Team Finland celebrated a sweet 4-1 victory over Team Sweden at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics at the Santagiulia Arena on Friday, February 13.
Facing Sweden’s strong lineup, the Lions anticipated a tough game.
Finland took the lead with a goal from Nikolas Matinpalo, who fired a powerful wrist shot into Sweden’s net.
From the start, the Lions played with fire and intensity against their neighbor.
Finland gained possession of a loose puck, and Eetu Luostarinen directed it toward the net. The puck deflected off Anton Lundell and then off goalie Filip Gustavsson’s helmet before crossing the goal line. Sweden challenged the play for high sticking, but the referees confirmed the goal.
The first period ended with Finland up 2–0.
In the second stanza, Sweden cut the lead to 1–2 but then took a penalty … but … Finland couldn’t convert.
Soon enough, though, Finland seized a 3–1 lead with a stunning shorthanded goal: despite being surrounded by three Swedish players in the offensive zone, Erik Haula maintained control of the puck and managed to pass it to Joel Armia, who then lifted it into the top corner.
There was still time for fights at the end of the second period. Penalties for Rasmus Ristolainen and Niko Mikkola, as well as the Swedes Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek.
Sweden dominated the third period, but Finland defended bravely.
At the end of the third interval, Mikko Rantanen opened his tournament scoring account when he shot the puck from his own end into Sweden’s empty net.
Mikko Rantanen scored the final goal to make it 4–1.
Photograph on the front page by Raniero Corbelletti/AFLO/EASTPRESS
