Kazakhstan’s first loss, Sweden wins at last

Sweden, expected to be one of Russia’s big rivals in Group A, finally got a win at the World Championship. After losing to Denmark and Belarus, the Tre Kronor overpowered Switzerland. In Group B, Kazakhstan suffered its first defeat, going down 0-3 against the USA before Finland defeated Norway.

Group A

Sweden strikes back

Switzerland 0 Sweden 7 (0-2, 0-2, 0-3)

The Tre Kronor got back on track with an emphatic victory over a highly-fancied Swiss roster. Back-to-back losses against Denmark and Belarus put a question mark over Sweden’s prospects in this year’s championship but Johan Garpenlov’s roster responded with an impressive win against previously unbeaten Switzerland.

This game was a triumph for Sweden’s forwards, who produced a clinical display to score seven goals off 27 shots. The Swiss actually outshot their opponent but failed to beat Adam Reideborn.

Jesper Froden, called into the team in place of the injured Carl Klingberg, opened the scoring in the ninth minute and Adrian Kempe soon doubled that lead. 

Kempe was playing with his brother Mario, recently of CSKA, and the pair were placed on the same line for the first time.
“It’s always fun to play for Sweden but it’s something extra to play with your brother,” he said. “We were on the same line tonight and I think we played a really solid game as well. It was the first time ever and it was pretty cool.”

Once in front, Sweden didn’t look back. Viktor Olofsson potted a third early in the middle frame before Froden got his second of the night to make it 4-0 at the midway stage.

By now, Sweden was revelling in a convincing lead and began the third period with a power play goal from Magnus Nygren before piling on the misery for the Swiss with further tallies from Nils Lundqvist and Henrik Tommernes.

Jensen inspires Danes again

Great Britain 2 Denmark 3 OT (1-2, 0-0, 1-0, 0-1)

Another big game from Nicklas Jensen gave Denmark the edge in an overtime win against Great Britain. The Jokerit forward had a goal and two assists as the Danes took a 3-2 verdict on Markus Lauridsen’s 65th-minute power play goal.

Improving GB took the lead early but seemed to be heading for another loss when Jensen set up Julian Jakobsen for the leveller before adding a PP tally of his own soon after. But a late tying goal from Mike Hammond cost Denmark a point and denied Heinz Ehlers’ team the chance to draw level with Russia after three games.

Group B

Kazakhs beaten for the first time

USA 3 Kazakhstan 0 (1-0, 1-0, 1-0)

Team Kazakhstan suffered its first loss at this year’s World Championship after a strong American performance blanked the Kazakh offense.

Photo: 25.05.21. 2021 IIHF World Championship. USA - Kazakhstan

After shoot-out wins over Latvia and Finland, Yury Mikhailis and his team had every reason to approach this game with confidence. But the USA, boosted by a 5-1 thrashing of Canada, proved too good on the night. Trevor Moore, who scored twice on the Canadians, had an assist on Adam Clendenning’s opener and added another goal in the second period. Jack Drury completed the scoring in the final session.

Kazakhstan goalie Nikita Boyarkin impressed once again, making 49 saves on another busy night. This time, though, the offense could not find a way to make an impression on a well-drilled U. S. defense that allowed just 18 shots.

Young Barys defenseman Valery Orekhov made his World Championship debut in the game, and felt it was a good learning opportunity — especially since he faced some of the American players who lined up against Kazakhstan at the World Juniors in 2019. 

“I know a lot of those guys and it’s interesting to see how they’ve progressed since the juniors,” Orekhov said. “They’re good players, experienced, they play in the NHL and pick up points. So it’s useful for me, it’s interesting to play against guys like that.”

Jokerit newcomer scores for Finns

Finland 5 Norway 2(1-1, 2-0, 2-1)

Finland shrugged off the after effects of a shoot-out loss to Kazakhstan and Jokerit’s new signing Hannes Bjorninen potted his first World Championship goal in a convincing win.

Before that a former Jokerit forward, Mathis Olimb tied Patrick Thoresen’s all-time World Championship scoring record for Norway to put his country ahead early on. He cashed in on a goaltending error from Jussi Olkinuora to open the scoring. That took Olimb to 66 points and raised the prospect of the Norwegians claiming a first-ever World Championship win over the Finns.

However, Atte Ohtamaa’s point shot was touched home by Iiro Pakarinen to tie the scores before the first intermission and the second period brought quick goals for Anton Lundell and Kim Nousiainen on his World Championship debut.

Norway struggled to live with Finland when it raised the tempo and despite a well-worked goal from Tobias Lindstrom at the start of the third, the Leijonat won at a canter. A power play marker from Jere Innala restored the two-goal lead for the Finns before Bjorninen’s big moment wrapped up a 5-2 scoreline.