Puck dropped at midnight on New Year's Eve local time in Sweden, but it was only in the second period that the fireworks really began.
Sweden already had a 1–0 lead after Casper Juustovaara Karlsson scored the opening goal about halfway through the first period.
A good end to the year, and a good start for those back home, notes Lucas Pettersson in SVT.
“Fun to play”
Pettersson and Eddie Genborg would prove to be the ones who really kicked off Sweden's New Year's celebrations. The duo scored two goals each in the space of twelve minutes. The USA managed just two in the second period.
"It's fun to play hockey today. These are the games you want to play as a hockey player. Then you just have to go out and drive," says Pettersson, who was named player of the match.
The third period was full of heated emotions after the USA received two penalties in quick succession, a few minutes after Teddy Stiga's thrilling goal to make it 5–3. The American crowd seemed to thin out after Ivar Stenberg's 6–3 goal while Sweden had numerical superiority, and many left the arena.
I saw the audience start to drop out more and more. It's a win and very important for us, says Eddie Genborg.
“Will take revenge”
There is a chance the teams will meet again later in the tournament, and then the USA will offer more resistance, says Chase Reid.
"We will meet again, and we will take revenge," he said, according to AP.
Sweden will face Latvia, who finished fourth in the other group, in the quarter-finals. The match will be played tomorrow, Friday, at 8 p.m. local time in Sweden.
The USA will face Finland after the Little Lions lost their last group stage match against Canada 4–7.
