Sweden's star-studded team with 19 NHL players is on paper the favorite against a Finland with six NHL reinforcements in a boiling Avicii arena.
But the strength on paper seems to have no significance when it's Sweden-Finland in major contexts.
Six times in a row, the rivalry match has gone to extension.
When Finland scored the winning goal in the extension in the Four Nations in February, it meant that Tre Kronor's final chance disappeared.
Both teams come into Monday's meeting with two initial wins, but Finland has had it tough.
"Always been tough"
Narrow victories against both Austria and France, the latter after extension (1-3 became 4-3).
You've played against Finland since U16 and it's always been tough against them. They play tight, block shots, and don't give up many opportunities, says Minnesota-back Jonas Brodin, second-best Swedish goal-scorer so far with two goals.
He initiated the spectacular turnaround against Austria on Saturday - where 1-2 became 4-2 in 58 seconds at the end - with the equalizing goal.
It's two goals in two matches, it's just to continue and help the team try to win. It was nice to get the equalizing puck, he says.
Changes in the lines
Tre Kronor conducted a match warm-up around lunch on Monday and had made some changes in the lines. For example, top goal-scorer Filip Forsberg, goal- and point-less so far, will be together with Elias Lindholm and Mikael Backlund.
Lindholm and Forsberg played together in the junior national team.
It's been a long time since we got the chance to play together, so it'll be fun. It's ten plus years since, so we'll see if the chemistry is there.
Tre Kronor haven't started any of their two first matches that well. That's where Jonas Brodin wants to see improvement:
We've been a bit rusty for the first ten, so we need to come out from the start and play our way.
15/2 2025: Sweden-Finland 3-4 after extension (Four Nations, Montreal).
23/5 2024: Sweden-Finland 2-1 e ext (World Championship quarterfinal, Ostrava).
15/5 2023: Sweden-Finland 2-1 after penalties (World Championship, group play, Tammerfors).
18/5 2022: Sweden-Finland 3-2 e str (World Championship, group play, Tammerfors).
13/2 2022: Sweden-Finland 3-4 e ext (Olympic Games, group play, Beijing).
23/5 2019: Sweden-Finland 4-5 e ext (World Championship quarterfinal, Kosice).
The formations at Monday's match warm-up:
Lines:
Isac Lundeström, Leo Carlsson, Lucas Raymond - Isac Lundeström, Alexander Wennberg, Mika Zibanejad - Filip Forsberg, Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm - Emil Heineman, Anton Bengtsson, Jesper Frödén.
Defensive pairs: Marcus Pettersson, Rasmus Andersson - Jonas Brodin, Adam Larsson - Simon Edvinsson, Erik Gustafsson.
Goalkeepers: Jacob Markström, Samuel Ersson.
