In a battle for the top spot in Group A, the start was understandably tight for both Canada and Sweden, with not many shots produced in the opening minutes. Canada was using a physical approach to get into the game, and that helped to get the nerves out of their system.
Settling into the game, Canada began to get some shots on target. The best chance of the opening part of the period was a semi-breakaway from Macklin Celebrini, looking to keep building on a five-point night in his previous game, but getting denied by Swedish goaltender Hugo Havelid.
After the first TV timeout, Sweden began to generate some looks of its own, finding seams through the Canadian defence for some open shots, but they either missed the net or were turned away by Canadian keeper Mathis Rousseau.
As the energy ramped up, the teams began trading chances both ways, but the setups looked more dangerous than the attempted finishes, perhaps a sign that the nerves were still a big factor in such a big game. Carson Rehkopf earned a clear-cut breakaway with about eight minutes left on the clock, but once again Havelid was solid in net.
The goaltender’s efforts had the game still scoreless with six minutes to play when Fraser Minten’s attempted stick lift on Jonathan Lekkerimäki whacked the Swedish forward in the mouth. The result was a double minor that gave the hosts a great chance to get the game’s first goal. An exceptional skate-blade save from Rousseau on a point-blank shot from Liam Öhgren kept the Swedes looking for that first tally.
Filip Bystedt thought he had scored the opening goal moments later, with his arms half raised in celebration before realized the puck went out the other side of the crease. Those two chances were the best chances Sweden had to score on the four-minute advantage.
Less than two minutes into the second period, the game got its first goal. It came off the stick of defenceman Tom Willander later on a sequence following Matthew Poitras turning the puck over in the slot attempting to carry it out.
With the goal, Sweden started to control the majority of the play, getting out to a bit of shot advantage despite being the leading team. Canada’s defence was having issues dealing will all of the creative plays the Swedes were making at the top of the crease, requiring Rousseau to make some good saves. The pressure eventually caused the last line of defence to break as a blocked shot left Rousseau out of position and Noah Östlund pounced on the puck for a 2-0 lead.
Matthew Savoie had a great chance to get Canada back in it, blocking a shot and heading away on a three-zone breakaway. He tried one to many dekes and had the puck fly off his stick blade before be was able get a shot on goal.
A brief flurry at the end of the period had Canada looking for a goal, but most of the shots were missing the net at the Canadians pressed for a first goal, and Havelid swallowed up the ones that required his intervention. With 40 minutes played, the Swedes were in good position for a third consecutive win to open their tournament on home ice.
Sweden started of the third period well, not just content to keep the puck of their end but playing it deep in Canada’s zone. Canada’s efforts to get into the game were further hindered four-and-a-half minutes in when Connor Geekie got his elbow up on bodycheck on Fabian Wagner, leading to a minor penalty. Sweden didn’t add to its lead on the man advantage, but did drain another two minutes off the clock.
Canada got its first power play as Elias Salomonsson lost the puck at the blue line and decided to haul down Savoie rather than force his goaltender to face yet another breakaway. It may have saved a goal at the time, Canada was too nervous on the power play, double-clutching some pass receptions right at the side of the crease and giving Havelid time to cover. Macklin Celebrini’s shot off the outside of the post was as close as Canada came to scoring.
What was a perfectly played period from the Swedes from a defensive standpoint took a turn when Zeb Forsfjäll rode Owen Beck hard into the boards. Canada’s shutdown centre had to be helped off the ice with what looked like a shoulder or collarbone injury, The officials sat down in the penalty box to review the hit, and ultimately decided it wasn’t worth a call, deemed a legal hit, just as Beck returned from the dressing room, apparently escaping a significant injury.
Canada did get a power play soon afterward as Axel Sandin Pellikka was called for a hook at the top of his crease. It resulted in just a single shot for Canada as Sweden’s defence held firm.
Pulling Rousseau to get an extra attacker, the skaters on the ice were caught out by Rousseau returning to the net after some Swedish pressure. That meant Canada would be forced to play the final two minutes short-handed.
There was just one more chance for Canada, as Sweden held on for 3-0 win, their third shutout victory to begin the tournament.
With the win, Sweden claimed top spot in Group A with Canada only able to match them on points having lost the tie-breaker in today’s head-to-head. Sweden can now rest some players in their final match on New Year’s Eve, while Canada will try to address some issues in their final game before the playoff round begins.
