Faceoff Factor

The question coming into this game was: Would Backstrom score on Backstrom?

Not today.

Finland and Sweden have a long history in international hockey. There was the gold medal game at the 2006 Olympics, which Sweden won. There was the 2003 WC quarter-finals, where the Finns led 5-0 before giving up 6 straight goals. There was also the 2002 WC bronze medal game that saw the Finns give up a 3-0 lead to lose 5-3.

History certainly wasn’t on Finland’s side, but luckily history does not score goals.

The key to winning this game was for the star players to play like star players. For the Finns it meant that the pressure was on Teemu Selanne, Olli Jokinen, and the Koivus to lead the way after a disappointing loss to the Russians. For Sweden, it meant that 20-year-old captain Nicklas Backstrom and his lesser known teammates (such as Weinhandl) had to step up and show the 25+ Swedish players who declined to play in the WC that they could do the job without them. After all, who needs Sundin, Alfredsson, and the Sedins?

Niklas Backstrom was the obvious choice in goal for the Finns. He hasn’t had a fantastic tournament, but he hasn’t been Swiss cheese either.

The Swedes’ choice in goal was a bit of a head-scratcher, though. Stefan Liv was given the nod, even though he hadn’t played since May 7th. His backup was Mikael Tellqvist, who shutout the Canadians in the third period of the semis on Friday. Swedish super goalie Henrik Lundqvist sat in the press room (or wherever the scratched players sit) after pulling himself/being pulled in the semis due to fatigue. Somehow I think this move will be debated among Swedish fans for quite some time.

At the end of the day, goaltending was what won Finland the game. The Finns were badly outshot 36-13, but Backstrom was perfect and earned his first shutout of the tournament.

Each team skated (fairly) hard and they each had a few chances to start the game, but there was virtually no physical element to the game. It was evident that the hard-fought semi-finals games the previous day took their toll on today’s game.

Nashville prospect and pest Antti Pihlstrom scored the first goal and game winner just as Sweden’s first penalty expired. A few minutes later, Niskala fired a long wrist shot that beat Liv high glove-side, and the Finns carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The second period was scoreless, but it was all about Niklas Backstrom as the Swedes outshot the Finns 11-2.

Pihlstrom added his second goal of the game minutes into the third period, and Mikko Koivu closed the scoring with an empty net goal late in the game.

“We’ve always had tough battles with Finland over the years,” said Sweden’s Mattias Weinhandl. “In general, we played well the last three or four games and had a chance to win today, but we couldn’t do it."

Canada and Russia meet tomorrow afternoon for the gold medal game in Quebec City.