Sweden’s Olympic Defense: Good, But Not Good Enough?
Team Sweden is heading into the Olympic elimination rounds with a 2-1 record in group play-a solid showing on paper, but one that doesn’t quite tell the full story. They sit atop Group B, but the path there has been anything but dominant. And with medal rounds looming, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Let’s break it down.
The Group Stage: More Than Just Wins and Losses
In international hockey, group play isn’t just about wins and losses-it’s about how you win. Goal differential often becomes the deciding factor in tie-break scenarios, and right now, Sweden’s isn’t doing them any favors. They’ve allowed an average of three goals per game across their three matchups: two against Italy, four in a tough loss to Finland, and three more this morning against Slovakia.
Compare that to a team like Canada, which has allowed just 0.5 goals per game while winning out-no stress, no mess. Sweden’s defense hasn’t looked nearly as airtight, and that’s a concern.
Ekholm’s Absence: A Subtle but Significant Void
One name that keeps coming up in conversations around Sweden’s blue line is Mattias Ekholm. At 35, he’s not the flashiest name in the lineup, but he’s the kind of player who brings structure, consistency, and a defensive mindset that doesn’t show up in highlight reels-but wins games.
After battling through injuries in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, Ekholm has bounced back this season with the Oilers. He’s chipped in six goals and 21 assists through 58 games, but more importantly, he’s doing it without sacrificing his own-zone responsibilities.
He hasn’t posted a plus/minus worse than -1 in over a decade. You always know what you’re getting with Ekholm: smart positioning, physical presence, and a calming influence on the back end.
Sweden’s current defensive core is loaded with talent at the top-Rasmus Dahlin, Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson, and Gustav Forsling are as good a top four as you’ll find in the tournament. But after that, things get a little shakier.
Rasmus Andersson comes in with a rough -38 from his season with the Flames. Hampus Lindholm is sitting at -8.
Philip Broberg has been quiet offensively and is a -1 in St. Louis.
Even Oliver Ekman-Larsson, despite more points in Toronto, is also a -1. None of those numbers scream "lockdown defender," and in a tournament where one goal can make the difference between advancing and going home, that matters.
Could One Player Have Changed the Outcome?
Would Ekholm have single-handedly changed Sweden’s fortunes? Maybe not.
But could he have prevented a goal here or there? That’s a fair question.
And in a tournament where goal differential could decide seeding-or worse, elimination-it’s not a stretch to say his presence might have helped Sweden avoid the tie-breaker scenarios they now face.
Even in a limited role, Ekholm would’ve brought defensive depth that’s clearly been lacking. He doesn’t need top-pair minutes to make an impact; he just needs to be on the ice when it matters most.
Looking Ahead: Defense Will Be the Difference
As Sweden gears up for the medal rounds, the focus has to shift to keeping the puck out of their own net. Scoring gets harder in elimination games.
The pace tightens, space disappears, and mistakes get magnified. If they’re going to make a serious run at gold, the Swedes will need to lock things down defensively.
That means their stars on the blue line have to play to their potential-and the supporting cast needs to hold the line. Because from this point forward, every goal matters. And every non-selection-like Ekholm-could loom large.
Sweden’s still very much in the mix. But if they want to stay there, they’ll need to defend like it.