STOCKHOLM — The United States beat Sweden 6-2 to advance to the final of the ice hockey world championship Saturday.
In Sunday’s final, the U.S. will play Switzerland, which shut out Denmark 7-0 in the other semifinal Saturday.
The U.S. jumped to a 2-0 lead with a dominant display in the opening period, outshooting the Swedes 13-3.
Brady Skjei put the Americans ahead 6:52 into the game with a shot from the blue line that went through heavy traffic in front of goaltender Jacob Markstrom.
Cutter Gauthier doubled the advantage with 2:47 remaining, picking up the puck after a shot by Shane Pinto was blocked and directing it into the net between Markstrom’s pads.
Gauthier was born in Skelleftea, Sweden, in 2004 when his father, a goaltender, played for a local team.
Conor Garland added a third with 8:53 to go in the second by knocking in a rebound. Mikey Eyssimont made it 4-0 on a 4-on-2 rush from the right circle.
Samuel Ersson replaced Markstrom in the Swedish net at the start of the final period.
William Nylander scored the first for Sweden 6:32 into the third period, and Elias Lindholm scored another 41 seconds later to give Sweden some hope at 4-2.
But defenseman Jackson LaCombe beat Ersson for the fifth U.S. goal with 8:51 to go, and Shane Pinto finished it off into an empty net to complete a three-point game after assisting on the opening two goals.
