Sweden beats Norway in half full Globe Arena

"I'm not surprised", says Sweden's Henrik Zetterberg regarding the low attendance figures. "With those prices. It's a pity."

Norway was close to a chock start when they had a great chance on a early four on four situation. But after the first few minutes Sweden took over the game even if Norway had dangerous counter attacks. Sweden's first line with three Detroit players started well for Sweden and put heavy pressure against the Norwegian net. Sweden continued to have a lot of puck in the first period but didn't create many chances.

The game got some more energy when Henrik Zetterberg was tackled by a Norwegian defender into the Norwegian goalkeeper Lars Haugen. A small brawl erupted and strangely enough Zetterberg was penalized for charging together with Tollefsen and Alfredsson for roughing. Only 22 seconds later Mats Trygg was sent off for a hooking. And just 22 seconds into the power play Jakob Silfverberg found the upper corner after a nice assist from NHL's top scoring defender Erik Karlsson.


Erik Karlsson, here one step behind KA Olimb
Photo: Roman Kucera

The referees didn't had control of the game and the first period had 24 penalty minutes, many of them due to late whistles from the refs and some of them obviously incorrect, you would expect better officiating at a World Championship. "It feels like we're playing basketball, foul on all body contact", Henrik Zetterberg said to Swedish tv in the first intermission.

In the second period it only took Norway twenty seconds to tie the game with a shot from Mads Hansen that didn't look unstoppable. Luckily for Sweden it only took two minutes to retake the lead. Or perhaps you shouldn't speak about luck because it was a very beautiful goal when Niklas Hjalmarsson went on the offense and played a backhand pass that gave his Chicago team mate Marcus Krüger an open net for 2-1.

After the 2-1 goal the goal got some energy and not much happened until Sweden had a great attack after around 12 minutes when they played in offensive zone for over one minute and were very close to 3-1. About a minute later Loui Eriksson was even more closer when his wrist shot hit the post. Norway's best chance of the period came shorthanded when Martin Røymark almost skated clear, he seemed to be a bit hooked but perhaps the referee had taken enough penalties today. The score after two periods was 2-1 and Sweden seemed to have control of the game with but Norway created to some late chances to show that they were still in the game.


Juha Kaunismäki and Victor Hedman
Photo: Roman Kucera

Sweden added a second power play goal when Loui Eriksson beat Haugen with a high shot from a bad angle. Shortly after Norway got a chance on the power play, then Sweden got a great chance to close the game but Zetterberg missed the breakaway. The rest of the game mostly felt like a wait for the final buzzer even if Norway managed to creat a couple of chances. But no more goals were scored and the final score was 3-1 to Sweden.

Even if Sweden won it was some bad news for the team as well Fredrik Pettersson and Jonathan Ericsson both the left the game injured. Pettersson with a broken arm and his tournament is over. For Ericsson it was just a precaution and he could be back for tomorrow's game.

Swedish head coach Pär Mårts comments to the game: "The opening game is the most difficult. It was a close game but we was the better team and I'm satisfied".

The opponent coach was also happy with his team. "We're satisfied with our start to the tournament", Roy Johansen said.

Norwegian goalie Lars Haugen made 44 saves: "It's a fun game playing Sweden in Sweden. We played quite good but didn't have the luck we need to beat such a good team".

"They battled all the way to the end. Tough to score on", says Niklas Hjalmarsson who set up Markus Krüger's goal in style.

"We lost last year and we won this year, of course that feels better. Small details decide the game. We will hopefully get better as the tournament proceeds", says Jakob Silfverberg.

 

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