The nation lost its opener 5-2 to the Czech Republic finally year’s reality junior hockey title on home soil prior to returning to win a second continuous gold decoration.
Letang was a partner on that instructing staff. Presently in the enormous seat, he’ll need to attract on that insight to get this emphasis in the groove again.
Hugo Havelid made 21 saves Friday in Sweden’s 2-0 triumph over Canada in a game where the North Americans never truly got moving after a respectable first period.
“In the event that we assumed we won’t get tested in this competition, and we won’t confront this misfortune, we’d be really credulous,” Letang said. “The conviction hasn’t changed. It’s not faltering.”
In contrast to the 2023 occasion in Halifax, notwithstanding, Canada doesn’t have the game-breaking expertise of Connor Bedard or a large group of other qualified NHLers inaccessible at this under-20 grandstand when things go sideways.
“We played a lot of individual, a lot of expertise,” said Canadian goaltender Mathis Rousseau, who did his part with 22 recoveries, including one that dazzled Lobby of Popularity netminder Henrik Lundqvist from the stands. “A ton of issues getting inside in light of the fact that the folks were simply attempting to go one-on-one versus everyone.”
Tom Willander and Noah Ostlund scored for Sweden, which secured best position in Gathering A with a third continuous shutout inside a boisterous Scandinavium field in Gothenburg, Sweden. Theo Lindstein had two helps.
Canada is second in the pool with six focuses from its three games.
“Fabulous,” Willander, a Vancouver Canucks prospect, said of the air. “Incredible air. An incredible group we beat, as well.”
“Significant games before us,” added Havelid, who like Rousseau is modest and undrafted. “Can’t believe we’re excessively great.”
The two goaltenders said it was extraordinary to act before Lundqvist, who is the most recent inductee into Sweden’s Hockey Corridor of Distinction subsequent to getting a similar gesture on the opposite side of the Atlantic Sea in November.
“Watched him as a youngster,” Havelid said. “Playing very great hockey before him, it implied a bonus.”
Around 3,500 Canadians have made the trip to this city on Sweden’s west coast, yet the red-clad contingent was an uproarious minority inside an electric arena Friday.
“Quite possibly of the coolest game I’ve at any point been a piece of,” said Canadian chief Fraser Minten, who played multiple times with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.
“Goose pimples,” added Letang.
Sweden opened the scoring 1:53 into the second time frame after Matthew Poitras, who joined Canada from the Boston Bruins, couldn’t clear the cautious zone. The puck advanced toward Willander, and he terminated past Rousseau with defenceman Noah Warren screening his goaltender.
Rousseau gave his all to hold the Canadians down one with several immense quits, remembering one for Jonathan Lekkerimaki.
Yet, the forward — another Vancouver draft pick — kept the puck in at the blue line on a similar succession and made an effort that Rousseau couldn’t crush before Ostlund slid the bounce back home at 10:39.