This will be a completely decisive match for a direct spot in the Olympic Games in Milano Cortina 2026. Both Sweden and Denmark have won their two initial matches against Norway and the Netherlands, respectively, and the winner of Sunday's Nordic clash in Gävle will secure the Olympic spot.
The women's national team is a clear favorite and has participated in all Olympic Games since 1998 when women's hockey became part of the program.
The favorite status was not diminished by Friday's performance. Not only was the Netherlands defeated 8–0. Sweden won the shot statistics with an overwhelming 80–9, and the victory margin could have been much larger.
For example, Sweden only led 2–0 after the first period – both goals by Sara Hjalmarsson – despite a 30–0 shot difference at that point.
We actually started half-heartedly. Even though we have a lot of puck possession, it doesn't feel like we're attacking the goal. But it got better and better as the period went on, said Hjalmarsson to SVT after the initial period.
Four Swedish goals in the second period decided the match, and the Netherlands had only one decent scoring opportunity throughout the entire game.
Ahead of the completely decisive match against Denmark on Sunday, Sofie Lundin, one of the goal-scorers against the Netherlands, says:
It's going to be really fun, these are the matches you want to play. There's a lot at stake. It's going to be a tight match, we need to be on it from the start, says Lundin to SVT.
February 6: Norway (3–0).
February 7: Netherlands (8–0).
February 9: Denmark, 4:00 PM.
The qualifying winner will play Olympic ice hockey in Italy 2026. All matches are played in Gävle.
