Mikael Backlund Leads Sweden to World Championship Bronze Victory

Veteran Mikael Backlund, 36, stepped forward when Three Crowns secured the World Championship bronze against Denmark's dark horse. Backlund got a sleepy Sweden going and scored the two first goals in the 6-2 win. "I'm trying to lead the team and do my best," he says to Viaplay.

» Published: May 25 2025 at 17:42

After the disappointment on Saturday, the crushing defeat in the semifinal against the USA (2-6), the second straight VM bronze was a plaster on sore wounds.

After the boos on Saturday, they received standing ovations at the end from a sold-out Globen, 12,530 spectators.

It's still a medal. We came here for something else, but when we woke up this morning, it was full focus on getting a bronze, says Sweden's Mika Zibanejad to Viaplay.

National team captain Sam Hallam let Samuel Ersson continue in goal. The Philadelphia goalkeeper came in in the third period instead of Jacob Markström.

Weak start

Sweden started poorly, they led the game, but only shot six shots on goal in the first period.

In the second, it became a completely different pace, precision, and foremost attack on goal.

The Swedes got in front of Denmark's goalkeeper Frederik Dichow, the HV71 goalkeeper who became a big hero in the upset win over Canada in the quarterfinal.

Mikael Backlund could steer in the leading goal from close range after Adam Larsson served.

A little over four minutes later, Backlund struck again when Dichow left a small gap at the near post.

- It was not our best first period, so nice to step forward and score, says Backlund, the Calgary forward.

Towards the end of the period, Johansson increased to 3-0, also from close range when he, just like Backlund, got in front of the goal.

Denmark's best VM

Denmark seemed to have gotten a reduction in the beginning of the third period through Philip Bruggisser, but the goal was disallowed after video review.

Instead, Lucas Raymond could increase to 4-0 in a power play.

In the same power play, they made it 4-1 through Nick Olesen, the winner against Canada, and then came a new reduction through Winnipeg star Nikolaj Ehlers.

Marcus Johansson became a two-goal scorer with his 5-2 goal in a power play, set up by among others Backlund, and Mika Zibanejad shot 6-2.

Denmark finished the VM with two losses, but the fourth place is the nation's best VM placement in history. For Sweden's part, it was not the 12th VM gold, and a bronze was a meager reward with 22 NHL stars in the team.

It has been absolutely wonderful to play here. It's clear that it's tough that we don't go all the way, especially with the team we have. But it has been very, very fun, says Zibanejad.