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

[BOREALIS]

Sweden 3, Slovakia ~Dec. 30

Sweden clinches medal round berth with 3-0 shutout over Slovakia


December 30, 2004

By Mike Lundgren


A 32-save shutout by David Rautio did two things Thursday: it clinched a World Junior Hockey Championship medal round berth for Team Sweden, and at the same time dropped Slovakia into the relegation round of the 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation tournament for players under the age of 20.


Heading into the final round Group B pool play match-up at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls, Sweden needed a win to make the six-team medal round. Slovakia could also make it with a win or a tie, and would advance even with a loss - as long as they didn't lose by more than two goals. But with Rautio stopping everything in sight, the final 3-0 victory margin not only sent Sweden to Grand Forks with a shot at a medal, it sealed Finland's non-qualifying fate.


Johannes Salmonsson scored the only goal Sweden would need for the win 3:11 into the game.


Slovakia saw its medal hopes shattered during a space of 1-minute, 43-seconds in the second period when Carl Soderberg scored at 31:51 and Salmonsson came right back with his second goal at 33:34 to make it 3-0.


Slovakia pressed for at least a two-goal difference, but simply couldn't get the puck past Rautio.


Slovakia goalie Jaroslav Halak also played well, making 27 saves.


Not surprising, Rautio earned Sweden Player of the Game honors. His Slovakia counterpart was forward Marek Zagrapan.

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