Swiftly reversing the match, Sweden took advantage of Austria in just 12 seconds.
Game over! Austria's icy warriors just lost 2:4 to mighty Sweden in an intense clash on the 10th of May, but they didn't disappoint the fans. A double strike from the Swedes in the 58th minute, mere seconds apart, sealed the deal for the title contenders. Austria had been leading 2:1 for the most part, but it wasn't enough to secure a win.
Austria built on their performance against Finland, losing 1:2 the previous day. Salzburg native David Kickert stepped up in goal, as Atte Tolvanen left to be with his wife for the birth of their child in Helsinki.
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The Swedes were brimming with top NHL talent, but the plucky Austrians held their own. They played with not a single careless move, displaying serious intent in the defense and keeping the pressure low in the offensive zone. Austria kept generating opportunities, playing to the crowd's delight.
The Avicii Arena in Stockholm fell silent when Raffl fired a shot, and Baumgartner capitalized on the rebound to lead 1:0 (26.). The first boos echoed through the arena.
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The referee's calls grew frequent, with a Swedish player colliding with defender Stapelfeldt, resulting in a penalty for Austria. Rangers forward Zibanejad took advantage of the power play, scoring a screened shot to make it 1:1 (34.).
Austria defended stoutly in the third period, but Sweden rampaged forward. Within 12 seconds, Brodin leveled the score to 2:2, followed by another strike from Zibanejad to take the lead at 3:2 (58.). The fourth goal came at an empty net, and Austria sneaked in an extra attacker to attempt a miraculous comeback, but it wasn't enough.
Austria failed to snatch their first point against Sweden since their 2:1 victory in 1947.
"We played fantastically," said coach Roger Bader, filled with pride but also disappointment, as they focus on Slovakia next.
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- The Austrians, despite their loss to Sweden, showcased an impressive performance, echoing their efforts against Finland.
- David Kickert, a Salzburg native, stepped in for Atte Tolvanen, who was absent due to personal reasons.
- The Swedes, boasting top NHL talent, were met with a tenacious challenge from the Austrians.
- Austria kept the momentum going, generating opportunities and delighting the crowd with their relentless play.
- In the intense clash against Sweden, Austria failed to secure a point against the European Leagues champions, who reclaimed their lead in the Champions League series.
