2011 IIHF World Championship Final
Encyclopedia
The 2011 IIHF World Championship final was played at the Orange Arena in Bratislava
, Slovakia
on 15 May between Sweden and Finland. Finland won the match 6–1 and became world champions for the first time since the 1995 tournament
, and for the second time in history. This match was Finland's first final since 2007
and Sweden's first final since 2006
.
in Switzerland
. The two-game format final resulted in Sweden's victory 0–1, 0–0.
As two highly ranked
neighboring countries, Sweden and Finland have a long-running competitive tradition in ice hockey. Before the game, mainstream media in both countries titled the match "a dream final".
First Round
EWLINE
e class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;">
Team
5
3
2
0
0
23
11
+12
13
5
3
0
1
1
18
10
+8
10
5
2
1
0
2
17
15
+2
8
5
2
0
1
2
15
19
−4
7
5
1
1
1
2
11
12
−1
6
5
0
0
1
4
5
22
−17
1
Second Round
EWLINE
Opponent
Result
Playoff Round
Opponent
Result
5–2
Quarterfinals
4–1
5–2
Semifinals
3–0
took a penalty at 17:52 for interference, but Finland did not manage to score in Viktor Fasth
's goal. In the second period at 4:41, Sweden's Marcus Krüger
took a penalty for slashing, but the Swedes were again successful in killing the penalty. After only a minute of five-on-five play, Sweden's Magnus Pääjärvi fired a fierce shot towards Petri Vehanen
's net and scored the match's first goal at 27:40 for a 1–0 lead to Sweden.
Two Finnish penalties followed, at 29:15 to Niko Kapanen
for hooking, and at 34:25 to Petteri Nokelainen
for boarding, but the Swedes did not manage to increase their lead despite a close call.
Towards the second period's end, at 39:30, Sweden's David Petrasek
took a penalty for hooking Finland's Mikael Granlund
near the Swedish goal. With only 7 seconds remaining of the second period, Finland's Jarkko Immonen did not miss a pass from Janne Pesonen
to score a power play goal to Fasth's net, tying the game to 1–1.
The opening goal for Finland seemed to unleash the team's momentum, as the third period had not reached its third minute before Petteri Nokelainen scored for Finland to give them a 1–2 lead from Antti Pihlström
's pass at 42:35. Less than a minute later, at 43:21, Niko Kapanen widened the Finns' lead to 1–3 from a pass by Juhamatti Aaltonen
.
Before the period's half, the Swedes tried to regroup through a time-out, but the puck dominance remained with the Finns. Janne Pesonen's 1–4 goal at 56:41 and Mika Pyörälä
's 1–5 at 57:16 sealed the game for Finland. With 55 seconds remaining in the game clock, Antti Pihlström scored the match's last goal from a pass by Jani Lajunen
, ending the final in a decisive 1–6 victory for the Finnish team.
in Helsinki
on 16 May. The police estimated that 90,000–100,000 people were present as the Finnish team took the stage. President Tarja Halonen
was among the guests.
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
on 15 May between Sweden and Finland. Finland won the match 6–1 and became world champions for the first time since the 1995 tournament
1995 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 1995 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was played in Stockholm and Gavle Sweden, from April 23rd to May the 7th, 1995. In the tournament finals, Finland won the gold medal by winning over Sweden 4-1 at the Globen arena in Stockholm. The Finnish goals were scored by Timo Jutila and Ville...
, and for the second time in history. This match was Finland's first final since 2007
2007 IIHF World Championship
The 2007 IIHF World Championship were held between April 27 and May 13, 2007 in Moscow, Russia. It was the 71st annual world championship event run by the International Ice Hockey Federation...
and Sweden's first final since 2006
2006 IIHF World Championship
-Group B :All times local - Group C :All times local - Group D :All times local -Qualifying round:The top three teams from each group in the Preliminary round advance to the Qualifying Round...
.
Background
Finland and Sweden met in the IIHF World Championships final last time in the 1998 tournament1998 IIHF World Championship
The 1998 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships were held in Switzerland from May 1–17, 1998. The format expanded to 16 teams for the first time. The teams were divided into four groups of four with the top two teams in each advancing to the next round. The two groups of four then played a round...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The two-game format final resulted in Sweden's victory 0–1, 0–0.
As two highly ranked
IIHF World Ranking
The IIHF World Ranking is a ranking of the national teams of member countries of the International Ice Hockey Federation.The system was approved by the IIHF congress in September 2003...
neighboring countries, Sweden and Finland have a long-running competitive tradition in ice hockey. Before the game, mainstream media in both countries titled the match "a dream final".
Road to the final
| Sweden | Round | Finland | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| e class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"> | |||||||||
| Team | |||||||||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 7 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 6 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 5 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | −12 | 0 | |
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | 9 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 5 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 2 |
| Team | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 7 | +12 | 15 | |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 10 | +6 | 10 | |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 8 | |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 7 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 3 | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 22 | −13 | 2 |
Summary
The first period was goal-less, with good scoring chances at both ends. Sweden's Oliver Ekman-LarssonOliver Ekman-Larsson
Oliver Oscar Emanuel Ekman-Larsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
took a penalty at 17:52 for interference, but Finland did not manage to score in Viktor Fasth
Viktor Fasth
Erik Sixten Viktor Fasth is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing in AIK of the Elitserien.- Career :...
's goal. In the second period at 4:41, Sweden's Marcus Krüger
Marcus Krüger
Marcus Krüger is a Swedish professional ice hockey player. He is currently a centre for Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League...
took a penalty for slashing, but the Swedes were again successful in killing the penalty. After only a minute of five-on-five play, Sweden's Magnus Pääjärvi fired a fierce shot towards Petri Vehanen
Petri Vehanen
Petri Vehanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey Goaltender who currently plays for AK Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League KHL-SM-liiga career:...
's net and scored the match's first goal at 27:40 for a 1–0 lead to Sweden.
Two Finnish penalties followed, at 29:15 to Niko Kapanen
Niko Kapanen
Niko Klaus Petteri Kapanen is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League .-Playing career:...
for hooking, and at 34:25 to Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
for boarding, but the Swedes did not manage to increase their lead despite a close call.
Towards the second period's end, at 39:30, Sweden's David Petrasek
David Petrasek
David Petrasek is a professional Swedish ice hockey player with Czech ancestry, currently with HC Dinamo Minsk in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:...
took a penalty for hooking Finland's Mikael Granlund
Mikael Granlund
Mikael Antero Granlund is a Finnish professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for HIFK of the Finnish SM-Liiga...
near the Swedish goal. With only 7 seconds remaining of the second period, Finland's Jarkko Immonen did not miss a pass from Janne Pesonen
Janne Pesonen
Janne Pesonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger currently an unrestricted free agent .- Career :...
to score a power play goal to Fasth's net, tying the game to 1–1.
The opening goal for Finland seemed to unleash the team's momentum, as the third period had not reached its third minute before Petteri Nokelainen scored for Finland to give them a 1–2 lead from Antti Pihlström
Antti Pihlström
Antti Pihlström is a Finnish professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for JYP of the Finnish SM-liiga.-Playing career:Pihlström played in Finland's SM-liiga for the Espoo Blues, HPK, and SaiPa...
's pass at 42:35. Less than a minute later, at 43:21, Niko Kapanen widened the Finns' lead to 1–3 from a pass by Juhamatti Aaltonen
Juhamatti Aaltonen
Juhamatti Aaltonen is a Finnish ice hockey winger who now plays for Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League .He began his career in Kärpät and played with the team until 2009...
.
Before the period's half, the Swedes tried to regroup through a time-out, but the puck dominance remained with the Finns. Janne Pesonen's 1–4 goal at 56:41 and Mika Pyörälä
Mika Pyörälä
Mika Pyörälä is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for Frölunda HC of the Swedish Elitserien. He previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League , Timrå IK of the Elitserien, and Kärpät of the Finnish SM-liiga.-Playing career:On July 14, 2009,...
's 1–5 at 57:16 sealed the game for Finland. With 55 seconds remaining in the game clock, Antti Pihlström scored the match's last goal from a pass by Jani Lajunen
Jani Lajunen
Jani Lajunen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 7th round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft....
, ending the final in a decisive 1–6 victory for the Finnish team.
Details
Reactions
In Finland, the victory was celebrated at the Market SquareMarket Square, Helsinki
The Market Square is a central square in Helsinki, Finland, and one of the most famous market places and tourist attractions in the city....
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
on 16 May. The police estimated that 90,000–100,000 people were present as the Finnish team took the stage. President Tarja Halonen
Tarja Halonen
Tarja Kaarina Halonen is the incumbent President of Finland. The first female to hold the office, Halonen had previously been a member of the parliament from 1979 to 2000 when she resigned after her election to the presidency...
was among the guests.