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Sweden - Back to back World Champions - Patrick Kane named MVP |
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The 2018 IIHF World Hockey Championships are done and over with and the champion has been crowned.
Action packed start of the game, hits and dangerous moments were created very early in the 1st period by both sides. Both goalies had to get involved very fast and Genoni of Swiss got a lucky bounce for himself as puck juggle on his goal-line but away from the net. As the period progressed things slowly started to fall into place as Sweden gained their on-ice advantage outplaying and creating better scoring chances. Even more, they had a chance to play on the powerplay but couldn't capitalize on it as Nino Niederreiter was sent to the box for high-sticking. Sweden kept applying pressure as their opponent really depended on their chances on their counter-attacks. It finally worked out - Roman Josi went through the Swedish defense and Nino Niederreiter tucked the puck in to make it 1-0.
Swedes weren't going to let it go - Patrick Hornqvist shields the goalie and Gustav Nyquist with the shot to tie the game up. 1-1 after the 1st period.
2nd period - an early penalty by Sweden as Gustav Nyquist was sent to the box for high-sticking and Switzerland's Timo Meier capitalized on it with a snipe that went past Anders Nilsson to give them another lead. 4-on-4 hockey was played by both teams as coincidental minors were awarded after a battle in front of the net. At mid-point of the game, Switzerland team led the contest while Sweden started pressuring even harder forcing another man advantage for them which was enough to tie the game. Mika Zibanejad received the puck at the blue-line skated towards the net and his wrist shot went off the cross-bar and in. Towards the end of the period, the pace of the game picked up to the point it was early in the 1st with both sides going for it and attempting to put a nail into the carpet to the dressing room.
The final period of regulation at the World Championships and Genoni was forced to make a huge save just a few seconds into it. Switzerland's Roman Josi was caught breaking the rules and sent to the box giving Sweden hope to score a goal and earn them their first lead of the game which they couldn't score on but Roman Josi earned another penalty without even leaving the penalty box - he touched the puck before stepping on to the ice and Switzerland was called for too many men. The man advantage wasn't their friend and game stayed tied with 9 minutes left in the period. Late in the 3rd Sweden caught their opponent changing but Swiss goalie Genoni saved the gold medal hopes sending the game to OT! Quality hockey but OT was a no go for either side meaning that the championship would be decided in a shootout.
Filip Forsberg won it for Sweden in shootout.
The complete list of awards is as follows:
Directorate Awards
Best Goaltender--Frederik Andersen (DEN)
Best Defenceman--John Klingberg (SWE)
Best Forward--Sebastian Aho (FIN)
Media All-Star Team
Goaltender--Anders Nilsson (SWE)
Defencemen--Adam Larsson (SWE)/Oliver Ekman-Larsson (SWE)
Forwards--Rickard Rakell (SWE)/Patrick Kane (USA)/Sebastian Aho (FIN)
MVP
Patrick Kane (USA)
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