For those who have been around for a while, Anders "Masken" Carlsson became something of a Finland-killer in the World Championship 1986.
He scored two goals in nine seconds in the final minute and saved the draw, 4–4, for Sweden against Finland.
Goals that triggered euphoria in Sweden and bottomless sighs in our eastern neighboring country.
Other Swedish players who have received this stamp are Nicklas Lidström (Olympic gold goal 2006) and Mats Sundin.
The teams meet in a morning match in Four Nations in Montreal – therefore, at the best broadcasting time both in Sweden (19.00) and Finland.
Both teams must win to have a chance at the final spot in Four Nations.
The taunting already began a few weeks ago.
"We hate them"
Then, Finnish profile and star Patrik Laine marked his stance.
We hate them, it's that simple. There's not much more to say, he said in connection with a match between Montreal and Tampa Bay.
Victor Hedman, the Swedish team captain, countered.
It's big brother against little brother, he said, with the self-evidence that Sweden is the big brother.
Hedman was involved in winning a World Championship quarterfinal against Finland as recently as last spring.
The players who go through all the boys' and junior national teams up to the seniors get early experience of the rivalry.
It has, for example, been the case for center Joel Eriksson Ek, one of the goal scorers in the overtime loss to Canada, 3–4.
It's clear it's special. You play against Finland in junior national teams and all that, and it's extra much when you grow up in Sweden, says Eriksson Ek, quarterfinal hero against Finland in the last World Championship tournament.
"Don't need any fuel"
What do you think about Laine's outburst?
Let it stand for him.
You don't hate Finland?
When you play matches, it's us against them, so there's a rivalry, and both teams want to win. It's going to be fun to play.
Filip Forsberg gets the question from TT whether Laine's outburst gives extra fuel.
The answer comes quickly:
Meeting Finland, you don't need any fuel. It's enough what's in the match and in history.
And then there was the "hate meeting". A word that Hallam uses.
The meetings between Sweden and Finland are like a love-hate between brothers. You have to take the word hate lightly, but you always want to win over your brother, that's how it is.
+ 3–2 in the Olympic Games final 2006 in Turin.
Nicklas Lidström shoots the gold goal on a pass from Mats Sundin and Peter Forsberg.
+ 4–4 in the World Championship 1986.
Anders "Masken" Carlsson transformed a Finnish lead of 4–2 in the final match minute to 4–4 at full time. Five years later, the history was repeated by Mats Sundin, who scored two goals in 15 seconds and equalized a Finnish 4–2 lead in the end.
+ 6–5 in the World Championship quarterfinal 2003 in Helsinki.
A turnaround by Sweden. A deficit of 1–5 after half the match was turned into 6–5 by, among others, Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, and the winner Per-Johan Axelsson.
+ 1–4 in the World Championship final in Stockholm 1995.
A not-so-joyful blue-yellow memory. A Finland with Swedish national coach, Curre Lindström, took the nation's first World Championship gold in the Globe. Ville Peltonen scored a hat-trick in the final.
