EHT: Sweden wins Czech Hockey Games

27 Apr 2013 | Henrik Lundqvist

With the 1-0 win over the host the Swedish team secured the win of Czech Hockey Games with one day remaining. The winner of the total EHT standings will be decided in the last game between Czech Republic and Russia.

Czech Republic - Sweden 0 - 1

One goal was enough for Sweden to earn the second win of the tournament and the first place of Czech Hockey Games. The 2012/13 Euro Hockey Tour season had been terrible for the Swedes who only had won two out of nine games during the first three tournaments. Even if they win all three games in Czech Hockey Games they will still finish last in the total standings.

For the Czechs the season has been better with a tournament win in Finland at Karjala Tournament. Czech Republic is only two points behind Russia in the total standings and with a win tomorrow they will be the 2012/13 EHT champion.

Swedish heroes in today's game were Pär Arlbrandt who scored the goal off a rebound from a shot by Andreas Jämtin and the goalie Johan Gustafsson who made 30 saves. The Czech netminder Alexander Salak also had a great game with 27 saves. Both were named best players of the game.

The goal was scored at 18:19 after Sweden had had a few great scoring chances. Nine minutes earlier Salak had saved a penalty shot taken by Jonas Andersson.

"I am delighted with the defense. In our own zone it is brilliant", says the Swedish coach Pär Mårts.

Russia - Finland 2 - 1 (SO)

With a win in regulation today Finland would still have a chance to win the Euro Hockey Tour. They were in the lead for 35 minutes but eventually Russia would win the game in the shoot-out.

Game winner was Sergei Mozyakin who was the only player to score in the shoot-out when he beat Joni Ortio in the first round.

Juha-Pekka Hytönen had scored 1-0 for Finland five minutes into the game and Alexei Tereshchenko got the Russian equalizer in the first minute of the third period.