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HOCKEY

Sweden claims bronze at World Ice Hockey Championships

Sweden battled from a goal down to beat the United States 4-2 and claim the bronze medal at the World Ice Hockey Championships in Berne on Sunday.

Sweden claims bronze at World Ice Hockey Championships

Los Angeles Kings defender Jack Johnson broke the deadlock, 5:41 into the second period beating Sweden goalkeeper Stefan Liv with a powerful slap shot from the blue line on a powerplay.

The Swedes pulled level also on a powerplay at 33:24, when Dallas Stars forward Loui Eriksson fired in from just outside the crease on Tony Mårtensson’s pass from behind the goal line.

Mårtensson put Sweden 2-1 up with four minutes remaining before the second intermission redirecting Mattias Weinhandl’s cross-ice pass into the net when two Americans were in the sin bin.

San Jose Sharks forward Joe Pavelski levelled at 2-2 two minutes into the third period but Sweden blueliner Carl Gunnarsson scored Sweden’s third, slapping in through the traffic at 49:00.

America substituted goalie Robert Esche but two minor penalties in the last minute dashed their hopes while Johnny Oduya flipped Sweden’s fourth into an empty net with just one second to go.

Russian claimed the gold with a 2-1 win over Canada in the final later on Sunday.

Canada had taken the lead when Ottawa Senators forward Jason Spezza struck at 5:37 into the match with his seventh goal of the tournament, sending the puck into the net from Shane Doan’s backhand pass.

But Russia levelled at 12:57 through Saprykin, who redirected in Vitaly Atyshov’s slap shot on a powerplay.

In the second, Canada outshot Russia 16-5, but it was Alexander Radulov who scored 14:30 into the period beating Canada’s goalie Dwayne Roloson from close range.

Canada continued to dominate, pinning the Russians back but to no avail as the reigning champions defended stoutly. In goal, Bryzgalov was in total command and was named the player of the game.

Canada replaced Roloson with a minute to go in an attempt to pull the scores level, but Russia managed to keep their narrow lead to clinch their second title in a row for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union.

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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.