Sweden wins it in the third period

15 May 2013 | Fredrik Pålsson

Sweden concluded the preliminary round by beating Denmark 4-2 after a weak performance for two periods saved by three goals in the third period. Martin Thörnberg had two goals and the Sedin twins scored one goal each in their first game.

The Sedins was big factor when Sweden defeated Denmark in Daniel's and Henrik's first game at the World Championship. After two shaky and weak periods Sweden finally got some kind of performance going in the third to win the game.

In the first period Sweden look just as nervous as in the previous games and played very bad and had problems with their passing play. The Danes made a decent first period and had th best and Denmark also opened the scoring at 7:40 when Kirill Starkov found Morten Madsen with a pass through the crease, Madsen took a lot of time with his finish and made no mistake.

In the second Denmark seemed to play a bit more defensively giving more room for the Swedish offense and 4:30 into the second period Daniel Sedin marked his arrival by tying the game. Loui Eriksson held the puck behind the net for a few seconds before finding Daniel in front of goal, who just placed it pass by Galbraith.

"It's always pleasant to score", Daniel Sedin commented after the game. "It was a good face off play and Loui was cool behind the net", he said about the goal. "It was ok, a bit ununsual at the beginning but it feels good", he said about his own performance.

You would believe that the goal would give some energy but instead it was Denmark who came out more offensively again and took over the game again and only the Swedish first line was able to put up some good offensive play. And with four minutes left of the period Starkov gave Denmark the lead again when he deflected a shot from Morten Green into the upper corner during a delayed penalty call.

Markström had to work hard in net. Photo: Michal Eger

"When we are playing our defensive game they didn't have much to come up with", Morten Green said about the game and concluded the tournament "Very good tournament, seven good games by us".

With Daniel scoring in the first Henrik Sedin didn't want to be worse and only 22 seconds into the third period he tied the game taking the puck around Galbraith. And just over one minute later Sweden was suddenly in the lead when Martin Thörnerg got the puck in the slot and smashed it home for 3-2.

Henrik Sedin's 2-2. Photo: Michal Eger

A relief for Sweden with two early goals and halfway through the period Sweden decided the game when Martin Thörnberg scored his second goal after one of Sweden's few fast attacks in the tournament leaving Thörnberg all alone and scoring between the pads.

"They almost had a new team. They needed some time to get the things together and in the third period they show what a good team they are", Morten Madsen said about his Swedish opponents and added "They can all the way".

Sweden is now facing Canada in the quarter finals and will be big underdogs, maybe that fits this team better than playing under the favourite pressure.

"We are underdogs. It's the team you have to beat to win the championship. We should just do our best. Play tigth denfensively and go on counter attacks", Henrik Tallinder said about the quarter final.

After the game Denmark's head coach Per Bäckman was honoured with the best player award for Denmark, a great geisture for the Swedish coach that are leaving Denmark after five years. "He has been with us for five year and it has been a very good cooperation. He has meant a lot for us", Green said about Bäckman.