Sweden goes for gold

Sweden returns to a gold medal decision 8 years after Turin by beating Finland in a tight game decided by a shot of Erik Karlsson, again the lethal weapon for Par Marts team

The first semifinal begins to become interesting off the ice when the official line-ups are announced: Finland won’t have key player, goalie Tuukka Rask, out due to flu. Kari Lehtonen, “the man for the decisive games”, as defined by a Finnish journalist trying to stay optimistic, is in the gate for this challenge. Sweden has a better start and Lehtonen can immediately gain the confidence . Finland has a power play after four minutes and also Lundqvist begins to work, blocking twice an inspired Teemu Selanne and Mikeal Granlund. At 10 Leo Komarov breaks the Sweden dominance and has a great chance on counter-attack but Lundqvist is reactive. Sweden goalie one minute after gives the rebound to a not difficult shot, but then is outstanding in saving the deflection on a blue-line shot by Vatanen. At 15 Finland has a great chance with almost 2 minutes of 5vs3 but Sweden power play killing unit is excellent, giving Finnish forwards few chances to dangerously shot. Sweden has the best chances with two minutes to play with a long-range shot by Kronwall, deflected with difficulty by Lehtonen. At 19 Aaltonen doesn’t find the net alone in front of Lundqvist, in another opportunity conceded by Swedish defence. After 4 minutes in the second period Sweden gains the first power play, out Granlund, but threat Lehtonen just with shots from the blue, usually by Erik Karlsson.

Captains waiting for referee decision about Jokinen goal

Game score changes at 26:17 Olli Jokinen is a real Finnish flash in rescuing a puck shooting by Vatanen from defence, his shot is not a bomb but passes under Lundqvist pad and it’s validated after the replay. Sweden team plays nervously, Finland has another chance on power play when Sami Salo shoots on Lundqvist a rebound from a Maatta conclusion. When Sweden seems groggy, ties game with a great action finalized by Loui Eriksson but with much credit for Jonathan Ericsson who resist to the temptation of shooting and serves Eriksson for an easy tap-in in a Finnish defence not perfectly positioned. Lehtonen has to work on Backstrom, Johansson and on a deflection by Daniel Sedin on power play. But Finnish goal can just touch the missile launched by Erik Karlsson at 36.26 for the 2-1 Sweden.

Lehtonen observing the shot by Karlsson landing in his net

Tre Kronor can triples at 38 but the deflection of Kronwall hits the bar with Lehtonen just observing. Sweden begins last period well controlling the game, wasting a chance with Daniel Sedin before Teemu Ruutu shots over the bar an excellent Finnish counter-attack and Jussi Jokinen sees his shot deflected by Lundqvist. Again Sweden works very well on Finnish power play with Lundqvist supporting his teammates with good saves. At 56 is Lehtonen to be decisive deflecting with the mask a shot by Sedin. Despite the pressure in last minutes Finland doesn’t create a real danger for Lundqvist. Sweden wins deservedly the Turin 2006 revenge and waits now to know the opponent, Finland confirms to be an Olympic team and will hunt again a medal.

In the mixed zone Daniel Sedin points out the power-play as key for the success: Our power play has been key for us all tournament. We got the big second goal on the PP. It was a tight-checking game, that's for sure. Our first game was our worst game and this one was our best game, so that's a good sign. We've got a long way to go, it's going to be a good match-up in the finals."

Henrik Lundqvist on reaching the Olympic final: "It's unbelievable. We really had to work hard this time. They're a very disciplined team. Our game was outstanding, especially early on in the first when we were down 5-on-3 and we killed that off. Then on to the big one in the powerplay. Erik Karlsson's shot was just amazing to watch." The goalie also explains the first goal by Finland:  "I gave up a tough one there. I definitely thought it was an icing so I kind of relaxed and I just made a bad move. I'm happy that goal didn't matter and we bounced back with two big ones. I try to be really focused. At this level when it's all about one game, it's all about staying focused. One mistake can cost you, but not tonight. If you take away that one goal I feel like I played a really solid game, I did the things I need to do. They had some really good moments, especially on their powerplay, but 5-on-5 I felt like we were definitely the better team."

"We played overall a good game. We didn't give them too much. They got some chances here and there, but I think we were generating some, too. That's what we try to do, we try to play up on their level. They have a lot of skilled guys. I think we did that, but tonight we couldn't get the win." said Kari Lehtonen

Sami Lepisto: "I felt like Sweden was pressuring us the first half more than we were. In the second half of the first period we had some really good chances - a 2-on-1s, couple of power play chances that we should have scored on. It's just disappointing."

"I felt that we were one step behind. The energy, maybe they had a little bit more than we did." said captain Teemu Selanne

Antti Pihlstrom explains why Finland lost the semifinal: "They played hard and they played smart, but we still had the chances to score. And of course it is always hard to lose, but tomorrow is another game and we still have a chance to win a medal."

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