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Hot
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By Chris Turner,
Zetterbergfan.com, September 27, 2004
It was the head to head
battle of two of Sweden’s biggest heroes, returned to play for their
hometown teams in the Swedish Elite League. Tonight’s game between
the Timra Red Eagles and MODO in Ornskoldsvik was touted as a clash
of the titans, “Foppa” versus “Zata”. Although the two face each
other often in the NHL playing for the arch rivals, Detroit Redwings
and Colorado Avalanche, this was a special show the fans had never
seen, superstar Peter Forsberg of MODO against rising star Henrik
Zetterberg of Timra. Both played on their team’s top line and the
two heroes did not disappoint. Zata opened the scoring just 3:43
into the game, assisted by Kristian Gahn. Foppa answered later in
the period making it 1-1 going into the break. Forsberg also added
an assist on MODO’s second goal of the game, giving the home team a
2-1 lead in the third.
Zetterberg’s Red Eagle
teammate and Detroit Redwings prospect Christian Soderstrom scored
the tying goal with only seven seconds left in regulation. Timra had
Calgary Flame’s Finnish goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff pulled from net
and an extra attacker on the ice. The exciting game ended in a 2-2
tie. Timra has a 1-1-1 record.
Zata now has two goals
and an assist and is a plus/minus +3 in three games. Forsberg is off
to an even hotter start with five points in three games.
Zäta Scores Game Winner in
Timra Home Opener
By Chris Turner,
Zetterbergfan.com, September 23, 2004
Henrik Zetterberg made
the Timra Red Eagle’s home opener at Sydkraft Arena more memorable
than opening night. Welcomed back to his hometown by an excited
crowd with a signs that read “Zäta is our King” and “King’s Return,
he played an energized game and lived up to expectations. With a
goal and an assist Zetterberg helped lead Timra to a 4-3 win over
Brynäs tonight. “I was not prepared for this. It was excellent!”
said Zäta, obviously moved.
When asked if he was
nervous in his return he replied, “No. I was inspired, as a matter
of fact. It was a fantastic crowd!”
Playing left wing on
the Red Eagle’s top line with Niklas Norgren and centered by Valeri
Krykov, Zäta first assisted on Norgren’s goal 8:06 into the third
period. The goal made the game 3-1 and gave Timra a comfortable two
goal lead with only half a period remaining. With 6:03 left
Zetterberg then scored his first goal of the season, making the game
seem out of reach for Brynäs. He had gone five periods in his return
to the SEL without having scored.
“I was never worried,”
said Zäta.
The fans didn’t just
come out to see Henrik tonight. It was the debut of Calgary Flames
Finnish Goalie Mikka Kiprusoff, who signed with Timra just before
the season began. He was the story of the night and was playing a
great game. After the game appeared to be over, Brynäs scored two
late goals to make it an interesting finish.
Zetterberg had a team
high six shots on goal and was a +2 plus/minus for the game.
Timra Loses
in Zetterberg’s
Return
By
Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, September 20th,
2004
It
wasn’t the opening night Henrik Zetterberg had hoped for. His Timra Red Eagles of the
Swedish Elite League dropped the season opener tonight in
Lulea by a score of 5-0. Lulea goalie Gusten Tornqvist stopped 26
shots and Johan Tellstrom had a hattrick in the home win at Coop
Arena.
Zetterberg played on the third line centering Magnus
Nilsson and Per Hallin. The line generated more offense than any
other for Timra. Nilsson had a team high six shots and Zata had
four. He took a roughing penalty in the second period and was even
for plus/minus.
Timra was playing without newly acquired goaltender
Mikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames. They used fourth string
netminder Antti Jokela. Their original starter Kimmo Kapanen is
injured. That didn’t account for the Red Eagle’s lack of offense.
Zata Returns to
Timra!
By Chris Turner,
Zetterbergfan.com, September 16th, 2004.
As anticipated, the NHL
Collective Bargaining Agreement expired on September 15th and the
owners have locked out the players, leaving many to look for other
options this season. As expected, it has been confirmed that Detroit
Redwings Swedish forward Henrik Zetterberg has agreed to return to
the Swedish Elite League to play for the Timra Red Eagles, his “home
town” team, to begin the 2004-2005 campaign. His contract has an
option to return to the NHL should a labor agreement be reached this
season.
“Zata”, as he is
referred to in Sweden, is from nearby Njurunda and played for the
Timra Organization for five years, helping the club reach the Elite
tier for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He has 25 goals and 53 assists
in 95 SEL games and was the 2000-2001 SEL Rookie of the year.
Zetterberg also won the “Guldpucken" (Golden Puck) award as Sweden's
Best Hockey Player for 2001-2002. He has an opt-out clause to return
to the NHL. The Timra organization retired his jersey #20 upon his
departure for the NHL, which he will re-don as the Red Eagles take
the ice September 20th to open the SEL season versus Lulea at Coop
Arena.
It has also been
confirmed that Timra will have the services of Calgary Flames
Finnish Goalie Mikka Kiprusoff, who led the team to game seven of
the Stanley Cup Finals this past season. He guided his country to
the World Cup of Hockey Final against Canada this month. Kiprusoff
replaces Timra’s injured starter Kimmo Kapanen. It is a huge upgrade
in net for the Red Eagles.
Another Swede who
previously played for Timra and is rumored but not yet confirmed to
be returning is Fredrik Modin of the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay
Lightning. Other Detroit Redwings who are likely to play in the SEL
are Nicklas Lidstrom of Djurgarden and Tomas Holmstrom for Lulea.
It was rumored that
Canadian grinder Kris Draper could come to Timra with Zetterberg,
but nothing has been confirmed or reported in quite awhile.
Sweden Eliminated By Czech
Republic
By Chris Turner,
Zetterbergfan.com, September 7, 2004
The Czech Republic came
prepared and completely outplayed Sweden, eliminating them from the
World Cup of Hockey in a 6-1 victory. Detroit Redwings forward
Tomas Holmstrom scored the lone goal for Tre Kroner.
Henrik Zetterberg was a
team worst -7 in the four games played. Playing mostly with
linemates Peter Forsberg and Marcus Naslund, the lineup seemed
geared for high scoring offense but the focus on offense left holes
in the Swedish defense. Lack of back checking and some costly were
the downfall of the team. Zetterberg, who plays a sound two-way game
was not often to blame for being on the ice when opponents scored.
However, sometimes it appeared he was trying to hard to force a
play, causing a few bad turnovers.
With the tournament
over and the threat of an NHL work-stoppage looming, most of the
Swedish players will turn their attention towards the Swedish Elite
League. Although no announcement has yet been made, it has been
mentioned that Zetterberg will return to play for Timra, who he
played for prior to coming to the Redwings.
Tre Kroner teammate
Fredrik Modin of the Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning may
also return to play for Timra.
Tre Kroner Takes Second Seed In European
Pool
By Chris Turner,
Zetterbergfan.com, September 4, 2004
Sweden fought back from
2-0 and 4-3 deficits to tie arch-rival Finland with just 10 seconds
left in regulation of game three in round-robin play of the World
Cup of Hockey. Tomas Holmstrom of the Detroit Redwings tipped in a
pass from Peter Forsberg as the clock sped towards the end of the
match, giving Sweden new life and a chance to win the game and take
the #1 seed. But Tre Kroner could not get the win in overtime and a
tie gave Finland the seed due to goal differential in round-robin
play.
The problem for Sweden
was defense by their forwards in the first period. The line of
Henrik Zetterberg, Peter Forsberg, and Markus Naslund seemed to
struggling in their own end. Forsberg seemed to be the liability,
perhaps still not 100% healthy from off-season groin surgery.
Zetterberg also made several poor turn-overs.
The line was broken up
half-way through the second period. Zetterberg centered the third
line of P.J. Axelsson and Andreas Johansson. That moved Jorgen
Jonsson up to the Forsberg-Naslund line.
Zetterberg played a
good game overall with plenty of energy and solid puck-control in
the offensive zone. He assisted on a powerplay goal at 12:27 of the
first period when he stickhandled behind the Finnish net and sent a
nice wrap-around pass through goalie Mikka Kiprusoff’s crease to
Fredrik Modin, who had his stick on the ice and knocked the puck in
on his second swipe at it. The goal made it 2-1 Finland, and was the
first goal scored on the Finns in the tournament.
There were lots of
penalties called in the bitterly contested game as well. Zetterberg
took a very questionable penalty late in the first period for
goaltender interference as he bumped Kiprusoff going for a loose
puck along side of the net. Zetterberg also drew several penalties,
one on a breakaway attempt in the second period.
Zata was also on the
ice when Sweden showed excellent puck movement on the power play as
the first period was winding down. Zetterberg controlled the puck
and zipped it to Daniel Alfredsson at center ice who dished it
across to defenseman Kim Johnsson. Johnsson fed it down low to Modin
in front of Finland’s net. Modin cashed it in for his second
powerplay goal in the period. The goal made it 3-3 going into the
second period.
Modin seems to play
well with Zetterberg when they are given the chance to play
together. The tandem may be seen again playing for Timra of the
Swedish Elite League if the NHL does not resolve it collective
bargaining agreement.
Zetterberg finished the
game a -1 plus/minus, making him a -3 in three games. When playing
with offensive superstars Forsberg and Naslund, he seems to be
designated as the “defensive forward” and the defense is often left
alone as opponents rush into the zone. It remains to be seen if
Coach Hardy Nilsson reunites the trio in the quarterfinal matchup
against the Czech Republic or if he keeps Zetterberg with Axelsson
and Johansson who haven’t generated much offence. Perhaps, we may
even see the return of the Sedin twins who have been benched since
round-robin play commenced. Zetterberg and the Sedins played with
great chemistry in the exhibition games.
Zetterberg Scores as Sweden Hangs on to a 4-3 Victory
Versus Czech Republic
By Chris Turner,
Zetterbergfan.com, September 1, 2004
Henrik
Zetterberg shaved off his “mountain man” beard today and it seemed
to have payed off in tonights match against the Czech Republic.
Zetterberg played a spirited game two, puckhandling through
defenders, battling in corners, and going to the net. The scoring
line of Zetterberg, Peter Forsberg, and Markus Naslund played a much
stronger game than yesterdays versus Germany. Forsberg scored early
second period goal making the score 2-0.
Sweden took a 3-0 lead
on another power play goal a few minutes later when Zetterberg
battled in the corner and stripped the puck away from Martin Skoula.
Fredrik Modin came in to pick up the loose puck and fed it out to
Daniel Alfredsson who sent a nice pass across ice to defenseman
Matthias Ohlund, who fired it in from the left faceoff circle.
Then, with Sweden on
the power-play oce again with 9:30 left in the second period, Kim
Johnsson of the Philadelphia Flyers sent a hard slap shot on goal
from the left point. Zetterberg, left alone, streaked from the left
wing side through the crease in front of Czech goaltender Thomas
Vokoun, picking up the rebound and wrapping a backhander around the
goalie. Vokoun threw his hands up in exasperation. The goal was
Zetterberg’s first of the World Cup and gave Sweden what seemed like
an insurmountable 4-0 lead. He also took a roughing
penalty later in the 2nd period exchanging shoves with
Martin Havlat along the boards.
The Czech’s played a
furious comeback in the thrd period. Playing their first inspired
hockey of the tournament the fought back with three unanswered
goals. However, Swedish netminder Mikeal Tellqvist came up strong
with key saves late in the game, preserving the victory. Zetterberg
had a -2 Plus/Minus in the last period.
Game three is against
arch-rival Finland Saturday.
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