Sweden beats Russia 6-3 in world junior hockey opener

RED DEER, Alberta (AP) — Theodor Niederbach scored midway through the third period to thwart Russia’s comeback bid in Sweden’s 6-3 victory Sunday on the opening day of the world junior hockey championship. After Russia’s Matvei Michkov scored twice in a 41-second span early in the third to cut it to 4-3, Niederbach beat goalie Jaroslav Askarov to restore a two-goal margin. Oskar Olausson, Emil Andrae, Alexander Holtz, Simon Edvinson and Daniel Ljungman also scored for Sweden, and Jesper Wallstedt made 27 saves in the Group B game. Fyodor Svecjkov also scored for Russia, and Askarov stopped 13 shots. Earlier in Edmonton in Group A, Samuel Helenius scored twice in Finland’s 3-1 victory over Germany.