Friberg’s double takes Sweden to final after drama

Friberg’s double takes Sweden to final after drama

04 Jan 2012 | Fredrik Pålsson
 

Sweden came from behind again to beat Finland after penalty shootout in a very dramatic semi final game at the World Juniors.

 
 
 
 

The semi final between the rivals Sweden and Finland had all you would expect from a a game at the World Juniors. Many shots, great saves, a lot of tackles and a lot of drama.

After two periods Sweden was in big trouble, despite having almost all of the puck possesion they were down 0-2 after two periods. Shots on goal were 34-13 but Sweden couldn't get the puck past Sami Aittokallio in the Finnish goal who despite the fact he looked a bit shaky at times did a very good job stopping the pucks and got a lot of help from his defense clearing the rebounds.

Sweden had a lot of puck and many shots on goal but had problems creating the really good chances and didn't work hard enough in front of goal to get the lucky bounces. The Swedish head coach Roger Rönnberg said to Swedish TV in both intermissions that his team has to work harder in front of the goal.

Finland played very defensively and physically and did it very well but didn't play much in offensive zone. It felt like it was the only the first line with the Granlund's and Pulkkinen that could put some pressure on Sweden but with the usual logic of ice hockey it was neither Sweden nor Finland's first line who opened the scoring.

Instead it was a nice move by Miro Aaltonen who skated down the left flank and from a position behind the goal found Alexander Ruutu with a nice pass, Ruutu scoring with a high shot from close range. In the second period Finland scored a late goal once again, this time it was Joel Armia who stole the puck from Joakim Nordström giving himself a breakaway and making no mistake with the finish. Nordström were upset on the referree for first obstructing his way and then not call a hooking when Armia stole the puck.

But the lucky bounces came for Sweden in the third period, at 3:11 Sweden scored their first goal of the game when Aittokallio left a rebound on a shot from Johan Larsson on the power play, William Karlsson got an open net but missed the puck who instead hit his skate and went between Aittokallio's pads and over the goalline. Perhaps Sweden had deserved some luck after all those attempts on goal.

After the goal Sweden got some more energy for a few minutes but later actually Finland's best part of the game came and they finally got some longer attacking sequences. But the luck would be on Sweden's side once again with less than two minutes left to play, Aittokallio went behind the net to clear the puck but the Swedes made some smart forechecking and Johan Sundström stopped the puck with his hand and found Max Friberg in front of net. Friberg made no mistake on the open net and took the game to overtime with his eighth goal of the tournament.

An unlucky move for the Finnish goalie who finished the game with 55 saves and the best player award for Finland but still felt the loss was his fault. He had to fight hard to keep the tears way in the mixed zone after the game.

“I thought we played really well for most of the game,” said Finland’s Teemu Pulkkinen. “They got one good bounce and were able to tie it up at the end.”

Sweden started the overtime best but Finland finished strong with some good chances at the end, and they should also have had their first power play of the game in the overtime but the referee's closed their eyes for a tripping. Sweden who until they did a good work playing a clean game to avoid penalties.

But the overtime was scoreless and a penalty shootout decided the game. Collberg, Armia and Friberg all scored on the first three shots before Donskoi and Forsberg both missed leaving the super star Mikael Granlund with a must score shot to keep Finland in the game but Granlund missed his deke and left the puck behind and Sweden could celebrate a place in the final.

A big hero for Sweden was Max Friberg with two goals and one assist, after the game he said: "It's strong of us again, but we have to stop giving away deficits". About his penalty shot he added: "I heard everyone booed, then I looked at how he stood and shot between his legs".

The head coach Roger Rönnberg said "It's incredible what a morale this team has in such a hard game for us". "We keep taking the puck to the net and finally we get the luck we need to score" he added on what gave his team the win.

Sweden will now play either Russia or Canada in the final and are hoping to get their second ever gold at the WJC. The first and only being all the way back in 1981.

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