MOSCOW, December 31 (R-Sport) - Reigning champion Sweden grabbed a 7-4 win over Finland to book a semifinal spot at the world junior hockey championships in Ufa, Russia, on Monday.
Sweden won all four matches in Group B to reserve the first place, while the Finns suffer the embarrassment of playing in the relegation round with Germany, Latvia and Slovakia.
The Czech Republic came second and faces the United States in the quarterfinals, while third-placed Switzerland will play the loser of Monday’s clash between Russia and Canada.
Swedes hit the ground running, scoring three goals in the first 14 minutes, before Finland stormed back with the double of wing Joel Armia, 16th overall pick in 2011 draft, and a goal by Rasmus Ristolainen.
However, Viktor Arvidsson and Washington Capitals prospect Filip Forsberg restored the Swedish lead, making the score 5-3 by the end of the second period.
Ville Jarvelainen cut the gap to 5-4 in the middle of the third, but Swedish forward Emil Molin killed the Finns' playoffs hopes one minute before the buzzer.
Then, Arvidsson registered a double with an empty netter.
The quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday followed by semifinals a day later.
