Late-game Swedish attack results in world junior quarterfinal win over Finland
After struggling for most of the game to hold any sustained pressure, Sweden managed to score two goals late to beat Finland 3-2 in the first quarterfinal game on Monday.
Sweden will await their opponent for Wednesday’s semifinal, guaranteeing a chance at a medal after winning bronze in August.
The Finns had full control of the start of the game, taking a 5-0 shot advantage early on. At 3:10, Oliver Kapanen scored after taking Joakim Kemell’s feed in front, with Kapanen making no mistake on a shot over Carl Lindbom.
With just over three minutes to go in the period, the Swedes tied it up on just their second shot of the game. This time, Filip Bystedt forced a turnover and got it to Ludvig Jansson, who fired it towards the Finnish net. Leo Carlsson, a top 2023 draft prospect, was there to direct it past Jani Lampinen, giving Sweden some much-needed reprieve after a tough start to the game.
The second period was much more competitive, but the goaltenders took center stage. Lampinen, who didn’t start the game against USA, stopped all nine shots sent his way, while Lindbom was excellent with nine saves.
But after a scoreless second, the Finns started strong with a goal in the third. This time, Niko Huuhtanen beat Lindbom with a perfectly placed wrister under the glove after Verner Miettinen set him up.
The Swedes couldn’t seem to make anything work for most of the third period. That all changed at 56:33 when Carlsson got his second of the day, once again banging the puck in close to tie it up.
A late-game penalty to Fabian Lysell – one that would go until the final buzzer – looked to have sunk Sweden’s chances. Instead, Victor Stjernborg scored with 1:05 left in regulation, forcing a shorthanded breakaway to make it 3-2 – shocking the fans in Halifax with the winning goal.
Three Stars
- Leo Carlsson, F (Sweden, 2023): Carlsson was the difference-maker with two goals for a Swedish forward group that couldn’t get anything done in the first 55 minutes.
- Carl Lindbom, G (Sweden, Vegas): With 33 saves, he was busy all game and kept his team in it.
- Jani Lampinen, G (Finland, 2023): There was only so much he could do in that one. Two goals in close and another on a breakaway – otherwise, a solid effort by Lampinen.