It was the biggest shock in Finnish sports history.
Last year, host Finland led Sweden 5-1 halfway through its quarterfinal at ice hockey's World Championship, but allowed five goals in just over 28 minutes and was eliminated 6-5 by its biggest rival.
"It's something that you'll probably never forget," said Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu, who also is Finland's captain.
The unbeaten Nordic hockey powers meet again tonight for the top-seeded spot in the European pool at the World Cup of Hockey.
They will play in the same building, Hartwall Arena. The only difference is the size of the rink. The World Championship is played under international rules, including the bigger Olympic ice sheet. The World Cup, jointly organized by the National Hockey League and the NHL's players union, is contested on the smaller NHL-size rinks.
Sweden and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin was a member of the team that made one of the biggest comebacks in the 94-year history of the World Championship.
"Most certainly they remember when 5-1 became 6-5 ... I'm looking forward to playing them again," Sundin said.
Toronto backup goalie Mikael Tellqvist, who replaced Tommy Salo after the former Edmonton Oilers goaltender gave up his fifth goal against the Finns, is the likely starter today with Salo on the bench.
Looking back, Tellqvist said, "it was one of greatest games I've ever played."
Finland and Sweden, both 2-0 before the round-robin finale, already have clinched home-ice advantage in the European pool quarterfinals early next week.
Both teams badly want the top-seeded spot to avoid the probable No. 3 finisher in the group, the Czech Republic. The group winner plays No. 4, likely Germany.
"We would rather not play the Czechs," Swedish defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. "They're quick and have many guys who can win a game for them, so they could be very dangerous in a quarterfinal."
Peter Forsberg, the 2003 winner of the Hart Trophy as the best player in the NHL, agreed.
"Absolutely, I don't want the Czechs in the quarters," he said.
The Czechs, who finished last in the inaugural World Cup in 1996 when Sweden was eliminated in the semifinals by Canada on an overtime goal, scored three third-period goals but lost 4-3 to the Swedes in Stockholm on Wednesday. Finland, a 4-0 winner over the Czechs in round-robin play, also wants to avoid a rematch in the last eight.
"We all know that the group winner most probably will meet Germany in the quarters," Koivu said. "On paper, Germany is the weakest team. So our goal is to win the group."
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