Frolunda ties series with Farjestad

Finland's Karoliina Rantamaki passes in front of China's Yue Fu in the Women's World Hockey Championships in Norrkoping, Sweden on Tuesday. Finland won 5-1. PHOTO: AFP

Daniel Alfredsson had two goals and one assist to lead Frolunda over Farjestad 5-0 Tuesday to even the Swedish Elite League final at one game apiece.

Game in the best-of-seven series is Thursday at Karlstad, the home of Farjestad.

Alfredsson just 38 seconds in with a long-range shot for one of the quickest goals in playoff history. Samuel Pahlsson, who got an assist on the goal, made it 2-0 late in the session.

"It was so nice to get an early goal," said Alfredsson, who hails from Goteborg on the Swedish west coast. "These two first games have showed how important the first goal is. We're pretty even, so it's important not to fall behind."

Pahlsson up Alfredsson again four minutes into the second period with Frolunda on the power play.

Niklas Andersson, the most valuable player in Swedish hockey two years ago when he helped Frolunda win its first league title in 38 years, scored another power-play goal just 1:16 later.

"We talked a lot how much we needed to improve our power play and tonight we succeeded," Alfredsson said. "We skated much faster and that meant we created more dangerous scoring chances."

Andersson up Finnish defenseman Tomi Kallio for the last goal halfway through the last period before a sellout crowd of 12,044 at Scandinavium Arena.

Swiss Martin Gerber, one of Europe's best, had no chance to react on Kallio's quick wrist shot.

Sweden team goalie Henrik Lundqvist, chosen the top goalie at the 2003 World Championship despite giving up five goals in the final, stopped 33 shots to earn his first shutout in the finals.

Frolunda, which topped the regular-season standings, has won two Swedish titles. Farjestad, which finished fourth in the regular-season standings, won its sixth and last title in 2002.

American Tim Thomas stopped 21 shots Tuesday and Jokerit of Helsinki beat HPK of Hameenlinna 4-1 to advance to the finals of the Finnish ice hockey championship.

Jokerit best-of-five series sweep 3-0 and will face reigning champion and regular season winner Karpat of Oulu.

Karpat Lukko of Rauma three-games-none, completing their series with a 4-3 victory Tuesday with three assists from Finnish national team defenseman Janne Niinimaa. Dwayne Roloson made 22 saves for Lukko.

Earlier Brian Campbell gave Jokerit the lead at 14:28 and Tomi Maki added a second early in the middle period before Marko Jantunen and Valtteri Filppula sealed the victory with empty-net goals in the closing minute.

Thomas the choice of his fellow players "Golden Helmet" as the best player during the regular season. He had 15 shutouts in 54 games, but lost his shutout against HPK with six minutes remaining.

"Because they came back to one goal down, it was another thing than leading by two. I don't care about shutouts right now," Thomas said.

Katie King and Kelly Stephens notched two goals and one assist each, leading the US past Germany 7-0 Tuesday and into the semifinals of the IIHF Women's World Hockey Championships.

The unbeaten Americans, who beat winless China 8-2 in the Group B opener, will conclude round-robin play against Finland today.

The Finns beat China 5-1 in the other Group B game at nearby Norrkoping to join the US in the semifinals with a 2-0 record.

Canada and Sweden clinched their semifinal spots Monday.