USA beats Sweden 3-2 and ends world junior group play 4-0 | Olympics
AP
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Harvard forward Matthew Coronato scored twice and the reigning champion United States held off Sweden 3-2 on Sunday night to finish 4-0 in Group B play at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Brett Berard also scored for the Americans and Kaidan Mbereko made 28 saves. The U.S. will face the Czech Republic — the fourth-place team in Group A — in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
“We moved our feet the best in the third period and really played for our identity in the last period,” USA coach Nate Leaman said. “I thought we were a bit tight to start the game but that’s to be expected. It’s better to get it out of the way before the quarter-finals.”
Sweden (2-1) rallied in the third, with Emil Andrae cutting it to 3-1 with 9:22 left and Ake Stakkestad making it a one-goal game on a power play with 1:45 left and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt suspended. for an extra attacker.
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Sweden meets Germany (2-1) on Monday for second place in the group.
In Group A, Ralfs Bergmanis had a hat-trick and Latvia beat the Czech Republic 5-2 to secure a quarter-final place.
First in the field after Russia and Belarus were expelled, Latvia (1-2-1) finished third in the group — one place ahead of the Czech Republic (1-2-1).
Earlier, Kasper Simontaival had two goals and an assist in Finland’s 9-3 win over Slovakia. Joel Maatta also scored twice for Finland (2-1), which faces Canada (3-0) on Monday for top spot in the group.
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