Euro win is Swede

Tatar OT stunner ends it

TORONTO — Tomas Tatar scored his second goal 3:43 into overtime to give Team Europe a 3-2 victory over Sweden on Sunday in the World Cup of Hockey semifinals.

The eight-nation European team will begin a best-of-three series against Canada on Tuesday night.

Europe will be heavy underdogs against the host Canadians, who have won two straight Olympic gold medals and 14 consecutive games in best-onbest tournaments.

That’s just the way the Europeans like it, because they know they wouldn’t even have an opportunity to compete against Canada for their individual countries.

“This is our chance to go far in a tournament like this,” Norway’s Mats Zuccarello said. “I think we just cherish that moment and this chance.”

Few, if anyone, expected the roster of players from the continent’s non-traditional hockey powers to be among the final two in the event created by the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association.

Everybody, though, with at least a passing interest in the sport would recognize at least some of the players who started Sunday’s game: Anze Kopitar, Marian Hossa and Zdeno Chara.

“You put all those countries together, there’s lots of good players there,” Canadian coach Mike Babcock said.

And with goaltender Jaroslav Halak, the Europeans seem to have a shot to stun Canada.

Halak made 37 saves against Sweden. “We wouldn’t be here without fabulous goaltending,” Europe coach Ralph Krueger said.

Henrik Lundqvist, who helped the Swedes win gold at the 2006 Olympics, made 28 saves. He had a shot to prevent both of Tatar’s goals.

On the winner, Lundqvist got caught out of position after playing the puck behind his net.

Zuccarello sent the puck from the left boards toward the net and Tatar stuffed it in from the right side. The score stood after a video review.

“I knew I didn’t do a kicking motion, so I was hoping they were going to see it on the replay,” Tatar said.

The Europeans bounced on their skates in jubilation after the goal.