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SWEDEN 6, USA 0
How Swede it is.
Sweden romped USA 6-0 on Saturday to secure their berth in the World Championship final.
Oilers defender Adam Larsson, Arizona Coyotes rearguard Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund were named Sweden's three best players.
Goaltender Anders Nilsson posted a 41-save shutout performance, keeping his club in the game early as the USA came out firing on all cylinders. He owns a 6-0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average, .959 save percentage and three shutouts in the tournament.
Larsson and Sweden's star-studded D-core kept scoring leader Patrick Kane off the scoresheet for the first time all tournament.
The USA manufactured plenty of offence in the first period but the Swedes conjured a one-goal lead thanks to a Viktor Arvidsson marker, then turned the game into a blowout in the middle frame.
Larsson received a four-minute high-sticking infraction in the second and Sweden responded by scoring three goals in 3:07 to put the game out of reach for their opponent.
Former Oilers forward Magnus Paajarvi tallied shorthanded, while Pittsburgh Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist and Dallas Stars forward Mattias Janmark also notched in succession.
In the third, Arvidsson nabbed an early empty-netter and Adrian Kempe tucked a late cross-crease pass for good measure.
Larsson and the Swedes will face Switzerland in Sunday's gold medal game. Sweden will seek to capture their second consecutive World Championship victory for the first time since 1992.
The two sides will square off at 12:15 PM MT on Sunday.
The USA will compete for the bronze medal against Canada at 7:45 AM MT.
SWITZERLAND 3, CANADA 2
They did it again.
After upsetting Group B's top squad, Finland, by a score of 3-2 in the quarter-finals, Switzerland stunned Canada in Saturday's second semifinal, winning the match by yet another 3-2 mark.
Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni was a wall, making 43 saves to backstop his team to the gold medal game.
Gaetan Haas' power-play goal in the third period - on Switzerland's only shot in the final frame - stood as the game-winner. Canada outshot Switzerland 18-1 in the last 20 minutes of play.
Oilers Captain Connor McDavid registered one assist in the loss as he, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Aaron Ekblad were named Canada's three best players of the tournament. Keeper Darcy Kuemper stopped 14 of 17 shots on goal.
Canada owned much of the play for the latter half of the game but never once owned a lead. They trailed 1-0 after the opening period and 2-1 after 40.
As the intensity ramped up in the dying minutes of the third, a Colton Parayko blast put Canada within one but the squad could not solve Genoni for the equalizer - despite putting Switzerland on their heels.
Switzerland has defeated Canada in three of their last four meetings at the World Championship.
