Finnish shootout win in Nordic derby

Finland keeps on winning in this year's Euro Hockey Tour with a 3-2 win after shootout against Sweden in Stockholm. Just as against Czech Republic Sweden dominated the game but failed to take advantage of the momentum.

In a quite boring first period Finland took the lead with a fluke goal after a shot from just inside the blueline by Pekka Jormakka that Joacim Eriksson saved but failed to hold on to and it bounced in behind. A big mistake by Eriksson who felt very shaky in the first period.

In the second Sweden came out much more detirmined and Oscar Möller had two great chances within the first thirty second, he didn't score then but three minutes later he found the net from the left wing. After nice cross pass by Joakim Lindström he beat Pekka Rinne high while Jimmie Ericsson did a great job disturbing Rinne in front of him.

Sweden clearly had the momentum of the second period but two penalties in a row shifted the momentum and Finland retook the lead late in the period when Atte Ohtamaa found the net with a powerful shot from the top off the face off circle.

In the third period the game lost some energy and Finland played very tight and didn't allow Sweden to create so many chances for the tying goal but with four minutes left Möller fired home his second goal of the game when he was given the chance in the slot after some good Swedish forechecking.

The rest of the third period and the overtime was entertaining with coast to coast hockey and physical play but no goals were scored and the game went to a shootout where we saw a lot of misses and saves but at last Iiro Pakkarinen scored the game winner for Finland and Finlands will play a decisive game for tournament win tomorrow.

Finland is on the winning track before the upcoming World Championship even if they don't play at their best, and with a good goalie in Pekka Rinne it could be a good WC for Finland. For Sweden the question marks are many especially with goaltending. However Sweden seems to have a relly good PP.

Finland's goalie Pekka Rinne was pleased with the win, "It was a great win for us. I think Sweden played very good and forced us to defend", he said. However he was unpleased with one thing "We can't give up the tying goal like that with four minutes left, otherwise we played very well".

Sweden's coach Pär Mårts didn't feel so dissappointed with the lost and said it felt so good it can do after a loss. "We had enough chances to win the game but they had a good goalie", he said.

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