Swedes take gold, U.S. bronze at world hockey championships

May 19, 2013 - 9:12 PM Stockholm, Sweden (Sports Network) - Sweden scored three unanswered goals in the third period to break open a close contest and record a 5-1 victory in the gold-medal game of the 2013 World Hockey Championship.

Simon Hjalmarsson, Loui Eriksson and Henrik Sedin all tallied during the final frame to ensure the host Swedes their first world title since 2006. Sweden fell to Finland in the finals in 2011 and claimed bronze medals in each of the two years prior to that result.

Sedin's second of two goals came shorthanded, with the Vancouver Canucks star also scoring on the power play 11:38 in the first period to snap a 1-1 tie. He added an assist on Eriksson's marker as well.

Erik Gustafsson also had a goal in the triumph, with Jhonas Enroth stopping 26-of-27 shots to help Sweden to its ninth all-time gold medal in the event.

Roman Josi accounted for the lone score for surprising Switzerland, which last reached the world finals in 1935 and earned its first medal since taking bronze in the 1953 tournament.

The United States also did not leave Stockholm empty-handed, thanks to 19- year-olds Alex Galchenyuk and John Gibson.

Galchenyuk scored the tying and winning goals in the shootout, lifting Team USA to a 3-2 win over Finland in the bronze-medal game.

Gibson stopped 36 shots through regulation and overtime, then made three more saves in the shootout, helping the United States claim their first medal at this tournament since finishing third in 2004.

The Americans took a 2-0 lead into the third period, but Lauri Korpikoski struck twice to draw Finland even. Finland had the edge in the shootout when Janne Pesonen scored to close out the second round.

Needing a goal to keep the medal hopes of Team USA alive, Galchenyuk elevated the puck over goalie Antti Raanta. Korpikoski had a chance to win it for Finland, but he fired wide of the net.

The Finns opted to go first in the fourth round and Mikael Granlund went with flash on his attempt, but the toe drag move failed. Galchenyuk then beat Raanta with a similar move to his left to seal the win.

Craig Smith and captain Paul Stastny scored in the first period for the Americans.