U.S. edges Sweden 3-2 in world junior hockey tournament

The American team, the tournament's defending champion, outscored its opponents 22-4 in going 4-0 in Group B games.

By News services

August 15, 2022 at 5:19AM
Matthew Coronato (15) celebrated one of his two goals with his U.S. teammates during a 3-2 victory over Sweden in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, on Sunday. (Jason Franson, The Canadian Press via AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

EDMONTON, Alberta — Harvard forward Matthew Coronato scored twice, incoming Gophers freshman Logan Cooley had two assists and the defending champion United States held off Sweden 3-2 on Saturday night to finish 4-0 in Group B play in the world junior hockey championship.

Brett Berard also scored for the Americans and Kaidan Mbereko made 28 saves. The U.S. will face the Czech Republic — the fourth-place team in Group A — in the quarterfinals Wednesday. The U.S. outscored its opponents 22-4 in four Group B games.

Sweden (2-1) rallied in the third, with Emil Andrae cutting it to 3-1 with 9:22 to go and Ake Stakkestad making it a one-goal game on a power play with 1:45 left and goalie Jesper Wallstedt off for an extra attacker.

Wallstedt, a 2021 first-round draft pick of the Wild, made 37 saves for Sweden, which lost for the first time in three games.

Sweden will play Germany (2-1) on Monday for second place in the group.

In Group A, Ralfs Bergmanis had a hat trick and Latvia beat the Czech Republic 5-2 to secure a quarterfinal spot.

Only in the field after Russia and Belarus were expelled, Latvia (1-2-1) finished third in the group — a spot ahead of the Czech Republic (1-2-1).

Earlier, Kasper Simontaival had two goals and an assist in Finland's 9-3 victory over Slovakia. Joel Maatta also scored twice for Finland (2-1), which will face Canada (3-0) on Monday for the top spot in the group.

Slovakia finished 0-3-1.

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Brad Nessler last called a Gophers game in 2015. He grew up St. Charles, Minn., and got his broadcasting start in Mankato, so this has been a chance to reacquaint with old friends.