A young USA, with an average age of 24.4 years, blew past a Three Crowns team teeming with renowned hockey veterans, where the average age is over four years higher.
The Americans were faster, hotter, and precise.
Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Markström had a tough afternoon and was substituted after two periods and four goals conceded. In came Samuel Ersson, Philadelphia, but the 0-4 deficit was too large.
The Swedes were booed as they left the ice after two periods.
Two quick goals in the third period gave hope, but it was extinguished by Jackson LaCombe's counter-attack goal to make it 5-2.
It feels like I've let many people down today, and it starts with me. It wasn't good enough from my side, says Sweden's team captain Rasmus Andersson to Viaplay afterwards.
Switzerland or Denmark
Now it's a bronze medal match for Three Crowns, just like in the VM in the Czech Republic last year when the Swedes defeated Canada in the third-place match.
The loser of tonight's semifinal between Switzerland and super-underdog Denmark awaits.
USA has not played a VM final since 1934 and the last "real" gold came the year before. USA took an OS gold in 1960, at the time it was also counted as VM gold.
Three Crowns started nervously in a packed Globen. William Nylander was ejected after just 27 seconds and USA peppered Markström, who had to make some sharp saves.
After 6.52, defenseman Brady Skjei sent the puck from the blue line and it found its way in behind a screened Markström.
Cutter Gauthier scored 2-0 under Markström's pads after 17.13.
Got hope up
The Swedes pulled themselves together in the second period, took over, but couldn't outsmart Boston goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman.
Instead, Conor Garland made it 3-0 on a rebound when the Swedish defense acted passively, and at the end of the second period, Mikey Eyssimont scored 4-0 on a shot that didn't look unstoppable.
Then it almost needed a miracle to come back, and we tried. But the first two periods are far too bad, says Rasmus Andersson.
In the third period, the Swedes tried to make a spurt.
William Nylander could break the zero when Rasmus Andersson's pass gave the Toronto star an open goal after 6.32.
Just 41 seconds later, Swedish goal- and point-king Elias Lindholm made it 4-2 with his eighth VM goal.
USA was shaken, took a timeout, and stopped the trend.
When Jackson LaCombe countered in 5-2 after just over half the period, hope was gone.
Sweden pulled the goalkeeper with five minutes left, but instead, USA's 6-2 came through Shane Pinto.
Göran Sundberg/TT
Facts: Sweden's latest VM results
TT
2024: Bronze.
2023: 6.
2022: 6.
2021: 9.
2019: 5.
2018: Gold.
2017: Gold.
