Sweden sought revenge against the Czech Republic for the elimination in the World Championship semifinal in Prague last year when the Czechs won 7–3.
With William Nylander as the 22nd and last NHL addition to the World Championship squad, the Swedes quickly took a game-wise grip against the reigning world champions.
Nylander is the dream reinforcement who has dominated greatly in previous World Championships.
The 29-year-old Toronto star came into the Globe with a points average of 1.76 in World Championship matches, 37 points (15 goals) in 21 matches.
This evening, he was pointless.
Goal in power play
Sweden's play in numerical superiority has not impressed during the World Championship, but the leading goal came in that form.
Leo Carlsson steered in captain Rasmus Andersson's shot after 12.40.
Even Mika Zibanejad, back after illness, got a passing point.
It was Sweden's sixth goal in power play in the World Championship.
Then Detroit forward Lucas Raymond, a line mate with Nylander in the first line, took over.
Raymond shot both 2–0 and 3–0 within barely three minutes at the end of the first period.
We come out with good speed and get rewards too. We are damn stable in the defensive zone and then we quickly turn them around and we look like the team we should have been in the previous match, says Raymond to Viaplay.
Three Crowns came to the quarterfinals with the first loss in the tournament on their back, 5–2 against Canada in the group final on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper change
The Czech Republic changed goalkeepers after the first period – out with Karel Vejmelka and in with Daniel Vladar.
The Czech Republic reduced through Roman Cervenka in play five against three at the beginning of the second – Sweden's first conceded goal in numerical inferiority.
Boston's superstar David Pastrnak – the gold goal scorer last year – was noted for a passing point.
But Pastrnak otherwise had a hard time getting loose and was taken out in the second period on a hard tackle by Emil Heineman, the Montreal tough guy.
When Leo Carlsson made it 4–1 after a pattern attack, the three-goal lead was once again a fact.
The Swedes controlled the match, but the Czech Republic got new hope when Michael Spacek forced in 2–4 after barely half of the third period.
The team took out the goalkeeper with over five minutes left and then Filip Forsberg could make it 5–2 – his first goal in the tournament.
After the win, Forsberg was pleased with the blue-yellow performance.
We make a damn good first period. Come out and set the level we want directly, he says to Viaplay.
Denmark's thunderclap against Canada means that Sweden will face the USA in the semifinal on Saturday afternoon. In the other semifinal, Switzerland against Denmark.
We want to play our best hockey now at the end, today was a step in the right direction. Hopefully, we have a "level" left against the USA, I believe it will be needed, says Forsberg.
May 9: Sweden–Slovakia 5–0.
May 10: Sweden–Austria 4–2.
May 12: Finland–Sweden 1–2.
May 14: Latvia–Sweden 0–6.
May 16: Sweden–Slovenia 4–0.
May 17: France–Sweden 0–4.
May 20: Sweden–Canada 3–5.
May 22, quarterfinal: Sweden–Czech Republic 5–2.
May 24, semifinal: (2.20 pm).
The final and bronze match will be played on May 25.
