Sweden eased through its quarter-final clash with Latvia, picking up a comfortable 6-1 victory to set up a semi-final against Canada on Saturday. The defending champion continues its serene progress in Switzerland, having allowed just four goals in its five games so far.

"We scored lots of goals today, and we scored playing five-on-five," said Felix Unger Soren. "I think we have a good feeling in this group now and we want to go and chase that gold."

For Latvia, the big priority in this tournament was to avoid getting sucked into the relegation round and maintain its seat at the top table. At the start of the playoffs, the Baltic nation found itself overmatched by a Swedish team that never looked likely to fall victim to an upset.

Despite bowing out in the quarter-finals, Latvia's players were not too disappointed. "I think our game got better through the tournament," said captain Eriks Mateiko. "It was little details, teamwork and working together. We did a good job in every game and we played like a team in the end."

In its last two group-stage games, Sweden found it tough to make the breakthrough. Despite dominating the play against both Czechia and Germany, the decisive goal came late in the third period each time.

Today, though, the Swedes got the fast start they wanted. With just four minutes played, Noel Nordh opened the scoring. It wasn’t a goal to win any beauty contests, but Sweden’s players talked about the importance of getting players to the net and battling for the puck, and that was exactly how Nordh’s chance came about.

"It was really important for us to get that first goal," Nordh said. "After that we can really build our game. Scoring early just changes the game for us."

Unger Sorum agreed. "That was the difference today, we scored in the first period," he said. "We didn't have to chase anything and it was easier to keep going." 

Once in front, there was no danger of Sweden relaxing its grip on the game. The first period saw the team in yellow outshoot Latvia 20-6. That pressure paid off late in the frame when David Edstrom stretched out his stick to lift a Noah Dower Nilsson feed over the shoulder of Latvian goalie Aksels Ozols.

There was little sign of any Latvian offence in that opening session and Sweden tightened the screws further after the intermission. It took just 18 seconds to convert the first power play of the game, with Otto Stenberg rifling home from the foot of the right-hand circle to make it 3-0.

Midway through the second period, Latvia did find a way through the Swedish defence. A five-on-three power play saw Davids Livsics reduce the deficit. That was the first goal Sweden had allowed since Roman Kukumberg scored for Slovakia almost 156 minutes earlier.

It was a memorable moment for goalscorer Livsics, who felt that he learned a lot during the tournament. "I'll the best that I can from this," he said. "The atmosphere, the experience, our bench and our team, how we fought for one another."

That put some renewed zest into Latvia’s play, and another promising move from Marks Mezins broke down when his dangerous pass would not sit for Valdis Dommers to test Noah Erliden in the Swedish net.

However, when Karlis Ceslis took a high sticking minor, that short-lived Latvian flourish came to an end. A Swedish power play full of menace saw Dower Nilsson make it 4-1 when he got to the far post to stuff home the puck following Zeb Forsfjall’s diagonal feed.

Sweden started fast in the third period, with Stenberg potting his second of the game. That moves the Swedish captain to 11 (5+6) points for the tournament and pushes him alongside Dalibor Dvorsky and Macklin Celebrini in the scoring race here in Switzerland.

Stenberg's line with Edstrom and Unger Soren has been good throughout this tournament. Under Soren is enjoying playing together. "It's amazing," he said. "They are both so good. David takes a lot of the hard work and makes it easy for me and Otto."

With barely a minute to play, Simon Zether completed the scoring off a Nordh feed. The 6-1 verdict sets up the Swedes nicely for the semi-finals, but Nordh warned there is more to come. "Today was not our best game," he said. "But looking at all our games, we're doing really good. We only allowed three or four goals, we're really good in the D zone and on offence too."
 

Today, though, the Swedes got the fast start they wanted. With just four minutes played, Noel Nordh opened the scoring. It wasn’t a goal to win any beauty contests, but Sweden’s players talked about the importance of getting players to the net and battling for the puck, and that was exactly how Nordh’s chance came about.

"It was really important for us to get that first goal," Nordh said. "After that we can really build our game. Scoring early just changes the game for us."

Felix Unger Sorum agreed. "That was the difference today, we scored in the first period," he said. "We didn't have to chase anything and it was easier to keep going." 

Once in front, there was no danger of Sweden relaxing its grip on the game. The first period saw the team in yellow outshoot Latvia 20-6. That pressure paid off late in the frame when David Edstrom stretched out his stick to lift a Noah Dower Nilsson feed over the shoulder of Latvian goalie Aksels Ozols.

There was little sign of any Latvian offence in that opening session and Sweden tightened the screws further after the intermission. It took just 18 seconds to convert the first power play of the game, with Otto Stenberg rifling home from the foot of the right-hand circle to make it 3-0.

Midway through the second period, Latvia did find a way through the Swedish defence. A five-on-three power play saw Davids Livsics reduce the deficit. That was the first goal Sweden had allowed since Roman Kukumberg scored for Slovakia almost 156 minutes earlier.

That put some renewed zest into Latvia’s play, and another promising move from Marks Mezins broke down when his dangerous pass would not sit for Valdis Dommers to test Noah Erliden in the Swedish net.

However, when Karlis Ceslis took a high sticking minor, that short-lived Latvian flourish came to an end. A Swedish power play full of menace saw Dower Nilsson make it 4-1 when he got to the far post to stuff home the puck following Zeb Forsfjall’s diagonal feed.

Sweden started fast in the third period, with Stenberg potting his second of the game. That moves the Swedish captain to 11 (5+6) points for the tournament and pushes him alongside Dalibor Dvorsky and Macklin Celebrini in the scoring race here in Switzerland.

Stenberg's line with Edstrom and Unger Soren has been good throughout this tournament. Under Soren is enjoying playing together. "It's amazing," he said. "They are both so good. David takes a lot of the hard work and makes it easy for me and Otto."

With barely a minute to play, Simon Zether completed the scoring off a Nordh feed. The 6-1 verdict sets up the Swedes nicely for the semi-finals, but Nordh warned there is more to come. "Today was not our best game," he said. "But looking at all our games, we're doing really good. We only allowed three or four goals, we're really good in the D zone and on offence too."