Sweden at Switzerland: 4-2

Toronto’s own Carl Grundström and Sweden took on the team that took out William Nylander last year, and they played a dominating game in all areas but one.

In the first period, the Swedes dominated the shot clock 15-6, and most of that excitement was coming from two lines.  Joel Eriksson Ek and Alex Nylander opened the scoring on a great play, and draft-eligible Lias Andersson scored on a play made by Grundström.

Jonas Siegenthaler got the only goal for Switzerland on the power play during a very strong period for the Capitals defensive prospect.

There was a little line juggling later on in the period, with Grundström joining the Nylander line (that has a really nice ring to it) for some four-on-four play.

Grundström battles for the puck with a Swiss player.

In the second period, the Swedes continued to dominate, but their penalty kill was not up to the Swiss power play.  Switzerland tied it up on a goal by captain Calvin Thurkauf.

Sweden couldn’t capitalize on the power play against a tough Swiss defence led by Siegenthaler, but the score held tied through to the end of the second period with shots on goal nearly identical to the first.  Sweden were out-chancing the Swiss by nearly 3-1.  It seemed impossible for Swiss goalie Joren van Pottelberghe to keep up to that pace and steal this game.

In the third period, the line experimentation continued, and Carl Grundström took Filip Ahl’s place on the Nylander line several times.  It was Nylander and Grundstöm that got the puck to Eriksson Ek for the go-ahead goal.

The Swedes made it 4-2 a few minutes later, and that was the game.  The Swiss had three excellent players, and a few good ones, but it wasn’t enough to withstand the total team onslaught of the Swedes.  The final shot totals were 46-15 for Sweden.

Full game summary is here.

Grundström led all Swedish forwards in ice time, and had two assists and three shots on goal. As of now he’s tied for seventh in the tournament with four points.

IIHF World Championships