Sweden and Canada are preparing for what promises to be an intriguing final group stage encounter at the 2025 Ice Hockey World Championship in Stockholm. The match, scheduled for Tuesday, May 20th at 23:20 local time at Avicii Arena, comes with both powerhouses having already secured their quarterfinal berths after dominant group performances.
The tournament hosts Sweden have been particularly impressive, conceding just three goals in their first five matches under coach Sam Hallam's guidance. Stars like Lindholm and his NHL colleagues have shown clear determination to deliver quality hockey and results for the home crowd, with the ultimate goal of capturing the championship title on home ice.
Sweden's toughest test thus far came against Finland, where goals from Anaheim's Leo Carlson and Minnesota's Jonas Brodin secured victory. Detroit's Lucas Raymond proved to be the standout performer in that match, assisting on both scoring plays.
Canada, coached by Dean Iwason, has similarly enjoyed a comfortable start to the tournament thanks to a favorable schedule. Without major challenges early on, the Canadian team has had the luxury of experimenting with different playing schemes and testing various lineup combinations.
According to betting markets, there's no clear favorite for this matchup, with Sweden slightly edged at 2.75 for a regulation time win compared to Canada's 2.22. The expected total of under 5.5 goals (coefficient 1.94) suggests a tight, defensive battle between these hockey giants.
Analysts at Statbet have noted that the history between these teams has been remarkably balanced in recent years, with each nation claiming important victories in their last three encounters.
The rivalry has certainly produced memorable moments, including Sweden's 2-0 Olympic quarterfinal victory in 2022, Canada's overtime revenge in that year's World Championship, and Sweden's 4-2 triumph in the bronze medal game at last year's tournament.
Both teams will likely be conserving some energy with the playoff rounds on the horizon, but the historical significance of this matchup ensures that fans will still witness a competitive and tactical game from two of hockey's most accomplished nations.
