Nicklas Backstrom and Sweden put together a strong group stage performance in the 2012 IIHF World Championship, taking out all of their competitors save for Russia en route to a 6-1 record, but their tournament has ended in the quarterfinals. They came from 3-1 down to tie their game against the Czech Republic in the third period, but the Czechs found a late game-winning goal to down Sweden, 4-3.
Backstrom did not record a point for Sweden in their three-goal performance. Loui Eriksson got them off to a great start with the opening goal, but the Czechs scored twice before the end of the first period. In the second period, a penalty by Jonathan Ericsson set up the third goal for the Czech Republic, scored on the power play by Martin Erat. Just seconds before the end of the second period, Henrik Zetterberg hauled one back, bringing Sweden back into the game.
Jonathan Ericsson atoned for his earlier mistake early in the third with a game-tying goal. It appeared that the game was headed for overtime until the final minute, when Milan Michalek scored a heartbreaking winner with just 29 seconds remaining.
The Czech Republic moves on to face Slovakia in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Finland takes on Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Russia.
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