WJC 2016: Three Swedish goals go through mesh and back out in pre-tourney tune-up

In these pre-tournament exhibition games, it's not only practice time for both teams playing.

It's apparently tune-up time for the nets, and they need some fine tuning after Canada's 7-6 win over Sweden Wednesday.

Team Canada was cruising after two periods with a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes at Helsinki Ice Hall for their final pre-tourney game for the IIHF 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Then a strong Swedish third nearly stole the game for Tre Kronor, and the Swedes were so hot in the final stanza, three of their goals went through the mesh in the back of the net and out the back.

Check it out on Adrian Kempe’s goal:

Rink attendants at Helsinki Ice Hall will have to break out their road hockey handbook for ways to fix up those holes. Maybe some cable tie clips, or some thread, or something.

It will all have to be fixed before the tournament opens Boxing Day, as Helsinki Ice Hall is the secondary host for the tournament, and will host Group A action. It will be the rink to host Team Canada, Team USA and Team Sweden.

Group B will play at the modern Hartwall Areena, the home arena of KHL’s Jokerit. It is hosting the semi-final and medal games.

Mitch Marner scored the winner unassisted to give Canada the edge in the game, after netminder Mason McDonald surrendered five goals in the third but held on for the win.

The Swedes were also boosted by six powerplays in the frame, scoring on two of them.

Canada had a pair of goals from Vancouver Canuck Jake Virtanen in the win, along with markers from Brendan Perlini, Haydn Fleury, Dylan Strome and Mitchell Stephens.

Marcus Pettersson scored twice for the Swedes, while Oskar Lindblom, Axel Holmstrom and Kempe provided singles.

Sweden plays Switzerland at Helsinki Ice Hall Dec. 26 to open up the tournament, with Team Canada taking on Team USA later on that day.

Canada and Sweden face off New Years Eve to wrap up the round robin portion of the tournament.