Three Crowns made a heroic match and caught up 1–3 to 3–3 in the third period.
We should be very pleased with how we came back in the match, says captain Victor Hedman, to Sportbladet.
So one point on the account in front of 21,105 spectators in Bell Centre – but still a tough loss.
The star-studded tournament is the first with NHL national teams since the World Championship in Toronto 2016.
After nine years of waiting, Sweden could not have had a worse start.
Already after 56 seconds, the puck was in the Swedish net after a power-play goal by Canada's star formation.
A formation that has been a topic of discussion since the first practice when Canada set up a lineup with Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sam Reinhart, and Cale Makar.
Electric atmosphere
The best power-play formation since Wayne Gretzky's and Mario Lemieux's days? Or maybe ever?
Crosby played behind the back to MacKinnon, who got an open goal. McDavid was also credited with an assist.
The atmosphere in Bell Centre – which was already electric when Mario Lemieux stepped onto the ice before the face-off – increased even more.
Then Brad Marchand increased to 2–0 after 13.15. By then, Three Crowns had not had a shot on the Canadian goal.
Filip Gustavsson, the Minnesota goalie, was helpless on both goals.
The Swedes looked nervous, missed passes, and never got their attacking game going in the first 20 minutes.
Canada had the last word
It got much better in the second, and the Swedes got a necessary reduction.
Defensive back Jonas Brodin set 2–1 with a high shot behind Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington.
The Swedes created opportunities for an equalizer, but Canada could counter in 3–1 at the end of the second period through Mark Stone, who was served by Crosby.
But the Swedes did not give up and got a great start to the third period when Adrian Kempe cannon-shot 3–2, set up by Erik Karlsson, after just 1.54.
The equalizer came about seven minutes later after Swedish ping-pong play where Joel Eriksson Ek could lift in the equalizer.
But Canada had the last word.
Sweden meets Finland in their next match on Saturday evening, Swedish time.
