At World Championship, Kraken's Burakovsky Rediscovers More Than Scoring Touch

Editor's note: To learn how other Seattle Kraken players fared in Thursday's games, including goals by Team Canada's Jared McCann and Brandon Tanev, click here .

Seattle Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky came to the IIHF World Championship in Czechia in search of goals for Team Sweden - and also for a more important goal.

"I've been a bit unlucky all the time," Burakovsky said in a Swedish TV interview. "I missed half a season (in 2022-23) with an injury. This past season, I suffered three or four different injuries again, so missed half that season, too. It's been hard to get back to my own game, and then it has become frustrating that it has not gone my way."

Since joining Team Sweden, the goals (4) and assists (6) have returned in bunches. So has the smile on Burakovsky's face, maybe the best result of his deciding to play in the tournament.

"It was probably a little to find self-confidence, and a little the joy to play again. I have found that here from the start, when I first came here. It's really fun. It has been good luck."

Sweden vs. Finland Quarterfinal Epic

Sweden and Finland are prosperous Scandinavian neighbors who were once part of the same empire. The countries today share a heritage, a land border, the Gulf of Bothnia... and world-class hockey.

On Thursday, they met in a epic quarterfinal tug-of-war, which remained scoreless for 55 minutes. Sweden broke on top, only to have Finland score the equalizer in the final minute of regulation.

In the sixth minute of overtime, Joel Eriksson Ek of the Minnesota Wild scored the overtime winner to advance Team Sweden (and Burakovsky) on to the semifinals.

Sweden will play the host country Czechia, which sent fans at Prague Arena into delirium with a 1-0 quarterfinal shutout of the United States.

Saturday Semifinals Schedule

• Sweden vs. Czechia, 5:20 am Seattle time at Prague Arena

• Canada vs. Switzerland, 9:20 am Seattle time at Prague Arena