Advantage Sweden?

05 Jan 2014 | Henrik Lundqvist

Tonight's World Junior Championship finalists Sweden and Finland have played each other 23 times since U16. Sweden has won 13 times and Finland 10. Overtime or shootout was needed in 7 of the games.

The rivalry between Sweden and Finland is great in hockey. The players know each other well. The 1994-born teams of those two countries in northern Europe have faced each other 23 times. Tonight's WJC final will be the last meeting before the players are seniors.

So Sweden has won 13 of the 23 past games, including the one last weekend. Does that mean they have an advantage?

U20
2013-12-28 in Malmö, Sweden - Finland 4-2
2013-11-10 in Novogorsk, Sweden-Finland 2-3 (SO)
2013-09-01 in Rovaniemi, Finland-Sweden 5-2
2013-08-10 in Lake Placid, Finland-Sweden 3-2 (SO)

U19
2012-02-08 in Ostrava, Sweden-Finland 7-4

U18
2012-04-20 in Brno, Sweden-Finland 7-3
2012-02-12 in Pori, Finland-Sweden 2-3
2011-11-13 in Monthey, Finland-Sweden 2-3 (SO)
2011-08-12 in Breclav, Sweden-Finland 4-3 (OT)

U17
2011-04-09 in Mariehamn, Finland-Sweden 7-1
2011-04-08 in Mariehamn, Finland-Sweden 4-2
2011-04-07 in Mariehamn, Finland-Sweden 8-0
2011-02-08 in Balashikha, Sweden-Finland 4-5 (SO)
2010-09-05 in Turkku, Finland-Sweden 1-5
2010-09-04 in Forssa, Finland-Sweden 4-5 (SO)
2010-09-03 in Naantali, Finland-Sweden 1-4

U16
2010-04-11 in Oulu, Finland-Sweden 2-6
2010-04-10 in Boden, Sweden-Finland 1-4
2010-04-09 in Boden, Sweden-Finland 4-0
2010-02-14 in Karlovy Vary, Sweden-Finland 3-2
2009-12-20 in Ålborg, Finland-Sweden 8-3
2009-12-16 in Sollentuna, Sweden-Finland 2-3 (SO)
2009-12-15 in Sollentuna, Sweden-Finland 6-3