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Winter Olympics Sochi 2014: Sweden vs. Czech Republic Men’s Hockey Recap

In a result that should shock no one, Team Sweden boat-raced their opponents from the Czech Republic in the first thirty minutes, scoring four unanswered goals and would hold on to secure a 4-2 victory.

The Czech’s took a flyer by starting KHL netminder Jakub Kovar against the Swedes — a result that ultimately blew up in their faces. Kovar allowed three goals on a total of ten shots for .700 save percentage that would make even Ondrej Pavelec look good by comparison. He was replaced by his back-up Alexander Salak early in the second period, who did well to keep Sweden from absolutely blowing his team out of the water.

Erik Karlsson opened the scoring midway through the first period during a delayed penalty call on Martin Erat. Daniel Alfredsson provided a slight screen in front of Kovar but it was ultimately a puck he could have stopped. Well, let me rephrase that. It's a puck that an Olympic netminder should have stopped. Unless your name is Tommy Salo.

Sweden would double their lead only minutes later on a short side slap shot that again, likely should have been stopped by Kovar.

The Czech starter was finally put out of his misery fifty-one seconds into the second period when Henrik Zetterberg extended the lead to 3-0, making way for the aforementioned Salak to make his debut.

Salak entrance didn't do much to immediately spark his teammates as Erik Karlsson notched his second of the game minutes later on a Swedish power play.

To their credit, the Czech’s would settled down in the second half of the game and managed to avoid utter domination. Second period goals by Marek Zidlicky and Jaromir Jagr bridged the gap to 4-2, which is where Henrik Lundqvist ensured it would remain fending off twenty-seven shots in the victory.

Both Sweden and the Czech Republic will take to the ice again on Friday with dates against Switzerland and Latvia.

CZE SWE
2 SCORE 4
29 (6.90%) SHOTS 25 (16.0%)
21 (.840%) SAVES 27 (.931%)
10 PIM 10

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