In a back-and-forth battle that had the pace and intensity of a playoff game, Canada edged Sweden in a wild 5-3 victory. The Canadians came out flying, grabbing an early lead and building a 2-0 advantage before the Swedes battled back to tie it at 3-3 in the second period. But Canada showed their depth and composure, pulling away for good in the third period with timely goals from Connor Brown and Dylan Cozens, turning what looked like a coin-flip game into a statement win.
Soon to be 36 year old Toronto Maple Leaf John Tavares makes it a 1-0 game for Canada at 2:21 of the first period. The helpers on the goal went to Oiler’s fan favorite Darnell Nurse and St. Louis Blue Robert Thomas.–The Canadiens drew first blood at 2:21, jumping on a turnover in their own end. Robert Thomas led the rush on a 3-on-2, and John Tavares buried the pass from Darnell Nurse after the defenseman joined the attack.
Ryan O’Reilly makes it a 2-0 game for the Canadians at 16:00 of the first period. The helpers on the goal went to Winnipeg Jet Gabriel Vilardi and the guy who loves when opposing players do slapshots on empty nets when his goalie is pulled Morgan Rielly.-Ryan O’Reilly made it 2-0 late in the first period. With a penalty coming to Sweden, he jumped on a loose puck in front and backhanded it past Hellberg to extend Canada’s lead.
Shots on goal in the first period were 8-6 for Canada
2015 Anaheim first rounder Jacob Larsson who now plays in Switzerland got the Swedes on the board at 8:11 of the second period. The helper on the goal went to 20 year old 2024 Philadelphia Flyers second rounder Jack Berglund.-Jacob Larsson beat Greaves with a shot under the glove. Greaves had denied Albert Johansson moments earlier with a great pad save.
Detroit Red Wing’s Lucas Raymond ties the game up for Sweden at 11:04 of the second period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Toronto Maple Leafs Oliver Ekman-Larsson and a kid old enough to be his son in Jack Berglund– Lucas Raymond beat Greaves in pretty much the same place as Larsson, far post, under the glove, at 11:04.
Former Okotoks Oiler Dylan Holloway gives Canada a 3-2 lead at 14:16 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to 2024 Canada WJC Captain Fraser Minten and Winnipeg Jet Dylan DeMelo–Canada regained the lead at 14:16. Dylan Holloway showed good patience wheeling the puck into the Swedish zone, and when both defenders backed off, he snapped a clean shot past Hellberg on the glove side.
Edmonton Oilers Sasquatch Mattias Ekholm ties it back up for the Swedes at 15:33 of the second period. The assists on the goal went to Vancouver Canuck Linus Karlsson and New York Islander Simon Holmstrom–Just 77 seconds later, the Swedes tied it back up at 3-3. Mattias Ekholm ripped a quick point shot that hit the post and squeaked in on Greaves’ blocker side.
Shots on goal in the second period were 14-8 for Sweden
New Jersey Devils Connor Brown gave Canada a 4-3 lead at 3:31 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Philadelphia Flyers Porter Martone and Boston Bruins Fraser Minten.–Canada took the lead right back early in the third on a textbook 3-on-3. Porter Martone and Fraser Minten made two quick passes to set up Connor Brown on the back door, and he made no mistake, burying it to make the score 4-3 at 3:21.
Whitehorse, Yukon native Dylan Cozens makes it a 5-3 game at 12:59 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to Porter Martone and Edmonton Oiler Darnell Nurse.–Later in the period, Dylan Cozens was sprung in alone on a nice pass from Martone and made no mistake on the breakaway, ripping it home at 12:59 to give Canada a two-goal lead again.
Shots on goal in the third period were 10-9 for Canada. The Canadians outshot the Swedes 26-25 in the game.
25 year old Cambridge, Ontario native Jet Greaves made 22 saves on the 25 shots that he faced for the win for the Canadians. For the Swedes Djurgardens Magnus Hellberg made 21 saves on the 26 shots that he faced.
Attendance in Fribourg was 7500
Canada’s next game is Saturday May 16th against Italy
