01/04/26 07:53:00
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01/04 19:51 CST Sweden outlasts Finland 4-3 in shootout to reach world junior
hockey final
Sweden outlasts Finland 4-3 in shootout to reach world junior hockey final
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) --- Chicago Blackhawks prospect Anton Frondell scored in
the eighth round of a shootout to give Sweden a 4-3 victory over Finland on
Sunday night in the world junior hockey semifinals.
Canada faced Czechia in the second semifinal. The final is Friday night.
The Swedes avenged a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in the semifinals last year
in Ottawa, Ontario. Sweden won its lone title in 1981 and 2012. It last
appeared in the title game in 2024, falling 6-2 to United States on home ice in
Gothenburg.
Frondell --- drafted third overall by Chicago last summer --- put a wrist shot
through Petteri Rimpinen's pads after failing on his first two attempts in the
tiebreaker. His first attempt hit both posts.
"I blacked out," Frondell said. "It was an amazing feeling ... happy the last
one went in."
Sweden survived a power play in the 10-minute, 3-on-3 overtime after Viggo
Bjork --- who missed on three OT breakaways --- was called for slashing with
2:03 left.
"This game, it was crazy, long game, tight, overtime, everything. Just one goal
and then it's over," Frondell said. "You love to play those games."
Linus Eriksson, Ivar Stenberg and Eddie Genborg scored for Sweden in
regulation, and Love Harenstam stopped 33 shots.
Atte Joki, Japser Kuhta and and Joona Saarelainen countered for Finland.
Rimpinen made 29 saves.
Saarelainen tied it at 3 from close range with 5:59 left in the third.
Eriksson opened the scoring for Sweden at 36 seconds of the first period. Joki
tied it with 3:34 to go in the period. Stenberg struck for Sweden at 1:20 of
the second, and Kuhta countered 50 seconds later.
Genborg gave Sweden a 3-2 lead with 5:53 left in the second period.
On Friday in the quarterfinals, Finland beat the two-time defending champion
United States 4-3 in overtime.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
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