So Sweden will win over Canada – no thief and pushes
– Now we have played well in Penalty Kill (games in numerical disadvantage) and feel pretty safe in it. But giving Canada for many chances I think will not be to our advantage. So we should avoid giving that little extra push or thief, he continues with a smile.
Three Kronor’s assistant team captain Mikael Backlund is on the same track.
– Yes, we will make it difficult for them, but as far as possible avoid expulsions. Because they are always good in powerplay.
What expulsions can it be okay to take?
– This may well be if it is open goal and you throw yourself down and tear down someone, and thus save a goal and instead get the chance to try to kill an expulsion, says Mikael Backlund with a smile.
What expulsions are never okay?
– When taking a lazy expulsion in the offensive zone. It’s never good, says Backlund.
In this context, Adam Larsson takes the opportunity to praise the World Cup judges.
– I think the judges have kept it at a good level.
After six played Group game matches are Sweden’s least expelled team. In total, Tre Kronor has attracted ten two -minute expulsions, one of which was a double expulsion.
– It is clear that a large part that we have had few deportation minutes is that in some of the matches we have had the puck almost 80 percent of the time, says Adam Larsson.
– Yes, it is easier to avoid expulsions when you do not have to hunt. Against Canada, it will be much more evenly distributed when it comes to puck possession, says Mikael Backlund.
But even in matches where a team dominates, expulsions can nevertheless come. Saturday’s match against France is one such example. In that match, Sweden drew five of its ten expulsions.
Although it might be because you thought it was time to train on the game in numerical disadvantage?
Before Adam Larsson answers that question, he laughs. Then he says.
– It may not have been the idea, but yes we got some training which is always good.
When Tre Kronor This is how Long has shown the tournament’s best discipline, Canada during the days in Stockholm has shown how good they are in powerplay – as so often during the championships.
Maybe it’s not that strange considering the players included in their first set in powerplay. There, Sidney Crosby, Nathan Mackinnon, Travis Konecny, Bo Horvat and Brandon Montour.
The second set includes, among other things, the teenage star shot Macklin Celebrini, 18 years.
– Canada has a very deep team, seasoned with stars. So in addition to the discipline, it is important that we minimize the mistakes, because against better players it punishes otherwise directly. Then Canada is well known to be really good in front of the cage so it is definitely something that we have to talk about, and manage in a good way, says Adam Larsson.
Canada’s penalty loss late Monday evening against Finland showed that even a team of stars can be beat with good defense and goalkeeping games. Something that Sweden has had during the World Cup days in Stockholm.
The loss also means that Sweden leads the group two points ahead of the second Canada. For Swedish part, it is enough with a point to secure the group victory.
After having won Saturday afternoon’s match against France, and taken the sixth straight victory in the World Cup, the Swedish players got a completely free Sunday.
– It has been quite intense so it was very nice to be able to relax and do some family activities, says Adam Larsson.
– Marcus Pettersson and I were at Skansen with our families. It was really fun, he continues.
Mikael Backlund took the opportunity to spend his day off in Västerås where the family has its Swedish base.
– The wife and the children landed in Sweden on Sunday so it was nice to have time with them, he says.
On Monday morning, the charging began before the match against Canada. First on the schedule was a press conference at a hotel in central Stockholm, and in the afternoon training at Hovet.
The result in the group finals against Canada determines which team Sweden will meet in Thursday night’s quarterfinals.
