The TD Place Arena in Ottawa hosted a captivating World Juniors showdown on December 29, 2024, as Sweden edged Switzerland 7-5 in a game marked by a deluge of power-play goals and dramatic swings. Sweden’s victory secured their position atop Group B with a perfect 3-0-0 record, while Switzerland remains on shaky ground, teetering on the edge of relegation.
Sweden dominated the opening two periods, building an imposing 6-1 lead with a lethal power play and clinical finishing. However, the Swiss roared back in the third, scoring four power-play goals to close the gap and set up a nervy finish.
Tom Willander and Axel Sandin-Pellika shone for the Swedes, while Kimo Gruber and Leo Braillard fueled Switzerland’s late surge. Sweden's goaltender Melker Thelin faced 35 shots, fending off a relentless Swiss offense in the final period to preserve the win.
The Swedes set the tone early with a power-play rocket from Tom Willander at 6:52, leaving Swiss goaltender Elijah Neuenschwander helpless. Kimo Gruber managed to equalize for Switzerland six minutes later with a fortunate deflection off a Swedish skate, but Zeb Forsfjäll quickly restored Sweden’s lead. A late power play saw Otto Stenberg extend the advantage, finishing a sharp-angle shot to make it 3-1 by the first intermission.
David Granberg’s quick strike just five minutes into the second highlighted Sweden’s ruthless efficiency. Willander notched his second goal of the night on another power-play blast, showcasing Sweden’s dominant special teams. Victor Eklund capped the period with a gritty effort at 39:48, increasing the lead to a commanding 6-1.
The final frame belonged to the Swiss. Kimo Gruber opened the scoring with his second goal, and Leo Braillard followed with two laser-like wrist shots that exposed Sweden's penalty-killing vulnerabilities. Andro Kaderli added another after a masterful setup from Leon Muggli, who had three assists on the night. Despite their spirited comeback, the Swiss ran out of time as Braillard's second goal in the dying seconds settled the final score at 7-5.
Sweden faces the Czech Republic next in a battle for Group B supremacy, while Switzerland’s fate hinges on a must-win clash against Kazakhstan. Both games will be decisive in shaping the playoff picture and avoiding relegation battles.
Félix Girard
(F)
IF Frisk Asker
IF Björklöven
Ivan Kovalev
(D)
Izhstal IzhevskYugra Khanty-Mansiysk
Brendan Leipsic
(F)
Avtomobilist YekaterinburgSibir Novosibirsk
Nikolai Chebykin
(F)
HC SochiSeverstal Cherepovets
Dmytro Timashov
(F)
HC Sochiunknown
Nikolai Timashov
(D)
HK TambovMagnitka Magnitogorsk
Ivan Larichev
(F)
Sokol KrasnoyarskYunison Moskva
Czech Rep.:
Tipsport extraliga |
1.liga |
2.liga
Slovakia:
Tipsport Extraliga |
1.liga
Sweden:
SHL |
HockeyAllsvenskan
Other: EBEL | Belarus | Croatia | Denmark | Estonia | France | Great Britain | Iceland | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | MOL-liga | Norway | Poland | Romania | Serbia | Slovenia | Spain | NHL | AHL |
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Finland:
Germany:
Switzerland: