You can look at the state of the Swedes in one of two ways as they prepare for the quarter-finals at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship.
One, this is a battle-tested group that has been in a pair of extra-time, one-goal games at the U18 Worlds and will be ready for tight hockey when the stakes are highest. Or, two, the Swedes are kind of limping along as they try to get back to the gold medal game of the tournament.
Either way, the Swedes are in the dance following their final preliminary-round game on Tuesday, where they beat Switzerland 3-2 in overtime as Valter Lindberg found some open ice in the 3-on-3 session and beat Swiss goalie Christian Kirsch through the five-hole.
The goal ended what was a highly-entertaining game that saw Sweden twice overcome one-goal deficits for the win. Switzerland will now await the result of Kazakhstan versus Canada as the Swiss have four points, good for fourth in Group B. If Canada defeats Kazakhstan, the Swiss will move on to the quarter-finals.
Sweden ends up tied with Czechia with six points each. The Swedes finish third in Group B, the Czechs second, due to Czechia's 3-2 shootout win over Sweden earlier in the tournament.
The Swiss had a chance to win the game before extra time as they were awarded a powerplay late in the third, with Sweden’s Adam Hesselvall being sent to the box for tripping. Sweden goaltender Love Harenstam, who stopped 23 of 25 shots he faced in the game, made a fantastic blocker save on Jamiro Reber who had the best chance on the powerplay.
Harenstam has been the busiest goaltender at this tournament, playing all four of Sweden's games. He has been terrific, posting a 2.44 goals against average in the tournament thus far.
"I’m feeling really good. It’s a special thing to do but I’m happy that the coaches trust me and they have confidence in me. I’m just happy to play and they told me I just have to do my best," Harenstam said after the OT win. "I don’t think about it that much. I just try to do the same thing every day and take care of my body."
Swiss goaltender Christian Kirsch was also strong, turning away 21 of 24 shots, with his best coming early in the third when he robbed Lucas Pettersson on a point-blank shot that would have given the Swedes a 3-2 lead.
Switzerland’s Jordan Forget opened the game’s scoring at 1:21 of the first when he jammed in a rebound off a Mischa Geisser shot. The Swedes tied it six minutes later as Felix Ohrqvist threw a seeing-eye prayer from just inside the blueline that eluded a screened Kirsch.
In the second, on a Swiss powerplay, Gian Meier gave the team in red another lead when he walked in from the point and took a wrist shot that went over the arm of Harenstam.
"I think we did really good," said Meier. "It was better than the last game against Canada, especially the second period was a lot better."
Meier’s goal seemed to rouse both teams as what followed were penalties, penalties and more penalties. The Swedes would have four minor penalties after Meier’s goal in the second and the Swiss had three.
Sweden took advantage on the man advantage at 18:52 of the second when Viggo Nordlund rushed the puck into the Swiss zone and made a cross-ice feed to Pettersson, who snapped a hard shot over the glove of Kirsch to tie the game 2-2 heading into the third.
One, this is a battle-tested group that has been in a pair of extra-time, one-goal games at the U18 Worlds and will be ready for tight hockey when the stakes are highest. Or, two, the Swedes are kind of limping along as they try to get back to the gold medal game of the tournament.
Either way, the Swedes are in the dance following their final preliminary-round game on Tuesday, where they beat Switzerland 3-2 in overtime as Valter Lindberg found some open ice in the 3-on-3 session and beat Swiss goalie Christian Kirsch through the five-hole.
The goal ended what was a highly-entertaining game that saw Sweden twice overcome one-goal deficits for the win. Switzerland will now await the result of Kazakhstan versus Canada as the Swiss have four points, good for fourth in Group B. If Canada defeats Kazakhstan, the Swiss will move on to the quarter-finals.
Sweden ends up tied with Czechia with six points each. The Swedes finish third in Group B, the Czechs second, due to Czechia's 3-2 shootout win over Sweden earlier in the tournament.
The Swiss had a chance to win the game before extra time as they were awarded a powerplay late in the third, with Sweden’s Adam Hesselvall being sent to the box for tripping. Sweden goaltender Love Harenstam, who stopped 23 of 25 shots he faced in the game, made a fantastic blocker save on Jamiro Reber who had the best chance on the powerplay.
Harenstam has been the busiest goaltender at this tournament, playing all four of Sweden's games. He has been terrific, posting a 2.44 goals against average in the tournament thus far.
"I’m feeling really good. It’s a special thing to do but I’m happy that the coaches trust me and they have confidence in me. I’m just happy to play and they told me I just have to do my best," Harenstam said after the OT win. "I don’t think about it that much. I just try to do the same thing every day and take care of my body."
Swiss goaltender Christian Kirsch was also strong, turning away 21 of 24 shots, with his best coming early in the third when he robbed Lucas Pettersson on a point-blank shot that would have given the Swedes a 3-2 lead.
Switzerland’s Jordan Forget opened the game’s scoring at 1:21 of the first when he jammed in a rebound off a Mischa Geisser shot. The Swedes tied it six minutes later as Felix Ohrqvist threw a seeing-eye prayer from just inside the blueline that eluded a screened Kirsch.
In the second, on a Swiss powerplay, Gian Meier gave the team in red another lead when he walked in from the point and took a wrist shot that went over the arm of Harenstam.
"I think we did really good," said Meier. "It was better than the last game against Canada, especially the second period was a lot better."
Meier’s goal seemed to rouse both teams as what followed were penalties, penalties and more penalties. The Swedes would have four minor penalties after Meier’s goal in the second and the Swiss had three.
Sweden took advantage on the man advantage at 18:52 of the second when Viggo Nordlund rushed the puck into the Swiss zone and made a cross-ice feed to Pettersson, who snapped a hard shot over the glove of Kirsch to tie the game 2-2 heading into the third.