Lucas Raymond for the rival meeting in the ice hockey World Cup: « Especially to meet Finland »
The World Cup trip has so far been more or less planned for both Sweden and Finland for Monday’s rival meeting. Three Kronor cleaned up of Slovakia in the first match and won, After a late turn, the other towards Austria.
– It means a lot that we will come back. It was not our best match and we will not get to the level we wanted. But coming back says some about the team too, it’s a message of strength, says Raymond.
Like Tre Kronor, Finland won the premiere against Austria but then had to dig unexpectedly deep to beat France in the second match.
With three minutes left If they were down by 3-1 but finally managed to turn the match on extension to 4–3.
– You almost think that the match is already over. But they find ways to come back and their top guys deliver, says Sam Hallam, who kept an eye on the match on Sunday.
In the last ten World Cup matches against Finland, Tre Kronor has dominated with seven wins. On Monday night, you also have the chance to win against the rival for the fourth time in a row in the World Cup context.
Someone who has good memories from the latest meetings against the Finnish lions is Lucas Raymond who participated in the last two world championships in the Czech Republic and Finland.
– Finland plays very tight, we beat them in the quarterfinals last year where we won by 2-1 in overtime so it will be a tight match. They have a good team game above all – there are always tough matches, he says.
This year’s World Cup in Stockholm Is the first thing played in Sweden since 2013 – when Tre Kronor won the championship. So far, Raymond thinks that the Swedish home crowd – « The Seventh Player of the Team » – has taken care of themselves gallantly from the stand.
– There has been great framing before and after matches. It’s great fun to look up and see all the fans, he says.
– Getting to meet Finland at home is special and I think we look forward to it extra much.
Just like Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund Lucas Raymond will also get a new chain mate before the meeting with the rival, in the first chain he and Leo Carlsson will now be joined by Isac Lundeström.
– Two anaheim guys next to me, says Raymond with a smile.
– It’s fun, Isac plays very good hockey all over the track and works extremely hard. It is a strength in our team that we can rotate around and maintain the same efficiency.
Read more:
Lindholm about the change before Finland: « Let’s see if the chemistry remains »
