by Niklas Persson for 3-1 at 10:24. A well deserved goal for Lundqvist who did a very good game, doing a great work on defense killing penalties but also on offense.


Joel Lundqvist was one of the best players tonight
Photo: Roman Kucera

"The feeling was that it hit the bar", Lundqvist said about the goal after the game, "but I saw on the replay that it was a goal. I try to play my own game and play physical. That's the way I like to play. You don't know how many chances you get to experience a World Championship at home so you just have to enjoy it", a happy Lundqvist added. The rest of the game was a formality the Czechs pulled the goalie but Niklas Persson made the final score 4-1 on the open net.

For Sweden 19 year old Jonas Brodin made a very good WC debute on defense. "He plays incredibly mature", Niklas Kronwall said about his effort. Brodin himself said "I only want to play my game. I couldn't believe I would be here before the start of this season" and about Sweden's effort. "We play well, a small dip in the second period, otherwise it was good".

The Swedish head coach Pär Mårts was pleased "Czech Republic is the team we have had most trouble with this season. We took a decision to play this game our way and I think we controlled the game from start to finish. We can play better but I'm happy". And he has all reason to be starting the championship with two consecutive wins after losing six games in a row before the tournament. For the Czechs it seems like Alois Hadamczik has a lot to think about if his team should be a contender in this tournament.

 

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