Sweden vs. Europe: 5 keys to World Cup of Hockey semifinal
TORONTO – The World Cup of Hockey semifinal between Team Europe and Team Sweden features two defensively strong teams.
Throughout the tournament, both groups have prided themselves on their ability to shut down their opponent. Sweden’s only hiccup came against Team North America – the most exciting team in the tournament. Europe’s lone defensive struggle game came against Team Canada, a group that has so far dominated this event.
“I see a one-goal game today. I believe it’s going to be extremely tight. It’s going to come down to the team that really wants it more and can dig down deep,” Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger said. “I think it’s a very evenly matched game and I expect it’s going to come down to the little things. We’re as well prepared as we can be. We want to have fun with this day no matter what, but expect a really, really exciting match. “
Europe’s success this story has been somewhat unexpected. They’re a team that was put together specifically for the World Cup – of European players not from Sweden, Russia, the Czech Republic and Finland. They’ve been able to stay in this tournament through their structure and discipline.
“They’re an organized group. You can tell from the games that they played. They wait for their opportunities. They don’t give up a whole lot. Good ‘D’ and a great goalie who has been playing really well,” Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman said. “We have to work for our opportunities. For us, we have to be patient in our game. Not get too excited. Early on, we have to play to our structure and play the way we think will make us most successful.”
Sweden has experience in this type of situation. They’re one of the best hockey playing countries in the world and international success is expected with them. For Europe, a lot of their players have never gone this far in an international tournament. Most are from small countries that get eliminated early, so this provides a chance for several of their guys to make a mark.
“It’s just a big journey and we’re all having fun,” Europe forward Tomas Tatar said. “We realize if we would be probably split in our national teams we would probably never go this far, so it’s fun to be a part of this group, part of this team, it’s kind of unique and I think everybody is liking it.”
Here are five keys to victory for both teams.
Clogging the neutral zone
Both teams have been able to keep the puck out of their nets by bottling up the middle and forcing the play to the outside.
Even though Europe was out-shot 35-17 against Team USA in the first game of the tournament, they prevented any major scoring chances, which was one of the main ways they picked up the win.
“I was really proud that the players committed to defense when it was called upon,” Europe coach Ralph Krueger said after the USA game. “We played compact, we played connected, but more than anything, I think it was the game with the puck that gave us space.”
Sweden is known as one of the best teams in the world at frustrating opponents with a style that prevents them from gaining speed through the middle. Whichever team owns the middle of the ice will win this game.
Sweden’s scoring depth
Because of Sweden’s strong defense, it’s easy to overlook their offense. They have some of the top scorers in the game at forward – and defense. So far this tournament they have delivered. Nicklas Backstrom has one goal and two assists. Erik Karlsson has three assists. Filip Forsberg has scored a goal and added an assist.
They have mostly taken the pressure off the Henrik and Daniel Sedin line and given Sweden some secondary options. Some of this offense came from falling behind North America, which forced them to open up their style.
“We recalibrated a little bit in the way we were coaching different lines and how we matched up the lines, but other than that we got two goals in the first period so it was only a one-goal deficit and we needed to show patience, and I think we showed patience,” coach Rickard Gronborg said after the North America loss.
Anze Kopitar
The big Slovenian center for Team Europe hasn’t scored a goal this tournament, but he has been the group’s top all-around player.
Krueger played him almost 24 minutes in Europe’s first two games and then Kopitar played 20:39 against Canada. In big games your best players need to be your best players and Kopitar is one of the tops in the world.
“There’s so much off ice immeasurable intrinsic value to having him as a captain that it’s difficult for me to summarize it in words,” Krueger said earlier in the World Cup. “It’s the feeling you have and the energy he gives off and the consistency to who he is as a person. There’s no up, no down – just plows through it and is so selfless in his play.”
Henrik Lundqvist vs. Jaroslav Halak
Both goaltenders have been known to steal games and playoff series in the past and both have been at their best during the World Cup.
Lundqvist kept Sweden in the game against North America after their opponents’ hot start. Halak allowed just two goals on 65 shots on goals in his first two games to help Team Europe get to this point.
“We come to the stage right now and experience is really important. We have a goaltender that has gone through Stanley Cup races all the way to the Stanley Cup Final just a couple years ago, and having experiences in the Olympics and the World Championship gives us a comfort that we know he’s going to step up to the task, we know he’s going to play his when we really need it,” Gronborg said on Lundqvist. “It also gives us stability in everything we do. It’s a guy we can lean on. At the same time, we don’t want to lean on him as much as we did last game. We need to stick up for him and play more solid when it comes to all aspects of the game. But sure it’s reassuring to have a guy that’s gone through and has the experience that he has.”
Said Nielsen on Halak, “He’s the kind of goalie that almost every night, he gives you a chance to win and he’ll make that save when you need it. I played with him for a couple years in New York and he’s really consistent. He’ll give you a chance.”
Sweden’s defensemen
The Swedes have some of the best blueliners in the NHL in regards to possessing the puck. Erik Karlsson and Mattias Ekholm have played keep away on the top pair, and the second pairing of Anton Stralman and Victor Hedman has picked up right where they left off with the Tampa Bay Lightning as one of the top duos in the NHL.
They have also provided some offense with two important goals this tournament.
“They can fall off an attack and they make an offensive threat, as well,” Gronborg said of Hedman and Stralman. “ But me as a coach, we always look at the defensive side, and they’re really solid that way. I think at the end of the day, there’s defensive pairing that play together a lot, and they showed us, too. So it’s comfortable for us to put them out in any situation.”
Europe has some solid defenders, but doesn’t have the type of defense that can stop an attack and transition up to offense up and down their lineup quite like the Swedes. This is something Sweden must use to their advantage.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
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