February 2010
End of an Era for Swedish Hockey
By Shawn P. Roarke, NHL.com, February 25, 2010
The defending gold medal holders crashed out of a wild 2010 Olympic tournament with a stunning 4-3 upset at the hands of
Perhaps in the do-over game,
In
On this night, Henrik Lundqvist was ordinary at best, stopping just 10 of the 14 shots he faced. Lidstrom -- and the whole defense -- struggled throughout the game. The Swedish captain was an attention-grabbing minus-2 on the night and was just a step slow in trying to cover the hard-charging Tomas Kopecky as he banged home a rebound for the eventual game-winning goal.
"They had a good power play," Lundqvist said. "They pretty much beat us the way we thought they could beat us -- on mistakes and turnovers. They come really fast and they are pretty skilled. We think we were the better team, but they kind of hurt us in their good areas."
Lidstrom said the game changed when
As a result, the golden era of Swedish hockey ends.
Four years from now, if professionals are still a part of the Olympic hockey tournament,
Lidstrom admitted it was a little bittersweet to think about playing in his final Olympic game, but he already was looking ahead to the new wave of Swedish super stars.
"I think this tournament, you saw a lot of young players that you are going to see in Swedish hockey for years to come," Lidstrom told NHL.com. Players like (center Nicklas) Backstrom, Tobias Enstrom on the point, the (Sedin) twins (Daniel and Henrik). You saw a lot of young kids that are coming up.
Zetterbergfan’s take:
What a disappointment! It was an uncharacteristically bad game by Lundqvist and Lidstrom. The pairing of Detroit Red Wings defensemen Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall played poorly, and at least one of them was caught out of position on each of
Fortunately, the line of Zetterberg, Peter Forsberg, and Patric Holmqvist were finally jumping and creating offense after three point-less preliminary games in which the trio seemed to just be playing a tight-checking shutdown role.
After the Slovaks surprisingly got up on
He won’t get credited on the scoresheet, but Z was key in setting up
Just 37 seconds later, Zetterberg took a pass off of the rightwing boards from defenseman Tobias Enstrom. Henrik turned in the right faceoff circle and lifted a backhanded pass towards the crease as Forsberg rushed the net from the slot. The puck defelected past goalie Jaroslav Halak’s glove after striking Slovakia defenseman Milan Jurcina in the left knee as he attempted to block out Forsberg. Zetterberg’s even strength tally tied the game at two-a-piece. The goal ended up being his only point recorded in the Olympics.
It’s a shame that Tre Kronor’s run came to an end, because Hank was playing progressively better each match. Clearly, his line was the best in this game. But it also was a reliable line throughout the tournament, often facing opponents top forwards and keeping them from scoring. The only goals scored with Zetterberg on the ice were against
Z was exceptional as a penalty killer in the Olympics, killing several 5-on-3’s and numerous other man-advantages. He was not on the ice for any power-play goals scored against
Overall, I’d say Zetterberg was
Canada's Meghan Agosta scores an autograph from Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg
By Steve Schrader, Freep.com, February 24th, 2010
Team Canada forward Meghan Agosta had two goals when she came to the Vancouver Olympics: a gold medal, of course, and meeting her idol, Henrik Zetterberg.
So she carried around her Zetterberg Red Wings jersey, just in case she ran into him at the athletes' village.
But not the other night, when she was in the cafeteria with teammate Jayna Hefford and decided Zetterberg wouldn't be there that late ...
"So all of the sudden, Jayna has this weird look on her face," Agosta told the Windsor Star. "I'm like, 'What?' She said, 'He just walked in.' I turned around and he was there."
So Agosta, who has nine goals going into the gold medal game against the U.S., went to her room, got the jersey, and Z autographed it.
"I was pretty shy to ask because I don't want to bother those guys," she said.
By George Malik, Mlive.com, February 23, 2010
If there is a coach who merits a, "What the hell are you doing?" it's Bengt-Ake Gustafsson, who seems to happily under-utilize Henrik Zetterberg on an all too regular basis, but Zetterberg's evidently regained the shoulder strength necessary to win one-on-one battles for the puck along the boards, win key faceoffs, and powerfully pass and shoot the puck at regular strength, on the power play, and on that all-Detroit penalty-killing unit with Kronwall, Lidstrom, and Johan Franzen. Zetterberg is very much so a two-way forward who has to defer to the Sedins and babysit a noticeably slower and weaker Peter Forsberg for the most part, but Zetterberg's shoulder and groin issues seem to have subsided, and he's finally having a little fun after grinding it out for the most part of the 2009-2010 season as one of the four or five Red Wings who actually showed up on a night-by-night basis (see also: Lidstrom, Jimmy Howard, Todd Bertuzzi, Darren Helm).
Red Wings-related Olympic Post
By George Malik, Mlive.com, February 23, 2010
Henrik Zetterberg received heady praise from Nicklas Lidstrom, who called him the Wings' "most important player," and Niklas Kronwall, who says that the amount of work Zetterberg expends on a game-by-game basis is incredible in an article by Aftonbladet's Mats Wennerholm, but the tabloid crowd won't care about the fact that Zetterberg is playing down his importance to Team Sweden or likes the smell of Swedish-made coffee in the locker room, because Emma Andersson's in Vancouver. Woo!
Zetterberg Voted Best Swede in NHL by Fellow Olympic Teammates
Members Inducted into Triple Gold Club
By John Dellapina, NHL.com, February 23, 2010
The setting was a gala awards show convened inside a raucous party tent. So, it should have come as no surprise that the guests of honor were greeted like rock stars when they hit the stage.
But the triumvirate that formed the gift-bearing receiving line – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, IIHF president Rene Fasel and legendary Russian goaltender Vladislav Tretiak – made it clear that this was something special.
What it was, on the 30th anniversary of the most celebrated event in international hockey history, was the inaugural ceremonies of the Triple Gold Club – an IIHF designation that celebrates those fortunate and talented few who have won the Stanley Cup, an Olympic gold medal and an IIHF World Championship as players.
Only 22 men have managed that hat trick. And the attendance was perfect. All 22, including seven players competing in the current Olympic tournament, made their way to Vancouver and the Molson Hockey House to receive a hero's welcome along with a name-and-numbered sweater of their national federation, a Tissot watch and gold TGC lapel pin.
”Remarkably, through all the decades, through all those great events in the hockey world and the thousands of athletes who have played in them, only 22 have won championships in all three major competitions," Bettman told the crowd. "The NHL is extremely proud of the character and sportsmanship of every player who has contributed to the winning of all three championships."
The members of the Triple Gold Club were introduced in chronological order of their having won the third required championship.
First up: Tomas Jonsson (Islanders Cup), Mats Naslund (Montreal Cup) and Hakan Loob Calgary Cup), who became TGC members when Sweden won Olympic gold in 1994.
The second group: Valeri Kamensky and Alexei Gusarov of Russia and Sweden's Peter Forsberg, who entered the club upon winning the Cup in '96 with Colorado.
Up third: The men who changed the hockey world by defying the old Soviet system and fighting their way to the NHL – Viacheslav Fetisov and Igor Larionov, who joined the TGC upon winning the Cup with Detroit in 1997.
Next: Russians Alexander Mogilny and Vladimir Malakhov, who punched their TGC tickets by winning the Cup with New Jersey in 2000.
Then, to a deafening roar from the crowd: Brendan Shanahan, Rob Blake and local boy Joe Sakic, who earned their TGC credentials by winning Olympic gold for Canada in 2002.
Current Canadian captain Scott Niedermayer was next – he completed his required troika by winning the World Championship with Canada in 2004.
Czechs Jaromir Jagr and Jiri Slegr were inducted next. They hit the milestone by winning the World Championship in 2005.
Nicklas Lidstrom and Fredrik Modin, current Swedish Olympians, were introduced next, having earned their TGC stripes by winning Olympic gold in Torino in 2006.
Current Canadian defenseman Chris Pronger was honored as the lone member of the Class of 2007 – he won the Cup with Anaheim that year.
The final group was comprised of 2008 Detroit Cup winners Niklas Kronwall, Mikael Samuelsson and Henrik Zetterberg.
The Golden Boys
By Risto Pakarinen, IIHF.com, February 22nd, 2010
The 22 winners of the three major championships - the Stanley Cup, a World Championship, and an Olympic gold medal – were inducted into the Triple Gold Club in a ceremony held in Vancouver on Monday. All 22 members of the exclusive club were present, as they were introduced to the stage and handed a national team sweater with special TGC patches.
The 22 players – Tomas Jonsson, Mats Näslund, Håkan Loob, Valeri Kamensky, Alexei Gusarov, Peter Forsberg, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Alexander Mogilny, Vladimir Malakhov, Rob Blake, Joe Sakic, Brendan Shanahan, Scott Niedermayer, Jaromir Jagr, Jiri Slegr, Nicklas Lidström, Fredrik Modin, Chris Pronger, Niklas Kronwall, Henrik Zetterberg, and Mikael Samuelsson – were all there, as North American TV personalities Gord Miller and Pierre McGuire introduced them to the crowd, before they accepted their membership awards from IIHF President René Fasel, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and President of the Russian Federatioon, Vladislav Tretiak.
Their careers span over four decades, and over four different countries, but on Monday night, the only thing that mattered was that exclusive membership in the Triple Gold Club, as the players reconnected with old teammates – like Peter Forsberg and Valeri Kamensky, and Nicklas Lidström and Igor Larionov – or exchanged a few words with their former idols – like Niklas Kronwall and the former Soviet stars.
“Mats Näslund was from the same town as me, and obviously Peter (Forsberg) was a big idol, too, and to have been able to play with him in a few tournaments has been great,” said Henrik Zetterberg, one of eight players currently participating in the 2010 Olympic tournaments.
These 22 are hockey’s royalty – with one, very important distinction. Unlike true royalty, these 22 have earned their place among the elite. Over 7,000 players have been after the Stanley Cup since 1893, over 6,000 have tried to win the World Championship since 1930, and over 3,000 have participated in the Olympics since 1920.
Only 22 have won all three. Of the 22 players, nine are Swedish, six are Russian, four are Canadian, and three are Czechs.
Sometimes knowing something isn’t enough to make an impact. For many of the players, seeing the others was what really made them appreciate their own accomplishments and put them into perspective.
“The Russian players were my big idols and to be here and see them all is very special. It’s been great to meet them and shake their hands. Of course, I’ve also played with Igor (Larionov). I didn’t know who all the members of the Triple Gold Club were, but now that I see them, I’ve realized how special it is to be a part of it,” said Zetterberg.
“It is fantastic, and I still have a chance to win more,” he added.
That's what Triple Gold Cub members are made of.
“It’s pretty awesome just to be among everyone here tonight. It’s been a great night seeing everyone…pretty good players!”
-Henrik Zetterberg (on being honored at the Triple Gold Club Ceremony at Vancouver Winter Olympics.) February 22nd, 2010.
“The Stanley Cup is the whole season, playing 82 games plus 20 games for the playoffs. It’s a grind. Coming to the Olympics, if you play good you play six games. You have to be real good for those six games and everything has to click. Basically, all of the nations here have a good enough team to beat anyone. It’s the same feeling when you win it. It feels pretty good.
-Henrik Zetterberg (on the difference between winning the Stanley Cup and winning the Olympic Gold Medal.) February 22nd, 2010.
“It’s special both winning the Stanley Cup and the Olympic Gold with the same players. It’s fun and it’s something special you always will remember.”
-Henrik Zetterberg (on winning both with Swedish/ Detroit Red Wings teammates Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Niklas Kronwall, and Mikael Samuelsson.) February 22nd, 2010.
Dan Rosen, NHL.com, February 22, 2010
With rival
The Swedes owe Sunday's win to their special teams, which were outstanding.
Sweden was 7-for-7 on the penalty kill, a remarkable feat considering Finland had the best power play in the tournament (6-for-12) coming into the game.
"We had a chance to practice the PK," Henrik Zetterberg joked to NHL.com.
The Swedes looked good. Their penalty killers, led by Zetterberg up front, clogged up the shooting lanes and kept the Finns to the outside. It was the perfect way to defend a dangerous power play.
"We had a lot of respect for their power play, but we did an amazing job on the PK and that was the difference," Lundqvist said. "That was key for us, that we could kill all those minutes. They had a lot of opportunities on their power play but we made it tough for them to take what they wanted."
"I think this is when the tournament really started," Zetterberg said. "We wanted to have a good game, a 60-minute game and we did. We're looking forward to the quarterfinal now."
Zetterbergfan’s take:
Through the preliminary round, Z has no points and is an even +/- in three games, playing with oft-injured veteran Peter Forsberg and gritty winger Patric Hornqvist. The line is playing very responsibly defensively, but can’t seem to get much going with the puck. It looks like they don’t have that extra gear that the other Swedish lines have. Niether, Zetterberg nor Forsberg are driving to the net with the puck to create scoring chances. Shots that they are getting aren’t finding their way past the goalies. It seems to be the way things are going for Hank this year. Something is a little off in his game.
Although he isn’t putting up any offensive numbers, Zetterberg is contributing to
Last night’s game against
–Henrik Zetterberg (on
Sweden Hangs on for 4-2 Win Over Belarus
Dan Rosen, NHL.com, February 19th, 2010
Mezin was behind the most stunning upset in the Salt Lake Olympics eight years ago when he made 47 saves to lift his country to a win over the talented Swedes in the quarterfinals.
Only four players from the '02 Games remain on the Swedish National team, and just like the Canadians, Americans and Russians, the Swedes were given an unfriendly reminder of how difficult winning in this tournament can be, even against inferior opponents.
Behind backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson's 17 saves and a pair of goals from Daniel Alfredsson, Sweden hung on for a 4-2 victory on Friday despite nearly blowing all of a 3-0 lead at Canada Hockey Place.
"You have seen this in the previous games, too," Sweden captain Nicklas Lidstrom told NHL.com. "They are very close games. They are not easy games to win when you are favored to win or supposed to win. You have to battle to the end."
Sweden did that, finally clinching it with Alfredsson's goal with 10.4 seconds left in the third period. But like the other supposed favorites in this tournament, they have plenty to think about heading into Rivalry Sunday's game against Finland.
The winner could earn a bye into the quarterfinals.
"It's a long history and it's always something special, but at the same time right now it's only a game," Sweden coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson said of playing the Finns. "I don't think it's going to be a war in any way, but it's always a big challenge and I think both of us are getting there slowly, picking it up. We have to fine-tune the small details in the game and I think we're working on it, but we'd like it to work on them."
The Belarusians made a mad rush to the finish line in the final 26 minutes to give Sweden a major scare, just as Switzerland did to Canada before losing in a shootout on Thursday.
Dmitri Meleshko scored twice, including his second with 8:27 remaining in the third period off a rebound from the slot. Shortly after Meleshko made it 3-2, Konstantin Zakharov rang a shot off the crossbar.
Belarus just kept coming.
"As soon as they got their second goal you kind of saw the skill they have and they were not backing up anymore, they were going after the next goal," Henrik Zetterberg told NHL.com. "The first two games we hadn't played in our end much, so as soon as we started playing in our own end in the third we kind of looked a little surprised. We have to get used to that. We're going to spend more time there when we play Finland."
By Jeff Z. Klein, NYTimes.com, February 17, 2010 With Peter Forsberg taking a regular shift alongside the rest of a star-studded lineup Wednesday, Forsberg skated on a line with Henrik Zetterberg of Zetterberg said Forsberg would have to get used to the “higher pace” of Olympic play over that of the Swedish domestic league. But, Zetterberg added, “he still has the magic in his stick and really good eyes -– it’s a pleasure to play with him.” Zetterbergfan’s Take: Z played his usual defensively responsible game, even helping to kill off a two-man advantage for By George Malik, Mlive.com, February 14, 2010 Eagle-eyed Red Wings fans may have noted that Henrik Zetterberg ditched his mouthguard for the third or fourth time over the past two seasons thanks to a familiar calamity--at least two of Zetterberg's four upper front teeth are false ones, and about once a season, he takes a high stick to the face and winds up with powdered porcelain in his mouthguard. This year, Zetterberg's left incisor took a hit, but Aftonbladet's Mats Wennerholm is here to tell us that all is well in the world of "Zata's" front teeth again: February 14, Aftonbladet (roughly translated): "Zätas" golden smile saved at the last moment Swedes Content to be Overlooked, for Now By Dan Rosen, NHL.com, February 12th, 2010 The Swedes are coming into Henrik Zetterberg Knows he has to Step Up By Helene St. James, Free Press, February 6th, 2010 Coach Mike Babcock likes to say the Red Wing's best players need to be their best players. Henrik Zetterberg is aware how much that includes him. "I feel I can play better," Zetterberg said following Friday's practice at Zetterberg, the highest-paid forward on the team at $7.4 million, has 14 goals and 43 points in 49 games. Datsyuk, No. 2 with $6.7 million, has 15 goals and 45 points in 55 games. "I think both me and Pav feel pressure," Zetterberg said. "It's real important we get on a good streak here and get some points, because we need them to get into the playoffs. Me and Pav know we have to step up." Zetterberg missed eight games in December-January because of a sore shoulder. Datsyuk, who missed two games in October, is the more baffling case of the two, as he's on pace to finish 30 points below the 97 points he has reached each of the two previous seasons. Asked if his best players have been his best players, Babcock said, "Well, I think they're starting to come. But I think they're starting to skate better, and ... as they skate better, they're going to become better players. I'm not surprised. I'm pretty cognizant of the fact when you've been out for a while it's going to take you some time. I'm not making any excuses for them, that's just reality." The Wings are better off when Datsyuk and Zetterberg center separate lines, and that'll happen once Johan Franzen returns Tuesday, but the two do spark each other, so Babcock has had them playing together since Zetterberg returned. Z Nets Two on Nine Shots and Hits the Post in Loss to Kings By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, February 6th, 2010 Henrik Zetterberg was all over the ice tonight in Hank scored his 15th and team-leading 16th goals of the season giving The goals were the 198th and 199th of Zetterberg's career. With the two goals, Z is now on pace for 24 goals and 43 assists for 67 points in 71 games this year. 
Forsberg Plays as Sweden Stops a Determined Germany
"Should remain for the the Olympics"
Henrik Zetterberg's golden smile was rescued just in time for the Olympics in
Zäta did not even go to the dentist.
The dentist came to him instead, and arrived with all necessary equipment in
"Unfortunately, my old crown cracked, so I got a temporary incisor. But it should hold up through Olympics," said Zäta. "It was good to get it fixed anyway."
He just will have to not bite too hard in the gold medal. If there is one…
Today, Zäta & Co. are sitting on a flight to
"It's going to be good"
"There aren't many flights going from here in
He, Nicklas Lidström and Tomas Holmström were to fly via
"It will be nice to get this break and meet guys on the [Swedish] team again," says Zäta.
With a new smile.
They know that for Canada or Russia to win gold, at some point the road has to go through Tre Kronor, and that's when they plan on inserting themselves into the debate of who is the world's best.
For now,
It could happen again.
In terms of skill,
Henrik Sedin and Backstrom are among the top scorers in the NHL.
Forsberg, who is playing in the Swedish Elite League, is supposedly healthy and ready to play in the Olympics. He has been targeting this tournament for quite some time, and it appears his chronically injured foot is ready to go. Forsberg also won gold with
Figuring that the Sedin twins will play together, it's possible that coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson tries to use Backstrom and Zetterberg as a pair on a lethal second line. Backstrom already has a history of setting up a fairly good left wing (Alex Ovechkin) and Zetterberg is used to playing with a dynamic center (Pavel Datsyuk).
That would leave Forsberg and Alfredsson to play together on a potent third line.
