Key Takeaways
- Sweden defeated Canada 4-2 in a pre-World Junior Hockey Championship game on Saturday night
- Jack Berglund scored twice in the third period, including a short-handed goal, to lead Sweden’s comeback
- Canada took a 2-1 lead into the third period but was unable to hold on, despite outshooting Sweden 25-16
- Canada’s power play struggled, going 0-for-5, while Sweden was 0-for-2
- Canada’s next pre-tournament game is against Denmark on Tuesday, before facing Czechia on Boxing Day in the world junior tournament
Introduction to the Game
The Sweden and Canada hockey teams faced off in a pre-World Junior Hockey Championship contest on Saturday night, with Sweden emerging victorious 4-2. The game was a closely contested match, with both teams creating scoring opportunities throughout. However, it was Sweden who ultimately came out on top, thanks in large part to a strong performance from Jack Berglund. Berglund scored twice in the third period, including a short-handed marker just 43 seconds into the frame, to lead Sweden’s comeback.
Canada’s Performance
Canada had taken a 2-1 lead into the third period, thanks to goals from Tij Iginla and Braeden Cootes in the second period. However, they were unable to hold on, despite outshooting Sweden 25-16. Canadian coach Dale Hunter noted that his team started slowly, but picked up the pace in the second period. He also acknowledged that his team had some good looks, but was unable to capitalize on them. "We started a little slow and then picked it up in the second period. I thought we had some good looks and probably could have scored a few more goals. Obviously, a couple of tough bounces, a couple of bad luck breaks, but that’s hockey, those things are going to happen," Hunter said.
Sweden’s Comeback
Sweden’s comeback was led by Berglund, who scored twice in the third period. Victor Eklund and Ivar Stenberg also scored for Sweden, who were able to overcome a strong performance from Canadian goalie Jack Ivankovic. Love Harenstam played net for Sweden, and was able to make several key saves to help his team secure the win. Sweden’s victory was a significant one, as they had lost 2-1 to Canada in an exhibition contest just a few days earlier. The win will give Sweden confidence heading into the World Junior Hockey Championship, and will serve as a reminder to Canada that they cannot underestimate any team in the tournament.
Canada’s Power Play Struggles
One area where Canada struggled was on the power play, where they went 0-for-5. This was a significant factor in the game, as Sweden was able to kill off several Canadian power plays and gain momentum. Sweden, on the other hand, was 0-for-2 on the power play, but was still able to find ways to score. Canada’s power play struggles will be an area of focus for the team as they head into the World Junior Hockey Championship. They will need to find ways to capitalize on their scoring opportunities if they hope to succeed in the tournament.
Looking Ahead
Canada’s final pre-tournament test is scheduled for Tuesday, when they will face Denmark in Mankato, Minn. This game will be an important one for Canada, as they look to fine-tune their game before the World Junior Hockey Championship begins. Canada’s first game in the tournament is on Boxing Day against Czechia in Minneapolis, Minn. The team will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Sweden, and will need to be sharp if they hope to come out on top. As Cameron Reid of Team Canada noted, "We know this isn’t going to be an easy tournament. Every team is going to bring their best against us. Everyone wants to beat Canada and I think that’s an important lesson for this group to learn here today."
