U18: Team USA completes the Golden hat-trick, silver again to Sweden

Team USA overcame a two goals deficit and completed a hattrick. It won in Fargo 2009, Minsk 2010 and in Crimmitschau 2011.

It was a great game from the start, team Sweden was slightly better and gained a lead 1-0 after Filip Forsberg`s shot. The Swedes drew two penalties in the 1st period and the latter one brought an equalizer. Just 8 seconds before the end of the period Jacob Trouba fired a shot from the blue line and Swedish goalie Niklas Lundström did not see the puck at all.

The 2nd period was very equal and either team could score. Anton Blomkvist`s blue liner put Swedes ahead and then a marvelous pass from the own zone by Johansson put Gustav Björklund to a breakaway and his goal gave Sweden a 3-1 lead.


Albin Blomkvist celebrates his goal to 1:2

Team USA came back within one goal shortly after the start of the 3rd period after a shot by Connor Murphy. With 99 seconds to go Reid Boucher tied the game when Swedish goalie Lundström allowed a goal which could be counted on his expenses.


Reid Boucher ties the game to 3:3

In overtime both teams played quite cautiously. In the 65th minute Grimaldi tried to push himself in front of Lundström and the referees made a call on Swedish captain Oscar Klefbom. It was a very tough call and drew many Swedish protests. "I did not think it was a penalty, it was the referees’ choice. I had to accept that," sad Swedish captain said after the game.

Sweden worked hard in the defence and killed the penalty but two seconds later USA scored a winner. Connor Murphy took a shot from the left circle, it was blocked by Karl Johansson, but a repeated shot was deflected from the upper bar behind the goal line. "I knew any shot is a good shot so I shot again right away through on net, I knew I have to get it high, because a goalie was already on his knees. It was amazing," said the American hero Connor Murphy, who scored also the goal to cut the Swedish lead to 2-3. "Oh really? I do not even remember that," he smiled. "That was three unbelievable weeks with great guys, who sacrificed one for another and won the gold," he said.

Oscar Klefbom had the silver medal on his neck but tears in his eyes. "We played a very good game, but USA was better. We scored some great goals, but you can never count the USA out, they always come back. Unfortunately they scored the last goal also today," he said.

The United States defended their title from last year as they beat Sweden again in the finals. "We did not speak much about last year`s loss. We tried not to speak about bad things, there was just one small comment about it. I am very sad now, but things will move on," commented Oscar Klefbom.

Final
USA-Sweden 4-3 (1-1, 0-2, 2-0, 1-0)
Goals: 20. Trouba, 42. and 67. Murphy, 59. Boucher - 4. Forsberg, 33. Blomkvist, 38. Björklund


Team USA after the victory

 

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