Team Europe vs. Sweden Score and Reaction
- by Belinda Burton
- in Sport
- — Sep 30, 2016
After a scoreless opening period, things heated up in the second frame.
Two weeks ago Team Europe was, to put it kindly, a laughingstock.
Team Europe's players have represented eight countries in global play but they spoke with one joyful voice after their 3-2 overtime upset of too-cautious Sweden in Sunday's semifinal at Air Canada Centre. Europe started the tournament with a big win over the United States and pulled off another magic trick against Sweden in the semi-final thanks to two goals from Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar that included the game victor in overtime. They want to keep their run of good fortune going and end this tournament with two more wins, despite their underdog status.
"I don't think anyone wants us here in the tournament and now we're in the final", said Zuccarello. "I guess those two games showed us where we need to be, if we wanted to do something in this tournament".
Perhaps if we saw more urgency from Sweden when its games were tied, or when they had a lead, we might be talking about how they'd fare against Canada. "That's why we're here".
After limiting Team Europe to just five shots in the first period - and at one point denying a shot on goal for nearly 12 minutes and then scoring early in the second to take a 1-0 lead - perhaps the Swedes believed the game would simply come to them, that victory and a rematch of the Sochi Olympics gold-medal game against Canada was inevitable.
The last team standing in the way of juggernaut Canada winning the World Cup of Hockey was a figment of the NHL's imagination. Attempting to beat Canada twice in three opportunities is likely asking for too much. And yes, we realize that's not exactly thumping the chest and making a bold prediction.
But the squad mostly cruised through the preliminary round, where they finished runner-up to tournament favorite Canada in Group A, and were not intimidated in the semi-final when they came up against a formidable Swedish defense. Overall, Canada's talent, depth and heart is not equalled in this event. After Krueger was named head coach, he met Chara in NY last fall to discuss the strategy.
"This is our chance to go far in a tournament like this", Norway's Mats Zuccarello said.
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"Disappointed for sure, we knew it was going to be a tough game", said Swedish captain Henrik Sedin. "We didn't play well enough, especially not today. It's fantastic to be playing in the final".
"I think it's just the beauty of the locker room", Tatar said of not losing focus. They're forever fighting relegation.
"We really can't control what's been said before the tournament, or what was said during the tournament, or what's going to be said probably now", Chara said. The two Nova Scotia natives were able to build chemistry during their workouts - something that's translated on the ice at the World Cup of Hockey.
"With this team I'm very, very rarely nervous", said defenceman Drew Doughty.
"We got to the semifinals playing this way and we got this game into overtime", Daniel said.
Tomas Tatar couldn't help but grip his stick a little tighter.
The team opened the World Cup with a surprising 3-0 win over the U.S and also beat Sweden in pre-tournament play on September 14.
That changed in a hurry. "As soon as I scored one, you start feeling better".
With four minutes 32 seconds remaining on the clock in the third period, a shot from the point by Sweden's Erik Karlsson eluded Halak, tying the game 2-2. That was when Backstrom deposited an Anton Stralman rebound past Halak and into the net.
