2005 WORLD JR. HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP - Dec. 25 - Jan. 4, 2005

[BOREALIS]

Sweden 6, Germany 0 ~ played Dec. 26

Posted on Mon, Dec. 27, 2004

By Brad E. Schlossman
Herald Staff Writer


THIEF RIVER FALLS - Johannes Salmonsson said there's a different feeling around Team Sweden this year.

The Swedes finished eighth and seventh, respectively, in the last two World Junior Championships.

"We have a much better team this year," the Swedish forward said. "Everything feels much better."

Especially after Sunday's 6-0 rout of Germany in Team Sweden's World Junior Championship opener before 955 fans in Thief River Falls' Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The offense clicked, scoring six goals. The defense played well, not allowing the Germans many good scoring chances. And Swedish goaltender Christopher Heino-Lindberg (25 saves) shut the door on Team Germany when it did get chances.

"We knew the Germans were very hungry after their loss (Saturday)," Team Sweden coach Torgny Bendelin said. "I'm really proud of our team. It was a very important game for us."

The Germans dropped to 0-2 in Group B play. The Swedes are 1-0.

Germany kept the game close through two periods, but Sweden broke it wide open in the third.

"We were only up 1-0 after one period and 2-0 after two periods," Bendelin said. "That's nothing. In hockey anything can happen. When we scored our third goal at the start of the third period, I felt better."

Sweden scored four goals in the third period, including two on the power play.

Linus Persson and Salmonsson both scored two goals and Robert Nilsson added a pair of assists for Sweden. The line of Salmonsson, Nilsson and Kalle Olsson (one assist) was explosive.

"We shut them down for two periods," German forward Kai Hospelt said. "But we were not able to do it for 60 minutes. And you have to do it for 60 minutes."

As was the case in Saturday's 4-1 loss to Finland, the Germans were plagued by penalties. Germany was in the box for 30 minutes against Finland and 32 minutes against Sweden.

"We spent way too much time in the box," Germany coach Uwe Krupp said. "I think there were some calls because our team did what you would call undisciplined things. There's lots of room for improvement there. I thought the refs did a good job."

Germany's best chance to break up the shutout came with less than two minutes left in the game. There was a scramble in front of the net, but Heino-Lindberg made a pair of sprawling saves to keep the puck out of the net.

"I'm always happy and proud to get a shutout," Heino-Lindberg said. "This was an important win."

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