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WORLD CUP | NA vs SWE Recap
POST-GAME RAW | Todd McLellan
POST-GAME RAW | Mark Scheifele
POST-GAME RAW | Connor McDavid
It took only 30 seconds for North America to get one past Henrik Lundqvist. Auston Matthews drew the Swedes to his side of the ice and sauced a pass to the other. A wide open Morgan Reilly unleashed a shot and the rebound came right back to Matthews who buried the game's opening goal.
Connor McDavid had the second assist after a brilliant individual effort to navigate through the neutral zone and get the puck in deep.
Moments later, North America's Johnny Gaudreau was awarded a penalty shot but fired high of Lundqvist.
Vincent Trocheck put North America up 2-0 at 1:35, assisted by Shayne Gostisbehere and Jack Eichel.
At 8:24 of the first, the Swedes found the back of the net. Filip Forsberg sniped one from the slot to make it a 2-1 game.
Still in the opening frame, at 13:57, Gaudreau got another chance one-on-one with Lundqvist and redeemed his earlier penalty shot. The North American winger broke away free and put a great move on the goaltender, tucking the puck behind to give his team a two-goal lead.
Sweden jumped back within one at 16:28 of the first. John Gibson couldn't get back in time to cover a Nicklas Backstrom shot, and it was a 3-2 game with the Swedes putting some pressure on the 23-and-under squad.
With 1:24 left in the opening frame, McDavid was stopped by Lundqvist one-on-one.
Late in the second, Team North America began to pull away in shots a little more as they got a few good chances on Lundqvist. Nathan MacKinnon was stopped in the slot by the Swedish netminder and Lundqvist again had a glove save on a good chance moments later.
With 5:15 left in the second, McDavid set up Jonathan Drouin on a rush but Lundqvist flashed the glove again. At that point in the game, North America was outshooting Sweden 32-26 in a 3-2 battle.