Sam Hallam continues his success as captain of the Swedish national team.
After a 3-1 defeat against Finland, Sweden saved the tournament for the third time in a row with the 43-year-old in the booth.
– It’s a tactical victory, says TV6 expert Eric Granqvist.
Since Hallam took over Tre Kronor in November, Sweden has been running like a train on the Euro Hockey Tour.
Before Sunday’s final at the Beijer Hockey Games against Finland, the blue and yellow were essential to win the new tournament.
Sweden did not disappoint their fans in Malmö when they won easily 3-1.
– The biggest part is that we have good players in Europe. If you look at what we’ve given players on the ice today and in other leagues, we have a very good team,” Hallam tells TV6.
“I have to thank him.”
Sweden took the lead through Theodor Linstrom 12 minutes into the first half.
The halfway point after that period was just over two minutes when Hardy Hamann Aktel made it 2-0 to Sweden, after his shot found its way onto the first pass through a Finnish player in front of the goal.
The goal was Växjö’s first in a Tre Kronor shirt and the 24-year-old took the opportunity to thank his Finnish opponent for the gift.
– I had almost the same position in the last game, but then I hit the ball. So now I thought: ‘Now I’m shooting on the far side and maybe there’s a comeback or something. But then he’s nice and he drives it on the first cross… So I have to thank him.’
tenths of zero
Sweden gained momentum and a moment later Anton Bengtsson made it 3-0 with a superb pass from Dennis Rasmussen behind the attacking cage.
– Rasmussen puts it between the legs in pure Sedin fashion, says TV6 expert Erik Granqvist.
Finnish attacking play was an oddly large part of the match and Lassi Johansson was in the Swedish goal just a few tenths away from keeping another clean sheet for Sweden. But Robert Leno’s shot crossed the line just before the final whistle.
The next tournament on the European Hockey Tour is the Czech Hockey Games, which will be held from May 4 to 7.
