• Powered by Roundtable
    Adam Kierszenblat
    Adam Kierszenblat
    Jan 2, 2024, 21:42

    Team Sweden is off to the semi-finals for the third straight year.

    Team Sweden is off to the semi-finals for the third straight year.

    The Hockey News - Elias Pettersson Picks Up First Point As Sweden Defeats Switzerland In The Quarterfinals At The 2024 World Juniors

    Team Sweden is off to the quarterfinals at the 2024 World Juniors after defeating Switzerland 3-2 in overtime. With the victory, Sweden advances to the semi-finals and will face Czechia for a spot in the Gold Medal game. Here is a breakdown of how the three Vancouver Canucks prospect did today for Sweden.

    Jonathan Lekkerimäki was once again electric for Team Sweden. He scored a power play goal in the first while also recording the primary assist on the overtime winner. He also played over 22 minutes, finishing the night with nine shots on goal. Now up to seven points in five games, he has a good chance at finishing the tournament in the top five for both goals and points. 

    Jumping over to Elias Pettersson, he recorded his first point of the tournament, recording an assist on the game's opening goal. As usual, he played a strong, physical game and did not make any noticeable errors throughout. Playing 19:01, he continues to be used in a shutdown role at even strength and on the penalty kill. 

    Lastly, Tom Willander was noticeable for the right reasons. He was able to break up passes in the defensive zone while also showing his ability to transition the puck with breakout passes. Surpassing the 21-minute mark for the second straight game, he continues to be a difference-maker for Sweden on the back end. 

    Up next for Team Sweden will be a battle with Czechia in the semi-finals. This will be a rematch of last year's semi-finals, where Czechia beat Sweden 2-1 in overtime. Game time is set for 6:00 AM PT and can be viewed on TSN. 

    Image