For the Finnish team, which was led by 61-year-old coach Jukka Jalonen for the last time, the championship ended in the quarterfinals. “We lost with the first goal we got here in a weakened state. We had a really great team and I’m proud of how we did today. But at the same time, such a defeat hurts a lot. But that’s hockey too,” said Finnish captain Olli Määttä.
The Swedes pressured their opponent from the opening bull and significantly outshot the Finns (35:20). But the Finnish defense, led by goalkeeper Emil Larmi, did a great job. After the decisive goal, he broke his stick on the goal in anger.
“He was phenomenal,” Swedish captain Victor Hedman said of the Växjö goalkeeper. “He made a lot of good tackles against Sweden so we knew we had a tough task ahead of us, but in the end we got it done and now we’re getting ready for the next one,” the Tampa Bay defender continued.
Recap of the match Sweden – FinlandVideo: Czech Television
The Nordic derby at the World Cup or Olympic Games has reached extra time for the fifth time in a row. “It was a fun and tight game again. Few goals were scored but I think we controlled the game for most of the game. We just couldn’t score and rebound. The Finns can be excellent defensively, they are very assertive, they constantly attack you in the middle zone, it was a difficult match. But we managed it as a team,” said Isac Lundeström, the author of the recording of the opening goal of the match.
WC in hockey 2024
The 87th edition of the Ice Hockey World Championship takes place from 10 to 26 May 2024 in the Czech Republic, the tournament is hosted by the cities of Prague and Ostrava.
The Swedes ended their stay in Ostrava with their seventh victory. They will now move to Prague, where they will face the Czech team, who advanced to the semi-finals after a narrow 1-0 victory over the United States. “Another entertaining game awaits us in front of a full stadium. It will be good, we are looking forward to it. They have a lot of good players, we need to be ready for Pastrňák and co. We know who we will play against,” said the 24-year-old Anaheim Ducks center before leaving Ostrava.
Live from the venue of the World Hockey Championship – 24/05/2024Video: Sport.cz
Of the Czech lineup, he is understandably looking forward to his club teammate goalie Lukáš Dostál, who scored his second clean sheet against the USA at the World Cup. “It’s delicious! He had a great last year, and here he shows that he is an excellent goalkeeper. We’re going to have to get a lot of bodies in front of him. He’s not that tall, so we have to screen well in the goal area, make noise there and send a lot of pucks at him,” Lundeström did not hide his plans for Saturday’s semifinals.
Will the Czech hockey players advance to the World Cup finals via Sweden?
A total of 2659 readers voted.
2024-05-24 08:31:19
#hockey #Pastrňák #prepared #send #lot #bodies #Dostál #Swedish #star #threatens
