Clear wins against Slovakia, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland mean that Sweden only has one rival left for the group win: the Czech Republic.
The battle will be decided at 11 pm on New Year's Eve, Swedish time, when the countries face each other.
They've done well so far. I hope for a good match. But not as swinging as this one maybe. It's going to be tough opposition, I hope we can win that one too, says Tom Willander, who scored two of Sweden's goals in the 7-5 win against Switzerland, to TV6.
Taking first place in group B can be important. It likely means that Latvia or Germany, the easiest opponents on paper from group A, will be waiting in the quarterfinals. The three presumed top teams in the group – USA, Finland, and host nation Canada – are the ones you'd rather avoid.
Now that we've set ourselves up with three wins, we'll do everything to win against the Czech Republic, says Sweden's national team captain Magnus Hävelid.
Decided in the second
Switzerland didn't have much to offer – even though the Junior Crowns fell apart a bit at the end. Sweden lost the shot statistics in the first period with 5-11, but showed brilliant efficiency and went to the break with a 3-1 lead.
Switzerland's goalkeeper Christian Kirsch made some great saves in the second period, but couldn't withstand the Swedish onslaught. Three blue and yellow goals in the middle act definitely decided the match.
Four PP goals by Switzerland
Switzerland came out really hard (in the first period), they matched our tempo. We maybe held onto the puck a bit too much, but now I think we turned the game around and played the way we want to, said Sweden's team captain Axel Sandin-Pellikka about the 6-1 lead after the second period.
The third period is one Sweden would rather forget. Switzerland clearly won it, thanks to sharp play in numerical superiority after several unnecessary Swedish penalties. Four Swiss power-play goals – and one Swedish, through Sandin-Pellikka – gave the final result 7-5 to Sweden.
It was high and it was low. You have to remind yourself that this was junior hockey "by the book", says Sweden's national team captain Magnus Hävelid to TV6.
But it still feels good to stand here with a win.
