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ICE HOCKEY

Sweden triumphant in comeback hockey win over US

Sweden scored a thrilling, 6-5 come from behind victory against the United States in sudden death overtime on Wednesday night at the World Ice Hockey Championships in Berne, Switzerland.

Sweden triumphant in comeback hockey win over US

The victory kept Sweden’s tournament hopes alive, but the team remains second in the Group C table behind the Americans.

Edmonton Oilers centre Patrick O’Sullivan put the United States 1-0 up 14:11 into the match, beating Sweden’s goalie Jonas Gustavsson with an unopposed shot after a breakaway.

In the second the Swedes added power to their attacks pinning the US back and went into the lead as forwards Mattias Weinhandl and Marcus Nilson, who both play in the Russian league, netted one apiece within 35 seconds.

But the Americans took the initiative back and clinched the 5-2 lead through Colorado Avalanche defender John Michael Liles, Ottawa Senators striker Ryan Shannon, who scored a double, and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson.

However, the Swedes refused to surrender as defender Magnus Johansson and forward Niklas Persson reduced the deficit by scoring one apiece within less than four minutes, while Weinhandl equalised at 56:19 with his second of the match.

Kristian Huselius had the Sweden fans celebrating when he scored a sudden-death winner 1:59 into overtime.

In the early Group C match Latvia overcame Austria 2-0 sending the Austrians into the relegation round of the event.

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HOCKEY

Sweden’s Rasmus Dahlin first overall pick in NHL draft

Rasmus Dahlin became just the second Swedish-born player to be selected first overall in the NHL draft on Friday when the Buffalo Sabres used the top pick on the rangy teenage defenceman.

Sweden's Rasmus Dahlin first overall pick in NHL draft
Rasmus Dahlin is bound for Buffalo. Photo: Ron Jenkins/Getty Images/AFP
Dahlin, who plays for Frolunda HC in the Swedish league and was widely expected to be the first pick, follows Mats Sundin, who was the top choice of the Quebec Nordiques in 1989.
 
“I just want everything to start,” Dahlin said. “I'm going to bring everything I have to that city. I'm super excited. I can't wait.”
 
Russian forward Andrei Svechnikov went second to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens used the third pick to get Finnish centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
 
The draft had a decided Europe flavour as four of the top six players were Europeans. The first American was Brady Tkachuk who went to the Ottawa Senators at No. 4 and the Phoenix Coyotes took the first Canadian Barrett Hayton with the fifth pick. 
 
The 18-year-old Dahlin said he was happy to call Buffalo home despite the fact they haven't had a winning season in the past seven seasons and have missed the playoffs eight years in a row.
 
“It's amazing to finally put on the Buffalo Sabres' jersey,” Dahlin said. “I've been there twice. I love that city.”
 
The six-foot-three, 185-pound Dahlin was honoured as the best defenceman at the 2018 world junior championship in Buffalo, registering six assists in seven games. He also played twice for Sweden as a 17-year-old at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
 
At number six, the Detroit Red Wings chose the brash Halifax Mooseheads winger Filip Zadina who vowed to make teams that passed on him pay down the road.
 
“I'm telling my agent if they will pass on me, I will fill their net with the puck,” the Czech Zadina said. “Yeah, it's just I want to prove to them that they have done a bad decision.”
 
The lone trade of the day came before the draft when the Colorado Avalanche acquired backup goalie Philipp Grubauer and defenceman Brooks Orpik from the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals for the 47th pick. The Capitals were willing to get rid of Orpik and Grubauer so they could create salary cap space to sign free agents.