It started incredibly well – but ended with an equally shocking and bitter loss.
When Drake Batherson scored 4-3 in sudden death behind Linus Ullmark, Canada completed a turnaround that few saw coming after two periods.
– It’s hard to sort out, it’s empty as hell. At the same time, there are many thoughts, says Carl Klingberg when he comes to the mixed zone in Nokia Arena.
– I’m still shocked so it’s hard to say anything. I think a lot of people think “what happened?”, Sort of. It is difficult to answer right now. I probably need to land in a few days, a week. I hardly know myself what I’m thinking.
He himself had made sure to give Sweden a great start when he with his first goal in the championship scored 1-0 just after a couple of minutes of play. Five minutes later, it narrowed again behind goalkeeper Chris Driedger when Joakim Nordström blocked a finish and at the same time gave William Nylander a free kick.
“Lill-Nyllet” was then ruthless when he ran across the field and put the puck in the net roof.
In the second period, it also came 3-0 when Max Friberg controlled Erik Gustafsson’s finish and Tre Kronor stormed towards the World Cup semifinals.
Logically speaking, the match picture however, the goal was not. Canada played in the middle period and tested Linus Ullmark time after time in the Swedish box – but the Boston goalkeeper responded with one sweaty parade after another.
The reduction came instead in the third period that began in the best way for Canada. With a lot of people in front of goal, Ryan Graves managed to get a hole in Ullmark with a wrist shot after just over a minute.
The Canadians continued to create chaos in Tre Kronor’s zone, but time passed and there was much talk that Sweden would hold off in the third period.
With 3.52 left to play, however, what did not happen happened. Rasmus Dahlin was to send the puck out of the defensive zone, but instead had to see it fly over the rim and thus went on an unnecessary two-minute suspension.
– The puck stood up. I do not know what else to do. But it is useless. I wish it had not stood up, says Dahlin.
– We should have just drummed on. These are small margins. But it sucks, the star hill continues.
Canada took out their goalkeeper and with six outfielders, the World Cup’s shooting young Pierre-Luc Dubois thundered in the reduction to 2-3, which was the start of a Swedish race.
Just seconds later came the cold shower which meant that the North Americans had leveled. This time it was another star player, Matt Barzal, who stepped forward and fired a shot that via Ullmark slowly slid in over the goal line.
By extension, the Canadian turnaround was completed when William Nylander early on attracted a tripping expulsion and then it was not long before Drake Batherson scored 4-3. The ice was filled with overjoyed red players who will play the semifinals on Saturday.
– We really wanted to win this match – maybe a little too much and let them get into the match a bit. They do it so well, rinse over us sometimes and get into our zone a little easy. There is a lot that contributes, says Rasmus Dahlin who believes that the loss is one of the hardest he has experienced.
For Tre Kronor, a holiday awaits instead. The World Cup is over, just like Johan Garpenlöv’s era as Swedish national team captain.
Read more:
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Better group dynamics in Tre Kronor: “A lot of excitement – with a twinkle in the eye”
Jagr in collision with tram: “I thought it was over”
Sagittarius’ call to Swedish fans: “Go to Tampere”
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