Swedes beat Finns to top group B.
This was a closer match than the last time Finland and Sweden met. Sweden beat Finland 8-0 in the bronze medal match in 2021 in Frisco, Texas and Isak Rosen led the way with two goals.
The tempo and intensity were high early on. Finnish Jani Nyman tested Swedish goalkeeper Hugo Havelid with a shot from the middle of the rush. The Finns were not very happy when the Swedish defender Dennis Good Bogg wrinkled Aleksanteri Kaskimaki with a heavy open strike.
Mattias Havelid opened the scoring at 10:29. He backed off the sideboards with plenty of time to start his shot and tricked Finnish starter Topias Leinonen with a high glove side from a long distance.
The Finns got an answer at 16:06. Quickly in the change, Kasper Halttunen pulled up inside the Swedish blue line and centered the puck to Ronni, who zinged the puck past Hugo Havelid to the stick side.
The Swedes entered this competition with the tournament’s most effective powerplay, after clicking four times on eight opportunities in the first two matches. Almgren made it 2-1 at 17:46 on their first lead, and took advantage from the gap after a couple of nice passes by Lekkerimaki and Noah Ostlund.
“I think we need to be more powerful both in the offensive zone and in the defense,” Hameenaho said.
In the second period, a great job with forecheck gave Sweden’s third goal in 8:05. Forward Isac Born fought against Finnish blue liner Nikko Minkkinen along the end boards and sent the puck out to Bystedt, who made no mistake for his second goal in the U18 world.
At 11:13, Mattias Havelid’s wrist shot from the left point Leinonen escaped through the traffic for a 4-1 Swedish lead.
“[Mattias Havelid] is one of our important players as a defensive player and today he scored two goals, says coach Magnus Havelid. He’s done it before. That was good for us. As assistant captain, he sets a good example on the ice. Not only by scoring goals, but also how he helped us with powerplay and penalty kills. “
The Finns did not give up. Just over three minutes later, Hameenaho reduced to 4-2 and redone Ronni’s powerplay setup behind the Swedish net.
In the third period, great puck movement made it possible for Finland to make it 4-3 at 11:36. Within the Swedish blue line, Hameenaho sent a smart back pass through the legs to Uronen, who put the puck past the Swedish goalkeeper.
But it was as close as Suomi would get. A late penalty kick to Joakim Kemell helped the Swedes kill the time even if they did not use 5-on-4. With Leinonen drawn for the extra striker, Hugo Havelid knocked Nyman out of tight to preserve the Smakronorna victory.
This was the fourteenth U18 World Cup ever between these nations. Sweden enjoys the edge in head-to-head play with seven wins, two draws and five losses.