Sweden secures top spot in Group B with a 4-2 win over Czechia

Sweden - Czechia 4-2

The first period saw both teams testing the waters, with Sweden holding a slight edge in shots (16-13). While neither team managed to convert, both goaltenders—Sweden’s Melker Thelin and Czechia’s Michael Hrabal—displayed composure, keeping the game deadlocked at 0-0.

The action ramped up in the second period, where Sweden took control. Herman Träff opened the scoring on the power play at 1:52, finishing a well-executed setup from Theo Lindstein and Felix Nilsson. Träff doubled the lead six minutes later, capitalizing on Otto Stenberg’s creativity in the offensive zone.

Czechia answered back at 11:57 with a power-play goal from Petr Sikora, who one-timed a cross-ice feed from Adam Jecho. Despite the response, Sweden reasserted dominance late in the frame. Felix Unger Sörum went bar down to make it 3-1 at 18:17, followed just 30 seconds later by Anton Wahlberg’s slick finish after a precise feed from Nilsson.

Trailing 4-1 heading into the third, Czech captain Eduard Salé injected life into his team’s comeback bid with a penalty shot goal just 34 seconds in. However, Sweden’s disciplined defensive play and Thelin’s steady goaltending stifled any further Czech advances.

Physicality marked the final period, with Sweden’s Isac Hedqvist delivering a massive hit on Adam Novotny that drew a roar from the 6,138 fans in attendance. The Czechs struggled to generate momentum, hampered by three late penalties. Pulling Hrabal for an extra attacker with under two minutes left failed to close the gap.

Sweden now shifts focus to their quarter-final matchup against Latvia, while Czechia awaits their opponent, determined by the Group A finale between Canada and the U.S.

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