THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Sweden advanced to the finals of the IIHF World Hockey Championship with a 5-2 victory over defending champion Czech Republic on Friday.
In Sunday’s final match, Sweden will face Russia or Finland who played in the other semifinals later Friday.
After a scoreless first period, Milan Michalek set up the opening goal for Patrik Elias to beat goalie Viktor Fasth 46 seconds into the second period. Patrik Berglund equalized 3:48 later with a slapshot on a power play.
Mikael Backlund put the Swedes ahead with a wrist shot from the right circle with 4:50 remaining in the period.
Jimmie Ericsson and Jakob Silfverberg both scored in the third before Elias reduced the lead to two with his second but Berglund added an empty-net goal to complete the victory.
