Tre Kronor have won six out of six matches in the Ice Hockey World Championship in Globen. If they win against Canada in Tuesday's group finale, Sweden will finish first – and will then, according to the schedule, face the fourth team in the other group.
There is a but.
If Denmark, the host of the other group in Herning, finishes fourth, the playoff schedule must be changed. The host nations are guaranteed home advantage in a potential quarterfinal – and cannot be pitted against each other.
If Sweden finishes first and Denmark fourth, they will instead meet teams from their own groups in the quarterfinal.
It's whatever, you just have to adapt and prepare as best as you can. If it's so, it's cool for Denmark and Danish hockey to advance on home turf, says Tre Kronor's Mikael Backlund.
If it's not so, we might get an even bigger advantage since the opposing team has to travel here, it's always a bit more cumbersome to switch hotels.
Commenting to Aftonbladet, World Championship general Tony Wihrén comments on the uncertain situation:
We're prepared for all scenarios. We've prepared with transportation between the venues and if it doesn't turn out that the teams need to move, that's how it is.
This is a setup that has been under way for a long time and is nothing we as organizers control. The host nation is guaranteed to play at home in the quarterfinal and then it can turn out like this.
Denmark is fifth in its group and must win the final match against Germany on Tuesday evening to advance in the World Championship.
Carl Göransson/TT
Simon Karlsson/TT
Facts: Tre Kronor's quarterfinal opponent
TT
+ If group win and Denmark eliminated...
Then Sweden will face the fourth team in the other group, in this case likely Germany. But it could also theoretically be the Czech Republic or the USA.
+ If group win and Denmark advances...
Then Sweden will face the fourth team in its own group. Latvia, Austria, and Slovakia will then be opponents for Tre Kronor.
+ If second place in the group...
Then Sweden will face the third team in the other group. Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the USA, and Germany can all finish third.
