Tre Kronor can muster its sharpest World Cup team in the 2020s and Sam Hallam’s star gang showed both joy in the game and efficiency. This in an almost full Ostravar Arena in Czech Ostrava where a lot of blue and yellow supporters had also gone. The goal for Tre Kronor is WC gold – this may have been the first step on the way. Backing stars and good friends Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman had their dream come true and formed the first back pair. The first chain contained sharp forwards such as center Joel Eriksson Ek, Lucas Raymond and Adrian Kempe. Eriksson Ek first goalscorer Eriksson Ek opened the scoring during a pending expulsion when he shot 1-0 behind American goalkeeper Alex Lyon. – Glad we managed to get the first goal. I tried to find a surface and there were quite a lot of people in front of the goal so I tried to get there, says Eriksson Ek to Viaplay. The USA also have a lot of star names in their team and were not harmless in their quick counter attacks. Goalkeeper Filip Gustavsson made several sharp saves and was also helped by both the post and crossbar. Raymond spot shot Lucas Raymond increased the lead to 2–0 at the beginning of the second period when he spot shot in the cross behind Lyon, a teammate in Detroit. – It was a good pass by Victor (Hedman) so I had good surface. Of course it’s fun to score goals, says Raymond, 31 goals in the Red Wings this season. The USA reduced when Zack Werenski found the right behind an obscured Gustavsson, but Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson – the 33-year-old who played in the Olympics but was now making his World Cup debut – made it 3-1 before the end of the second period. It was Sweden who led the match and at times displayed both resourceful and effective play. However, Lucas Raymond believes that it can be better. – We play just fine, but we can do better. The game with the puck can be better and we can take more shots. The USA moved closer again early in the third period when Brock Nelson made it 3–2 from close range. Eriksson Ek was sent off at the end and the USA took out the goalkeeper. But then Victor Hedman decided with 4–2 in an empty net. Eriksson Ek filled up with his second goal of the evening, also in an empty box.
t4-general