Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the IIHF World Championship match.
Sweden enter this highly anticipated quarter-final with revenge on their minds after a painful 3:7 thrashing at the hands of the Czech Republic in last year’s semi-final. Backed by a home crowd and boasting one of the most disciplined defensive units at the tournament, the Swedes are with serious ambitions. But standing in their way is a Czech team that once again brings firepower in abundance — even if their defensive play remains suspect.
Sweden
The hosts arrive in the knockout phase on the back of six group-stage wins and a near-impenetrable defence, including four shutouts. The goaltending tandem of Samuel Ersson and Jacob Markström has been rock-solid — each with two clean sheets — and Sweden remain perfect on the penalty kill (12/12). Despite a 3:5 setback against Canada, they showed character even there, equalising while short-handed. Forward Elias Lindholm has been particularly effective, recording 11 points (7+4) and scoring in five of seven group matches.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, meanwhile, finished third in their group following a 2:5 defeat to the USA in the final round. Prior to that, they had steamrolled the opposition, including a 5:0 rout of Germany — a reminder of their immense attacking talent. The Czech Republic lead the tournament in goals scored (35 in 7 games), spearheaded by David Pastrňák (14 points) and Roman Červenka (13), who top the overall scoring charts. Their power play is operating at a solid 25%, ranked fifth overall. However, their defensive cracks were exposed again by the Americans, who capitalised on four Czech errors in the third period — one of which came with the net empty.
Sweden vs Czech Republic Prediction
The sides split their meetings in this year’s Euro Hockey Tour — the Czech Republic winning 4:1, Sweden responding with a 4:2 victory. While the Swedes hold the edge on home ice and bring a more balanced setup into this one, the visitors’ offence cannot be taken lightly. Expect a tightly contested match where the hosts avoid defeat in regulation, but goals flow at both ends.
