Henrik Lundqvist leads Sweden into gold medal game

SOCHI, Russia — Erik Karlsson scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 25 shots, lifting Sweden over Finland 2-1 on Friday and into the gold-medal game at the Sochi Olympics.

The 2006 Olympic champions will face the United States or Canada on Sunday. The Finns will play the loser of the second semifinal for bronze on Saturday.

All the scoring came in the second, beginning with Olli Jokinen’s goal from a sharp angle to the left of Lundqvist at 6:17 into the period that put Finland ahead 1-0.



Lehtonen kept his team in the game, but the defensive-minded Finns struggled to generate many scoring chances. When they did, Lundqvist made the stops required. It was yet another strong performance from the goaltender who led the Swedes to gold eight years ago, when they beat Finland in the finals of the Turin Games.


They did, though, get off to a good start.

Jokinen beat the Swedes to a puck and scored what seemed to be a relatively soft goal against Lundqvist, shooting past him from just above the goal line.

The Finns are usually good at keeping leads by clogging the middle of the ice, forcing teams to the outside of the wider ice surface used in international play, but they were unable Friday to stop Sweden in a pair of pivotal moments.



The world’s top professional league and its players’ union have yet to commit to playing in the Pyeongchang Games in 2018, and both sides said this past week that decision could be made within six months.

Sweden improved to 7-2-3 in Olympic matchups against Finland and can join Canada as the only country to win two gold medals since NHL players began participating in the Olympics at the Nagano Games.

The Finns beat Sweden, their Scandinavian neighbor, in those games and went on to win bronze. They have won three medals in the NHL era, more than any other nation.

Finland’s Juhamatti Aaltonen, who scored the tying goal in a win that eliminated the host Russians in the quarterfinals, went to the dressing room early in the third period with an ailment that wasn’t announced.

What's Your Take?


Lundqvist is on and Karlsson is strong out there.  This team has been rising to the occasion but will they have enough to pull it off?  I'd be a bit surprised if they do, but it definitely is possible.  I'm still feeling they are the slight underdogs here.

Fernando Lanas
Fernando Lanas

Sweden all the way,and the King gets ready to bring the Stanley Cup to new york where it belongs


Had to figure Sweden would win.  Mike Francesa thought Finland would be in the Gold Medal game.  Rooting for the King to win another gold.  Maybe this time he can parlay it into a Stanley Cup.

Share Selection