PHOTO: Bildbyrån
A match that would be messed up.
Poland in the second group stage match was a job that had to be done by Tre Kronor – and was done.
– We had to fight a bit to keep up the level, says national team captain Sam Hallam after the 5-1 victory in the WC.
Poland, back in the finery of international ice hockey after a long absence, opened the tournament by losing in extra time to last year’s World Cup bronze medalists from Latvia.
No punching bag, that is.
Hallam’s words
Warning was issued and Three Kronor did not go to any mine in Ostrava. And with that was Sam Hallam satisfied.
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He ticks off a victory and looks ahead.
– We will come out of here with a victory, we will score in the power play. It doesn’t matter to me that we concede a goal. Now it’s time to rest and focus on the next match.
He praises Poland.
– They are sharp in their counterattacks. I think we handled both. These games are a challenge and I have to give the Poles some credit. They work damn hard and fight and have the courage to go on their counterattacks. It is probably in the third period that they slowed down a bit, says Hallam.
“Ungrateful”
Afterwards, the national team captain was not much for criticizing individual players.
– In a match like this, I don’t think much of anyone. Erik (Karlsson) makes two bags. . . But the important thing is how we look tomorrow.
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But he lifted the goalkeeper Philip Gustavsson.
– The saves he makes in the first period are super important. It’s a hell of a thankless task to stand there with almost nothing to do and so they end up in a two-on-one situation.
Tre Kronor meets Germany on Monday evening.
What do you think of Tre Kronor’s start at the hockey World Cup? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Erik Karlsson’s unexpected joy after the great success in the World Cup – now reveals the strangest gift: “I actually asked for it”
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