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Canada was eliminated from the men’s hockey tournament by losing 2-0 to Sweden in the quarter-finals on Wednesday at the Beijing Games.

“They played well. The goalkeeper made good saves. But I think we played too much in the perimeter, not enough in the dangerous areas,” said defender Maxim Noreau, looking crestfallen after the loss. “Against a good goalkeeper like that, it doesn’t work. We should have found a way to be more in front of the goalkeeper, to make deflections, but we didn’t.

“Even after the second period we were confident, it was a privilege to be here despite the pressure, we knew that. One or two turnovers, then the puck ends up in the net. That’s how it happens. »

Goaltender Lars Johansson collected the shutout with 22 saves.

It was still 0-0 midway through the third period when Canada finally faltered on a Jack McBain turnover at their blue line.

Lucas Wallmark took the opportunity to score a crucial goal, his fifth of the tournament.

Canada pulled their goalkeeper late in the game and Anton Lander made it 2-0 by scoring into an empty net.

Sweden join the Olympic Committee of Russia in the semi-finals, who beat Denmark 3-1 earlier.

Vadim Shipachyov had a goal and an assist in the Russian win.

Defenders Nikita Nesterov and Vyacheslav Voinov also threaded the needle for the Russian side, who finished first in Group B and third overall.

Nikita Gusev and Arseni Gritsyuk both had two assists for the Russian players, who saw goaltender Ivan Fedotov save 17 pucks.

Former NHLer Frans Nielsen replied for Denmark, which surprised during the tournament with two wins. Sebastian Dahm gave in three times in 40 pitches.

The Russians led 2-1 late in the third period when Denmark went two-to-one shorthanded. Fedotov, however, made a spectacular save at the expense of Nielsen.

Moments later, Voinov fired a shot from the wrists of the point that deceived the vigilance of Dahm. The Danish goalkeeper saw nothing due to the traffic in front of him.