IIHF – The Slovaks dominate … but the Swedes win
It was a match with contrasting lineups. Sweden has six returning players from 2021 U20 and none born in 2004, while the young Slovaks, even though they have eleven returnees, also have seven players born in 2004 and two born in 2005.
The match started in much the same way as yesterday’s matches for both teams. Slovakia held the lead in the game but could not score while the Swedes used their first powerplay. The Slovaks had the territorial advantage in the initial 20 minutes and shot over Sweden by a 13-4 margin, but more than any big save by Wallstedt, it was about the Slovaks not finishing their chances.
At the same time, Sweden got the first powerplay of the match in the beginning and wasted no time in scoring the decisive first goal. It was a nice passing game from William Eklund to Helge Grans to Theodor Niederbach in the slot. Niederbach drilled a shot over Latkoczy’s right-handed glove at 6:25 for the early lead.
It was the team’s fourth power-play goal in two games and gives an early indication that this is their finest weapon.
“The players have performed really well in powerplay”, Monten agreed. “We’re just trying to see where Alex is [Holtz] usually play and do the same with the others, and place them in the same places they are used to and try to make some simple pieces to create some chemistry. “
The second period was a wide-open event, both teams had plenty of goal chances, but again Sweden did most of theirs and Slovakia could not find the nets once. Sweden took the lead with 2-0 after a brilliant individual effort from Albert Sjöberg. He hit defender Denis Bakala one-on-one on Slovakia’s blue line and then averted a check from Maxim Strbak to hit Latkoczy with an accurate shot.
But Slovakia had plenty of opportunities to recover from their 17 shots in the middle 20 minutes. Martin Chromiak, who scored two goals yesterday, was stoned by Wallstedt. Simon Nemec tried a quick trick as he walked around the net, just to get the puck shot out of Wallstedt’s right pad. And Knazko made a fantastic move to find an opening in the gap, but his hard shot went off the shoulder of the Swedish goalkeeper.
Slovakia had a great chance to get on the board early in the third, but Wallstedt made two quick saves, including a robbery on a safe Chromiak goal with a shot from the back of the game. They got another chance in the middle of the period when the video review stated that Leo Loof hit Simon Nemec in the head with a high check. It required a five-minute powerplay and sent Loof to the locker room for the night.
Sweden’s penalty killer with Wallstedt in the lead was excellent, but with two minutes left, coach Ivan Fenes pulled in Latkoczy to create a two-man advantage. The Swedes then cleared the puck over the glass, which resulted in another penalty and a two-man advantage for more than a minute. Fenes pulled his goalkeeper back to create a rare six-on-three situation, but still no puck found the back of the net.
Daniel Ljungman turned in a dismal performance, however.
It was not nice, but it did the job done. “They had a fantastic match,” Monten said of Slovakia. “I think they were better than us during almost the whole match. We had some good moments, but overall they were better. But Jesper was fantastic, and if we are to have a chance to win this tournament he must be. An important component for us, and he showed it today. “
“I have never seen a shutout of a goalkeeper like this,” said Fenes. “We are seeded as number eight in the tournament but we have shown in this match that we can play with a team like Sweden.”
Both teams now have a day off. Slovakia will host Russia in the early match on Wednesday, followed by Sweden and the United States.