“It will be fun to start in earnest,” says the team captain Erik Karlsson to Viaplay.
In the WC golden year 2018 in Copenhagen, Sweden also took seven victories, but one came after extra time, and ended on 20 points.
Now swiped Sam Hallams teams through the group and gold expectations are raised.
The current schedule of seven group stage matches was introduced in 2012.
The top seeding means that Sweden cannot meet the other group winner Canada until the final at the earliest. In the event of a possible quarter-final win against Finland, the worst remaining ranked team awaits in the semi-finals.
— Now it will be a little different. Now you can’t afford to have a bad day, you just have to hope that this match has given us confidence, says star defender Erik Karlsson after the thrashing of Slovakia.
A step up
During the group stage, Sweden played its best matches against the best opposition, the opening match against the equally star-studded USA and the second match against Germany, last year’s World Cup finalist, and in the insignificant group finale against Slovakia.
After that, the team for long periods did not do more than what was required and only flashed at times.
Despite the fact that the group victory was already complete before the meeting with Slovakia, the intensity and aggressiveness were back. After a leading goal in the first period, Tre Kronor decided with three goals in the second.
Better power play
In addition, the Swedes improved their poor statistics in numerical superiority.
A form of play that can be decisive in a tight playoff.
After conceding just four goals in 22 attempts – the worst of the top teams – it was two goals in four attempts against Slovakia.
Already after 2.20, Lucas Raymond headed in Victor Hedman’s shot pass.
Sweden had changed so Hedman fought along with Rasmus Dahlin – instead of Erik Karlsson – behind Raymond, Joel Eriksson Ek and Adrian Kempe in the first powerplay unit.
— It is clear that it is nice to score goals. We are always looking for things to improve, says Hedman to Viaplay.
— It is of course very nice. Especially getting the first one right away. Hopefully we have many different formations that we can turn to now if it works out, says Karlsson.
There was also a goal, 3–0, from the second unit when André Burakovsky spot-kicked after a pass from Karlsson and Fabian Zetterlund.
Other goals were scored by Erik Karlsson, his fifth World Cup goal, Isac Lundeström and Joel Eriksson Ek scored two goals in the final period, one of his goals came in box play.
Sweden is still 100% outnumbered (on 16 boxplays) and there are backs like Jonas Brodyn and Marcus Pettersson a heavy load.
But Sweden has not only managed all the box plays – but also scored four goals ahead.
Excellence with a golden sheen.