Ice Hockey World Championship: Penalty Thriller! Sweden defends World Cup title

Sweden is Ice Hockey World Champion 2018 and Tre Kronor beat Switzerland 3-2 (1-1, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, 2-2) in the final in Copenhagen after Penalty Shooting. Sweden took gold for the second time in a row.

Outsider Switzerland began surprisingly dominant, but only hit in the middle of the Swedes’ first great urge phase. Nino Niederreiter’s (17th) lead was countered by Gustav Nyquist, the right wing of the Detroit Red Wings, but in less than three minutes.

A fast-paced game developed with great opportunities on both sides. But the Swedes gained more and more the upper hand in the second third. However, the Swiss used a short disorder of the Tre Kronor after a change and achieved the new lead in the person of Timo Meier (24.).

Sweden once again increased the pressure, made better use of the entire width of the ice surface and forced the decisive power play before Mika Zibanejad (35th) equalised. However, Switzerland kept coming back dangerously ahead of Anders Nilsson’s box.

The defending champion remained patient and pushed his game through. The strong defensive game of the Swiss and an excellently laid out Leonardo Genoni saved the two-time vice world champion until extra time. Enzo Corvi and Co. finally paid tribute to the elaborate undercounting game (a total of ten penalty minutes), but trembled into a penalty shoot-out.

Previously, Kevin Fiala had the first Swiss World Cup victory on the stick. Nilsson parried the somewhat too flat shot and kept his team alive. Johan Larsson hit the post in the last second of extra time.

Peter Forsberg turned the decisive penalty.

In the match for third place, the USA beat Canada 4-1. However, the result does not reflect the course of the game. The US boys took the lead six minutes from time through Nick Bonino and scored twice in the Canadians’ final offensive.