Sweden preps for Canada showdown with easy win

Calgary Flames prospect Mikael Backlund scored two goals and added two assists as Sweden romped to a 10-1 win over Denmark on Friday at the world junior hockey championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

Backlund helped break open a game that was 2-1 after the first period. The Swedes scored four times in each of the next two periods.

The 18-year-old forward was selected with the 24th pick in the first round by Calgary in June's entry draft.

Tony Lagerstrom also scored two goals, while Stefan Ridderwall, drafted in 2006 by the New York Islanders, made 16 saves in net.

Sweden (2-0) will battle Canada (2-0) on Saturday, a game likely to decide who wins Group A. Canada will conclude its preliminary round schedule against the Danes on Monday.

In the only other action on Friday, Colin Wilson scored twice as the United States stayed unbeaten with a 4-2 win over Switzerland.

Wilson, a forward with Boston University, hasbeen ranked by Central Scouting as the top U.S. college prospect heading into the 2008 NHL entry draft in June.

James Van Riemsdyk and Bobby Sanguinetti added the other goals. Van Riemsdyk, taken second overall in the last draft by Philadelphia, scored for the second consecutive game.

Nashville prospect Jeremy Smith made 16 saves as the U.S. (2-0) kept pace with Russia (2-0)atop Group B.