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For the first time since upsetting the United States of America in 2009, Slovakia is playing for a medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships when they play Team Sweden for the bronze medal. This is Sweden's first time not in the gold medal game since 2012.
Sweden has ridden their dynamite power play for much of the tournament. They have scored 25 goals so far with 12 of them being on the power play, 12 being at even strength, and one being an empty net goal. If Slovakia wants to beat Sweden, they would be wise to avoid taking penalties and shut down William Nylander, who runs the Swedish offence.
Slovakia's offence is usually run through Montreal Canadiens draft pick, Martin Reway. He leads the team with six points, while no other player has more than three. Canada has effectively shut Slovakia down twice simply by shutting down Reway. Slovakia does not have a potent power play like Sweden does; they only have one power play goal in the tournament.
Slovakia's biggest strength is their goalie, Denis Godla. Godla has started every game for Slovakia, receiving the mercy pull in Slovakia's first game of the tournament against Canada. If Slovakia wins the bronze, it will be on the back of its goaltender. Sweden will most likely counter Godla with Robert Soderstrom, who has played every minute of the tournament for Sweden. The goalies have similar save percentages, with Godla's save percentage being slightly higher.
On the Montreal Canadiens prospect front, Swedish captain Jacob de la Rose has struggled against tougher opponents, but he has also seen a decrease in ice-time as the tournament has progressed, at some points rarely playing at even-strength. He is still a key penalty killer for Sweden and may have the task of shutting down the Reway line. On the opposing side is Slovakia's captain, Martin Reway. Reway has been at the heart of anything happening offensively this entire tournament for the Slovaks. Look for that to continue against Sweden.
The game is at 4:00 EST/1:00 PST on TSN 1/3/4/5
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Oskar Lindblom | Axel Holmstrom | William Nylander |
| Adrian Kempe | Lucas Wallmark (A) | Adam Brodecki |
| Leon Bristedt | Jacob de la Rose (C) | Anton Blidh |
| Leon Bristedt | Christoffer Ehn | Jens Looke |
Extra: Victor Olofsson
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| Robert Hagg (A) | Julius Bergman |
| Sebastian Aho | William Lagesson |
| Gustav Forsling | Robin Norell |
| Andreas Englund |
| Goaltenders |
| Linus Soderstrom |
| Samuel Ward |
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Robert Lantosi | Martin Reway (C) | Peter Cehlarik |
| Patrik Koys (A) | Matus Sukel' | Pavol Skalicky |
| Radovan Bondra | Michal Kabac | Samuel Petras |
| Matej Paulovic | Dominik Rehak | David Soltes |
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| Mislav Rosandic (A) | Erik Cernak |
| Matus Holenda | Christian Jaros |
| Olivier Jendrol' | Marco Hochel |
| Patrik Bacik |
| Goaltenders |
| Denis Godla |
| David Okolicany |
Scratched: Branislav Pavuk, Daniel Gibl