PRAG. Tre Kronor had prepared on penalties. – Aftonbladet

Prague. Tre Kronor had prepared for a shootout.

And the day before yesterday the players write down on a secret list in the locker room.

– I chose to write me up, says the Arizona-slope Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

It was a Drama in the O2 Arena yesterday. 5-5 after full time and the match was decided on penalties.

There, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Elias Lindholm and Jacob Josefson chance.

No coincidence that the trio had to beat the penalty area.

After the match revealed Oliver Ekman-Larsson the Three Crowns worked to get together penalty shooters.

– There was a paper in the locker room yesterday. Those who wanted to punish did write down her name or number. I was hungry, says Ekman Larsson.

“Went better here”

And the penalties were so so lovely as a penalty can be.

He put the puck behind high Alexander Salak and it became the match-winning goal.

– I was going to put the puck in the low blow, but saw that he was there. Instead, I set it high. Phew. I’ve added some shootout in the NHL, but has not been as successful. It went better here, says Ekman Larsson.

Head coach Pär Mårts is a specialist in building together a group. Therefore, he used the tactic of letting the players themselves to decide if they wanted to add a penalty or not.

Instead of team managers pointed with his whole hand were the guys decide for themselves.

And it turned out well – both Lindholm and Ekman Larsson put his shootout – the Czech Republic just put a penalty.

Couple Mårts explains:

– Yes, I do not want to tell a player to beat a penalty, but we had a list where those who wanted to could sign up. We called it “The nation’s service”. There were more names there, but the three we chose were all on the list, says Mårts.

“Reminded about Foppa”

The national coach was pleased with Elias Lindholm’s actions. When Mårts asked who wanted to take the first penalty, said Lindholm directly:

– I do.

Mårts was in the booth as an assistant coach to the Curre Lundmark when

Peter Forsberg added his famous sentence in Lillehammer Olympics 1994.

– It was very similar to Foppa. A young player who is not thinking of the consequences. I think this is beautiful, although I do not want to make any comparisons in general. I do not want to put any unnecessary pressure on Elias.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the team’s performance:

– For the entire game, we do many good things. But we have a lot to work with.

WEL was also elected MVP in the World Cup premiere. The price: a pen.

Perhaps he can use it at the next penalty-patch turns up in the locker room.