Sweden Wins the Game, But Slovakia Wins the Day: A Tie-Breaker Twist at the International Stage
You don’t often see a team pull its goalie while leading by two goals. But that’s exactly what Sweden did in a high-stakes matchup against Slovakia-a move that speaks volumes about how tight and tactical international hockey can get under tournament tie-breaker rules.
Sweden needed more than just a win. They needed a statement-a three-goal victory to leapfrog Slovakia in Group B and keep their hopes of winning the group alive.
That’s why, up 3-1 late in the third, they made the rare decision to pull Jacob Markstrom in a bid to chase that crucial fourth goal. It was a bold move, but it didn’t pay off.
Instead, Slovakia capitalized. With 39 seconds left, they netted a power-play goal that didn’t alter the outcome of the game on the scoreboard, but had massive implications for the standings. Now, Slovakia is just one Finland win over Italy away from clinching the top spot in Group B-and with it, a direct ticket to the quarterfinals.
A Game of Inches-and Goals
From the opening puck drop, Sweden came out flying. They held Slovakia without a shot for the first six minutes, setting the tone early.
Then, even after taking a too-many-men penalty, Sweden struck first-shorthanded, no less. Joel Eriksson Ek buried one off a slick feed from Adrian Kempe to give the Swedes a 1-0 lead.
But Slovakia wasn’t about to fold. Juraj Slafkovsky, who’s been a force on the international stage, tied things up before the first intermission. The 1-1 score after one period didn’t quite reflect Sweden’s early dominance, but it was a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in these tightly contested games.
In the second, Sweden reasserted control. Lucas Raymond and Elias Pettersson each lit the lamp to give Sweden a 3-1 lead. That margin set up the late-game drama, as Sweden pushed for a fourth goal that never came.
And then came the penalty.
Raymond, who had been one of Sweden’s best throughout the game, took a retaliatory slashing penalty late in the third after a hit from Tomas Tatar. It was the kind of emotional response that happens in the heat of battle, but this one stung. Slovakia made them pay, scoring on the ensuing power play to cut the lead to 3-2 and, more importantly, swing the tie-breaker math back in their favor.
Landeskog: “It’s Weird”
After the game, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog summed it up best.
“It’s a weird feeling. You know you win a game, and you’re supposed to be happy, but all of a sudden, you don’t win. It’s weird.”
“You win the game, but you don’t win the group. It is what it is.”
“We’ll see what ends up happening.”
It’s a rare scenario in sports where a team can walk off the ice with a win but still feel like they came up short. But that’s the reality of international tournament play, where tie-breakers and goal differential can be just as important as the final score.
By the Numbers
Landeskog continues to ramp up his minutes in this tournament, logging 17:23 of ice time in this one. That’s a solid workload for a player who’s been gradually building his form after a long layoff.
Both Sweden and Slovakia now sit at +2 in goal differential, but Slovakia’s earlier win over Finland gives them the edge in the standings. If Finland beats Italy, Slovakia wins Group B and earns a direct berth to the quarterfinals.
The format rewards not just wins, but how you win-and Sweden found that out the hard way.
Avalanche Watch
From a Colorado perspective, there’s plenty to like about how the Avs’ players are performing on the international stage. Landeskog, in particular, looks sharper with each game-confident on the puck, strong on the boards, and increasingly involved in key moments.
And while it’s fun to imagine what a power play featuring both Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid would look like, that dream duo won’t be carrying over to the NHL. Still, the chemistry and creativity these players are building overseas could translate into some fresh looks once they’re back in Denver.
For now, Sweden moves on with a win-but not the one they needed. And Slovakia sits in the driver’s seat, waiting to see if Finland can finish the job.