By Canadian Press

Czech Republic tops Sweden 7-3 to set up world ice hockey final against Canada or Switzerland

May 25, 2024 | 8:46 AM

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech Republic produced a three-goal second period as it downed Sweden 7-3 on Saturday to advance to the final of the ice hockey world championship for the first time since 2010.

Ottawa Senators forward Dominik Kubalik and Lukas Sedlak scored two goals apiece and added an assist each, while Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas had a four-point game with a goal and three assists.

David Kampf and Ondrej Kase had a goal and an assist each for the Czechs.

The Czechs next face defending champion Canada or Switzerland, who play later on Saturday.

Marcus Johansson, Marcus Pettersson and Joel Eriksson scored for the Swedes, whose eight-game winning run in the tournament came to an end.

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The Czechs jumped into a 5-2 lead in the second period after the teams had been tied at 2-2.

Kase gave the Czechs a 3-2 advantage from close range 6:05 in the period, and that was the first time the Swedes had trailed in the tournament.

Necas doubled the advantage with a one-timed slap shot from the slot after Kampf won a faceoff 16 seconds later. Kubalik then made it 5-2 with a one-timer from the right circle that went between the pads of goaltender Filip Gustavsson.

The goalie was pulled after letting in five goals from 17 shots and replaced by Samuel Ersson.

Joel Eriksson reduced the Czech lead to 5-3 on a power play with his seventh goal of the tournament.

Sweden piled on the pressure in the third period but Sedlak, who plays for Pardubice in the Czech league, stretched the lead to 7-3 with two breakaway goals, both going between the pads of Ersson.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Karel Janicek, The Associated Press