Vancouver Canucks at Worlds: Recap from Quarterfinals

Sweden vs. Finland

Coming into this game, Elias Pettersson had nine points through the first seven games of the tournament. He had a bit of a rough start to the game, when on his first shift, less than a minute into the game, he failed to clear the zone which resulted in Finland getting the opening tally of the game.

But boy did he make up for it in a big way. Pettersson pulled off a beautiful move to extend Sweden’s lead to 3-1 early on in the second period.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1131638976652038144

Before Pettersson’s goal, William Nylander continued his tear that he’s been on, scoring his 18th point of the tournament — the most by any Swedish-born player in the history of the tournament. The Finns came pressing shortly thereafter and tied the game at three, until Sweden retook the lead with just seconds to play in the second period, making the game 4-3 heading into the third period.

The Finns tied it up in the third, and sent the game to overtime. Pettersson and Nylander started the overtime frame, but less than just two minutes in, Loui Eriksson and Adrian Kempe found themselves caught in the Finnish zone with three Finnish players headed the other way.

Believe it or not, Eriksson hustled his tail off and was able to get back to take the passing lane away. Unfortunately, Lundqvist was beaten over the left shoulder with a shot that he got a piece of. Just like that, Sweden’s tournament, much like Switzerland’s, came to an end.

Canada will play the Czech Republic, who beat Germany, and Russia will play Finland this Saturday in the semifinals. We will be rooting for Stecher and the Canadians to bring home gold, as Stecher remains the last Canucks player at the tournament.