It is still clear with 16 NHL pros to the home World Championship where Slovakia awaits for Tre Kronor in Friday's premiere in Stockholm's Avicii arena.
On Monday, national team captain Sam Hallam selects his team and Swiss professional Marcus Sörensen is one of the players who wants to secure a spot in the squad.
Every match is important to play and show off one's best side. Personally, I think you get into it more and more, says Sörensen.
Strong powerplay
Sweden came to the four-nation tournament in Switzerland and the Czech Republic with three straight defeats against Finland and a dismal 0-10 goal difference.
In Brno, Finland took the lead after 3.28, but just over five minutes later, Sörensen could equalize. The forward faked a shot, took the rebound around the goal and scored 1-1 behind Nashville goalie Juuse Saros.
I think we control it pretty well, says Sörensen, who scored 57 points (27 goals/30 assists) in 59 matches for his Fribourg-Gottéron this season.
When Tre Kronor defeated the Czech Republic 4-2 on Saturday, the Swedish powerplay was red-hot with three goals.
Now, two new ones came in the middle act (2-1 and 4-1). Additionally, a goal when Finland had just become full-strength (3-1).
One of the goal scorers was Skellefteå forward Oscar Lindberg, in 2013, was part of Sweden won the World Championship gold on home soil.
It's few who get to play at the World Championship on home soil, and I only have good memories of it. It's clear that it's in the back of my mind, says 3-1 goal scorer Lindberg, who was accompanied by Oskar Steen, Färjestad, and Anton Bengtsson, Rögle, in the goal protocol.
The star was rested
In the third period, Finland got a reduction behind Philadelphia goalie Samuel Ersson, but after 12.26, Steen scored his second goal to 5-2.
In the final stage, Sörensen the final score 6-2 in an empty net, and Sweden won the tournament after victories also against Switzerland (2-1) and the Czech Republic (4-2).
Eleven NHL players were in the squad, but several of them - for example, Mika Zibanejad - were rested against Finland. Injured San Jose forward William Eklund was not there, and his participation in the World Championship is uncertain.
The next time Sweden and Finland meet is in the World Championship - the rivals face each other in the group stage third round.
The Ice Hockey World Championship takes place in Stockholm and Danish Herning from 9-25 May. In addition to one group game each, the venues have two quarterfinals each. Semifinals and medal matches are played in Avicii arena.
Sweden's matches:
May 9: Slovakia (8:20 PM).
May 10: Austria (4:20 PM).
May 12: Finland (8:20 PM).
May 14: Latvia (8:20 PM).
May 16: Slovenia (8:20 PM).
May 17: France (4:20 PM).
May 20: Canada (8:20 PM).
The group in Herning: Denmark, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, USA, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Norway.
On Monday, national team captain Sam Hallam his squad to the Ice Hockey World Championship, which takes place in Stockholm and Danish Herning from 9-25 May.
Sweden plays all group stage matches in Avicii arena in Stockholm and starts on Friday against Slovakia.
Certain NHL players, goalkeepers: Arvid Söderblom, Chicago, Jacob Markström, New Jersey, Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia.
Defenders: Adam Larsson, Seattle, Marcus Pettersson, Vancouver, Rasmus Andersson, Calgary, Simon Edvinsson, Detroit.
Forwards: Filip Forsberg, Nashville, Alexander Wennberg, San Jose, William Eklund, do, Elias Lindholm, Boston, Isac Lundeström, Anaheim, Leo Carlsson, do, Lucas Raymond, Detroit, Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers, Mikael Backlund, Calgary.
