Before the European Championship tournament in Switzerland and the Czech Republic, Sweden had played three straight matches against Finland without scoring a goal. But with several NHL reinforcements in the team, it has loosened up considerably – especially in power play.
In Saturday's 4-2 win over the Czech Republic in Brno, Tre Kronor scored all goals except one in power play. Mika Zibanejad was on the ice during all of Sweden's goals, scored the 2-1 goal himself and assisted on Leo Carlsson's 1-0 goal. Rasmus Andersson ripped it up 3-1 in the net, a goal that made the Czech Republic's goalkeeper Daniel Vladar's water bottle lift from the net.
"Skilled players"
I am extremely happy that it has clicked so well so early. There are skilled players out there. It has been fun and I think we find new ways to create opportunities, said Mika Zibanejad to SVT about the power play after the second period.
Besides Zibanejad (NY Rangers), Carlsson (Anaheim) and Andersson (Calgary), Saturday's lineup in power play included William Eklund and Alexander Wennberg (both San Jose).
Mika Zibanejad, who also scored a goal and an assist in Thursday's 2-1 win over Switzerland in Kloten, would like to see the lineup get continued confidence in the home World Championship in Stockholm. On Friday, Tre Kronor play their first group stage match, against Slovakia.
"Why not?"
Yes, why not? But it's not up to me to set up the power play lineup. We're clearly to get a good feeling when we go into a World Championship now. So far it has been good.
In the third period, at the score of 3-2, William Eklund skated off the ice with a suspected injury to his left hand. It is unclear how badly the 22-year-old is injured. Isac Lundeström then scored Sweden's final 4-2 goal.
Sweden concludes the season's last four-nation tournament with a rivalry match against Finland in Brno on Sunday.
