Forsberg chases down Markus Granlund. (Photo credit: Richard Wolowicz/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Caps prospects Filip Forsberg and Christian Djoos had a big day as Sweden beat Finland 7-4 on Monday. Though the Swedish team didn’t need a victory to advance (they already guaranteed themselves a first-place finish in Group A when Switzerland forced the Czech Republic to overtime), they took care of business with their nordic rivals, eliminating Finland from medal contention of the 2013 WJC. Forsberg, Sweden’s captain, scored his second goal of the tournament, and Caps 7th-round pick Djoos had two assists.

Video and GIFs below the jump.

Djoos’ first assist is at the beginning of the video. His other assist and Forsberg’s goal are at 5:30 mark.

By the time the game turned 14 minutes old, Sweden already had a 3-0 lead. Sweden’s first goal came on a powerplay tip-in, when Christian Djoos blasted a shot from the point and Alexander Wennberg got his stick on it in the slot. Finnish goalie Joonas Korpisalo couldn’t react in time.

The Finns scored once before the first period ended. Four minutes into the second, as Sweden took their foot off the gas, Finland scored two quick goals to tie the game. Sweden then made a goalie switch, substituting Niklas Lundstrom in for Joel Lassinanti. That would prove to be the big difference in the game.

Two quick strikes 44 seconds apart later in the second period put Swedes back on top by two. The second of those goals was scored by Filip Forsberg on the powerplay. Djoos fed Forsberg near the left faceoff circle and the captain’s shot found a way between the pads of Korpisalo.

Things got interesting midway through the third when Ville Jarvelainen cut Sweden’s lead to one. That’s all Finland was able to do. With 90 seconds to go, Emil Molin scored on the powerplay to make it score 6-4.  23 seconds later, Viktor Arvidsson sealed the deal; final score: 7-4. Forsberg ended the preliminary stage with four points (two goals and two assists). Djoos had three points, all assists, good for second place among his team’s defense.

Sweden will now receive a bye for the WJC quarterfinals. In the semis they’ll face either Russia or Switzerland.

Another Caps prospect, Riley Barber, playing for the United States WJC team, did not factor on the scoresheet in a 9-3 beatdown of Slovakia that gave Americans their own playoff berth. In the quarterfinals, they’ll face the Czech Republic.

GIFs

Forsberg’s goal. I could watch this all day.

Filip celebrates. (GIFs by welshhockeyfan)