PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Victory after a shock in the quarter-finals against Finland.
Now the home team, the Czech Republic, awaits in Prague in the semi-finals.
– It’s going to be insanely big, says Victor Hedman, passer for the winning goal in extra time.
Joel Eriksson Oak became a big match hero when he steered in Victor Hedmans shot in overtime.
Rasmus Dahlinthe 1–0 scorer, was also involved in the preparation for the winning goal.
The feeling when it came?
– Relief and extreme joy, says Dahlin after the night mangling.
Hedman could hardly escape the chance to face the home nation the Czech Republic in the huge O2 Arena in front of just over 17,000 spectators on Saturday afternoon.
– It will be insanely great to meet (Ondrej) Palat and (Jan) Rutta with whom I have played a lot (in Tampa Bay). Now we are on the opposite side. It will be a sick atmosphere, we know that, says Hedman, two-time Stanley Cup champion who now also has the chance to win his second World Cup gold.
Trembling beyond the usual
The quarter-final against arch-rival Finland was an extraordinary thrill.
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The Swedes fired 35 shots at Växjö’s goalkeeper Emil Larmi. Still, it took almost 55 minutes before he capitulated.
Finland equalized with just 58 seconds left. But the Swedes never despaired.
– It’s hockey. They play six against five and do it really well. It’s just to keep calm and keep playing, says Dahlin.
The winning goal came on the power play, 5.54 into overtime.
“Something we can take with us”
Erik Karlsson says his team never lost patience or became frustrated.
– We had expected it to be a tight affair, so there was no great panic even though we knew what was at stake. It’s nice to see and something we can take with us going forward, says team captain Karlsson.
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He paid tribute, like many other Swedish players, to Finland’s great player, Växjö goalkeeper Emil Larmi.
– Their goalkeeper is playing incredibly well, if we score a goal earlier it will probably look different.
The Swedish team, which played the group stage and quarter-finals in Ostrava, takes the train and a three-hour journey to Prague on Friday.
– We need to fill up the depots tonight and sleep and then go to Prague, says Hedman.
For the first time since the gold in 2018 in Copenhagen, Sweden is ready for the semi-finals and medal match.
– That is what we had expected. Of course, it’s incredibly nice that we could hold on all the way, says the captain.
READ MORE: Peter Forsberg’s wonderful dick after the giant cheek during the hockey World Cup – exposed to the worst mockery: “It’s not me…”
So the WC continues
Semifinals, Saturday (Prague):
Sweden–Czech Republic (14.20).
Canada–Switzerland (18.20).
Medal matches, Sunday (Prague):
Bronze match (15.20).
Final (20.20).
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