GOLD FOR SWEDEN!

After a some what shaky first round where they were criticized Sweden are the World Champions after great The first host to win the World Championship since 1986. Switzerland started the final clearly best but it the end it was a well deserved win for Sweden even if the game was much tighter than the numbers say.

"We have been questioned but we performed when it was needed", one of the surprises on the Swedish team Petter Granberg said. "Winning the last game of the season and the World Championship, it can't be any better", Joel Lundqvist commented on his feelings.

And what a final it was, it was two teams that played entertaining hockey.Switzerland came out very strong from the start and pressured the Swedish defence to several mistakes in the first minutes. And the powerful Swiss start paid off with an early lead at 4:45 when Roman Josi was easily allowed to skate through the Swedish defence beating Jhonas Enroth with a low backhand shot.

The Swiss domination was complete and it took Sweden eight minutes to get a real attempt on goal but on the second game the was suddenly tied when Erik Gustafsson scored his first ever goal for Team Sweden when he picked up a rebound and scored from close range. Good traffic with two players in front gave Sweden that goal. And three minutes later Sweden was suddenly on the lead when Henrik Sedin scored another power play goal for Sweden since his arrival, finishing of the play on volley from just a few inches out. Despite a brilliant start to the game the Swiss were suddenly down 1-2.

"It's insane", Sweden's first goal scorer Erik Gustafsson said. "I watched this on tv when I was young and now I've been a part of this my self", the player from Njurunda (just as Fredrik Modin and Henrik Zetterberg) said.

In the second period Sweden came out stronger and was close to 3-1 on a couple of occassions especially when the Sedin line was on the ice. The Swiss didn't play as powerful as in the first but always had quick attacks and also had some chances but no goals were scored in the period.

7:13 into the third period Sweden went up to a two goal lead when Gabriel Landeskog stole the puck from Vauclair on the Swiss blueline and raced clear, Gerber saved his attempt but only to see Simon Hjalmarsson punching in the rebound from close range.

"The whole tournament we played really solid in our own zone but today there were some things that we didn't do as good as before and they don't need much", Raphael Diaz said about giving the Swedes too many chances.

"It was really satisfying even it felt kind of safe before as well", Hjalmarsson said about scoring 3-1. "They only had one defender left so I followed up and the puck bounced out and it was just to push it in he said about the goal" adding about the feelings at the end of the game "The last two minutes was a wonderful feeling when you could just enjoy it".

After that goal Switzerland was never close to come back into the game and with 4:23 left to play Sweden made a some what lucky 4-1 goal when the puck bounced off Loui Eriksson's skate, after another smart assist by Henrik Sedin. One minute later Henrik Sedin completely secured the gold medals with an empty net goal from his own zone.

The Swedes will celebrate all nigh long but Switerland should be very please by their performance here showing that they are the best TEAM in this tournament, but the Swedish super stars were too good this time.

Even if the Swiss should be proud they were of course very dissappointed after the game "We maybe pushed to hard", Ryan Gardner said who didn't want to talk about being happy for silver "Losing today was not what we wanted. We don't play to lose but looking back I guess we will be proud".

The World Champions. Photo Michal Eger

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