Slovakia send defending Olympic ice hockey champions Sweden packing

From Sportsbeat staff, in Vancouver

 DEFENDING Olympic champions Sweden have crashed out of Vancouver 2010 with a shock defeat to Slovakia.

JUBILANT: Slovakia spring the first major upset of the 2010 Winter Olympics men's ice hockey tournament to book a semi-final clash with Sweden (Getty Images)

Slovakia were clinical in front of goal and booked a semi-final match against Canada with a 4-3 victory. Sweden were lacklustre and suffered the first major shock of the Olympic tournament to ensure new champions will be crowned on Sunday.

Aside from Canada's 7-3 drubbing of Russia, the quarter-finals have been cagey in Vancouver and this clash was to be no different.

The opening period was scoreless with both sides chalking up just seven shots apiece with defences very much in the ascendancy.

The deadlock was not broken until the eight minute of the second period when Marian Gaborik, who plies his trade for the New York Rangers, fired home.

And just 37 seconds later, Andrej Sekera made it two and the shock of the tournament so far was on.

Rather than consolidate their lead however, Slovakia allowed Sweden straight back into the match as Patric Hornqvist reduced the deficit on 34 minutes.

And in a mirror image of Slovakia's goals, Sweden followed up their opener with their second again just 37 seconds later as the Detroit Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg levelled proceedings.

That was how it stayed until the final minute of the second period but Slovakia, who were clinical in front of goal, scoring four from just 14 shots, added their third through Vancouver Canucks' Pavol Demitra.

They made it four through Tomas Kopecky with just 11 minute remaining and while Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators ensured a nervous finish, Slovakia, ranked ninth in the world, clung on.

Meanwhile, 2006 silver medallists Finland left it late to book their place in the semi-finals. Two goals in the last seven minutes was enough to seal the win.

The opening two periods were goalless but Niklas Hagman of the Calgary Flames finally broke the deadlock in the 13th minute of the third period before Valtteri Filppula made it two with just 90 seconds left, to wrap up a 2-0 victory.

 

AS IT HAPPENS: Day 13 of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver