By Logan Swinkels
Team Sweden’s star goalie Henrik Lundqvist couldn’t play their World Cup opener due to illness, so in steps Jacob Markstrom as backup.
A tough ask against a highly potent Russian attack yet he proved to be up to task - making 27 saves as they edged out Russia 2-1.
Sweden were controlling play for most of the game through their structured defense.
It wasn’t until halfway through the second period when the scoring began, with Gabriel Landeskog’s one-timer set up by Erik Karlsson. With his shot traveling at 128km/hr through traffic, there was little chance of Russia’s Sergei Bobrovsky stopping the puck from going in.
Shortly afterwards, Sweden added a second through defenseman Victor Hedman.
It appeared the score would stay 2-0 until 33 seconds left in the game when Russia’s favourite son Alex Ovechkin scored.
Down to 7 seconds left and Ovechkin believed he scored again of a messy rebound but video review would show that he pushed the puck into the net with his glove and not his stick, therefore no goal.
Sweden’s next game will be Wednesday (7am NZT) versus Finland, while Russia play again tomorrow against Team North America (12pm NZT).
Watch today’s highlights from the World Cup of Hockey in the video above.
Newshub.
