Sweden beats U.S., 4-2, in semifinals
U.S. team ‘felt so strong,’ says loss ‘blindsided us’
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sweden reminded the United States how difficult it is to earn a medal at the world junior hockey championship.
Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves and Sweden had a threegoal third period to beat the defending champion Americans, 4-2, on Thursday in the semifinals.
Sweden will face the CanadaCzech Republic winner in the title game Friday night.
“You have a chance to win gold. You have nothing to lose,” Swedish coach Tomas Moten said. “We have the silver medal already, so you go for the win. You go for the gold.”
Elias Pettersson, Lias Andersson, Oskar Steen and Axel Jonsson Fjallby scored for Sweden, which has not trailed in any game during the tournament. Linus Lindstrom had two assists.
With the expected No. 1 pick in this year’s National Hockey League draft, defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, and several other top prospects on the roster, the Swedes believe they have the talent to claim their first gold medal since 2012. Sweden finished fourth each of the last three years after finishing second in ’13 and ’14. “We have every chance to win gold,” Dahlin said. “We’re so excited about tomorrow.”
The U.S. was trying to become the first country to win back-toback gold medals since Canada claimed five straight from 200509. The Americans have never won a gold medal on home ice.
“This one blindsided us because we felt so strong with how we were going,” U.S. coach Bob Motzko said. “We had a vampire suck it out of us today. It just tells you how tough it is.”
Kieffer Bellows and Brady Tkachuk scored late goals for the U.S. after Sweden built a 4-0 lead midway through the third period.
“The goal at the beginning of the tournament when everything starts is gold medal,” Bellows said. “But I know we have to push this behind us and get ready for the bronze medal game. We’re doing this for the team in the locker-room and USA Hockey as a whole.”
The U.S. controlled the action for much of the first two periods before Pettersson’s power-play goal put Sweden ahead 1-0 with 6:30 left in the second.
With U.S. defenceman Dylan Samberg in the penalty box for high-sticking, Pettersson, the Vancouver Canucks’ No. 5 overall pick last year, received a pass in the left faceoff circle from Buffalo Sabres 2016 first-round selection Alex Nylander and one-timed a slap shot over Woll’s shoulder into the far corner of the net.
Nylander’s assist gave him 28 career points at the world juniors, equalling father Michael Nylander for fourth on Sweden’s career list.
Gustavsson’ preserved the lead when stopped U.S. forward Casey MIttelstadt on a 3-on-0 breakaway in the final minute of the second period. Mittlestadt, the Sabres’ most recent firstround pick, entered the game leading the tournament with 10 points. Andersson made it 2-0 when he tapped in his sixth goal of the tournament.