Europe edges Sweden to reach World Cup final

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.

Tomas Tatar scored his second goal 3:43 into overtime, lifting Team Europe to a 3-2 win Sunday over Sweden 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-on-best tournaments.

That’s just the way the Europeans like it.

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.

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

Halak made 37 saves against Sweden.

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

On the game-winner, Lundqvist got caught out of position after trying to play a puck behind the net.

Mats Zuccarello sent the puck from the left boards toward the net and Tatar stuffed it into the net from the right side.

As Lundqvist lay on the ice with his head down, the Europeans huddled up in the right corner and bounced on their skates to celebrate before shaking hands with the stunned Swedes.