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Finland takes advantage of Sweden's PK
Written by: Chris McCluskey on 12/29/2002 
It was Finland who scored first, minutes into the game with Jussi Timonen putting his second goal of the tournament past Polish born Michal Zajkowski. Zajkowski was starting in place of Mathias Fagerstrom who gave up eight goals to Canada in an 8-2 loss on Friday.
This seemed to wake up the lethargic Swedes, inspiring them to manhandle the Finns for the remainer of the frame, registering 14 shots to Finland's 3 late in the period. It was also the Swedes who scored the next two goals, taking their first lead of the tournament. First, Kari Lehtonen gave up a soft goal to the son of Swedish legend Tomas Steen's son, Alexander, 54 seconds into the second. This was followed by an unguarded Robert Nilsson knocking home his second goal in two games past the highest drafted European goaltender of all time.
The lead was short lived however, as on a 4 on 3 advantage, standout defenceman Jani Pitkanen called for the puck at the point and gave it to Jussi Jokinen who slid the puck to Tuomo Ruutu for the tying goal. Despite pressure from the Swedes to regain the lead, Lehtonen was there to make the saves including once sequence where he managed to get his sprawling body in front of 4 successive rebounds in a scramble.
It was New York Islanders first rounder Sean Bergenheim who iced the game late in the third period, flying in and taking a Jani Pitkanen pass putting it by Zajkowski to make the final 3-2 on the power play. Player of the game honors went to Alexander Steen for the Swedes and Kari Lehtonen for the Finns. Both teams are out of action tomorrow but will play again on Monday.
Notes: Tuomo Ruutu, Jussi Jokinen, and Sean Bergenheim now share a three-way tie for the Finnish team lead in points with three each.
There is a four-way tie for the Swedish team lead in points involving Joakim Lindstrom, Robert Nilsson, Alexander Steen, and Sim Skoog all with two. Both Swedish goal scorers are sons of former NHL stars and born in Canada.
Finnish goaltender Kari Lehtonen was randomly selected to undergo a drug test following the game and was subsequently unavailable for interviews.
Hockey's Future's #6 rated player, Joni Pitkanen, in their list of the top prospects in hockey said through an interpreter that he doesn't feel the added pressure of being so highly touted in the tournament and is fairly happy with the way he is playing although he would like to get a few more scoring chances.
Face in the crowd included Brian Burke, Cassie Campbell, Tomas Steen, and Dave Taylor.
PERIOD 1
Scoring:
2:35 FIN Timonen 2 (Lehtisalo)
Penalties:
11:42 FIN Bergenheim 2 (Hooking)
12:54 FIN Jaakola 2 (Illegal Equipment)
16:20 SWE Lindstrom 4 (High Sticking)
PERIOD 2
Scoring:
0:54 SWE Steen 1 (Skoog, Beck)
7:57 SWE Nilsson 2 (Skoog, Paulsson)
11:55 FIN Ruutu 1 (Pitkanen, Jokinen) PP
Penalties:
9:51 SWE Leetma 2 (Tripping)
11:35 SWE Lindstrom 2 (Holding the Stick)
17:11 FIN Jalasvaara 2 (Hooking)
PERIOD 3
Scoring:
14:30 FIN Bergenheim 2 (Pitkanen) PP
Penalties:
6:35 FIN Fagerstedt 2 (Roughing)
13:27 SWE Almtorp 2 (Interference)
16:25 FIN Timonen 2 (Interference)
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Sweden: Alexander Steen, 1 goal
Finland: Kari Lehtonen, 27 saves
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GOALTENDERS
Sweden: Michal Zajkowski (0-1)
Finland: Kari Lehtonen (2-0)
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SHOTS ON GOAL 1 2 3 F Sweden 14 8 7 29 Finland 9 11 12 32 -------------------------------------------------------
Referee: Tor Olav Johnsen
Linesmen: Miroslav Halecky, John Costello
Copyright 2002 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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