There is one group match left at World Juniors 2023 and it’s a Saturday night clash between Canada and Sweden.
Canada comes from back-to-back knockdowns against Germany and Austria. After an opening defeat against the Czech Republic, Canada has a six-point lead over the Swedes.
Sweden took two big points last time out and defeated the Czech Republic in overtime on Thursday. The team is undefeated in the tournament and also beat Germany and Austria to bring their total points to eight.
MORE: Watch World Juniors 2023 Live with fuboTV (Free Trial, US Only)
Connor Bedard lit it in Halifax. The top pick for the 2023 NHL draft leads all skaters in goals (six), assists (eight), and points (14). He has a chance to break Canada’s junior world champion’s goal record if he scores his 15th career goal at the competition.
Logan Stankoven is second in the World Juniors with seven points. Dylan Guenther, Olen Zellweger, Shane Wright and Joshua Roy all have five.
Ludvig Jansson, who was the OT hero against the Czechs, leads the Swedes with five points. They are followed by Filip Bystedt and Fabian Wagner with four each.
Canada can overtake Sweden in the standings with a regular win, but Sweden only needs to get at least one point to finish ahead of Canada. Since the Czech Republic defeated Germany on Saturday earlier, Canada cannot finish as a top team in Group A.
MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results
Sporting News provides live updates and highlights from the matchup between Canada and Sweden at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Result Canada vs. Sweden
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | f | |
| Canada | 3 | 0 | – | – | – |
| Sweden | 1 | 0 | – | – | – |
Canada vs Sweden live updates, highlights from 2023 World Juniors
(All times Eastern.)
End of second period: Canada 3, Sweden 1
20:09 — Breathe a sigh of relief for the Canadians, who remain 3-1 up after the second period. Sweden had Canada on their heels in the final minutes of the quarter thanks to Canadian penalties, but Milic and the PK units prevailed. A much more even playing field in this frame, but Canada needs to be more disciplined in the third.
20:07 — Once again, the Canada penalty kill comes out big, killing the 5v3 and ensuing power play. Sweden had their best power play looks of the night, taking four shots at Milic but he blocked everyone.
20:05 — Mayhem in 5v3 as Gaucher almost scores a shorthanded goal for Canada. Canada’s clear rolls into the Swedish zone, Lindbom comes out to play it but his pass hits Gaucher in the precheck. The Canadian forward just couldn’t handle the puck as he dribbled into the corner and Lindbom was able to net again. Gaucher would have had a wide-open net if he could have controlled the puck.
20:04 — Sweden goes 5v3 for 53 seconds with Olen Zellweger sitting to hold. An unnecessary penalty for the Canadian defender. A huge chance for Sweden to draw within one.
20:02 — Sweden faces a late power play here. Nolan Allan is called for taking Lysell down. The Swedes are 1 for 4 in PP tonight.
8 p.m. — Two great opportunities, one on one side and one on the other. A seemingly harmless shot along the boards by Zack Dean goes off the bar as Lindbom never picks it up. Sweden then go down immediately 3-on-1 and Milic makes a sensational save, sliding over to parry Jonathan Lekkerimaki’s shot.
19:57 — That time was a lot more of what people probably expected from these two teams. Lots of back and forth between the two sides with neither dominating the game. That being said, Canada got a lot more shots at Lindbom than Sweden at Milic.
19:52 — Sweden kills the Odelius minor. Two shots on goal for Canada on the power play, but both deflected by Lindbom.
19:49 — Bedard pulls a hooking penalty on Calle Odelius. Canada goes into its fourth power play of the night.
19:45 — Gaucher is off the hook after another good kill from Canada. Sweden never had the chance to set up in the offensive zone.
19:43 — Sweden goes on the power play as Nathan Gaucher is called to stand. He pretty much grabbed Fabian Lysell and pinned him to the ground.
19:41 — Big chance for Stankoven near Lindbom. Bedard gives Stankoven a great saucer pass over two Swedish sluggers who tries to pull over the gauntlet and punches Lindbom but is denied.
19:38 — Nothing to do for Canada on the man advantage.
19:35 — The second period is underway in Halifax. Canada begins the frame on the power play.
End of first period: Canada 3, Sweden 1
19:17 — Canada goes into the first break with a 3-1 lead. Excellent first 20 minutes from Canada, alongside the Ostapchuk major allowing Sweden to get on the board. Axel Sandin Pellikka was called on to interfere at the end of the third, allowing Canada to start the second with a power play.
19:12 — The Major is over and the game is balanced again. Not a bad kill from Canada, but Sweden gets one.
19:11 — GATE! Ludvig Jansson stays hot as his third World Juniors goal puts Sweden on the board. He spun to the lead on the power play and beat Milic with a seeing eye shot. After a few bumpy minutes, Sweden was able to settle in, set up their system and were rewarded. Canada now leads 3-1.
Ludvig Jansson levitates you through the traffic and gets Sweden on board! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/PNpIcrBbLT
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2023
19:03 — After review, officials give Ostapchuk a five-minute major and a game for misconduct for kneeling. That’s the last thing Canada needs now after building a 3-0 lead. The Swedes get a five-minute power play and can score as many points as possible.
Zack Ostapchuk (#GoSensGo) goes in for the hit but catches Filip Bystedt with the knee and is penalized with a five-minute major for a knee injury and misconduct.
🎥: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/bniJU2aPHx
— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) January 1, 2023
19:01 — Zack Ostapchuk will remain seated for at least two minutes as he is called out for tripping. He hits Bystedt knee to knee and officers will check it out.
6:59 p.m. – GOAL! Tyson Hinds takes a dish from Stankoven and rips a one-timer out of the slot past Lindbom. Goals in consecutive games for the defender and the lead is 3-0 with just over eight minutes into the first game. Bedard has assists on all three goals for Canada.
Logan Stankoven scores for Tyson Hinds! Canada is 3-0!🚀#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/tEx1Aob7SG
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2023
18:57 — Sweden has finally settled into the game. Filip Bystedt just stole the puck in the neutral zone and got a chance on Thomas Milic, but his backhand wouldn’t go. That was Sweden’s first shot on goal and it came about halfway through.
18:52 — The game is 5v5 again, but not before Canada almost capitalized on the power play again when Logan Stankoven danced through Sweden’s defense and shot wide. All the momentum is currently on the side of the Canadians.
18:49 — The power game is extinguished when Sweden demands too many men. It will be 58 seconds 4v4 before Canada gets an abridged power play. That was a terrible first five minutes for the Swedes.
18:47 — Zach Dean checks Noah Ostlund right in the back of his mind and he’ll sit for two minutes. Sweden gets a power play three minutes into the game.
6:44 p.m. – GOAL! Canada’s power play remains sweltering as the lead extends the lead to two in under three minutes. Shane Wright shoots a pass from the ties over the crease and hits Othmann on the back door for the tap-in. It’s 2-0 Canada only 2:20 in the game.
Shane Wright to Brennan Othmann! Canada scores on power play and leads 2-0! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UJBnfAWbG8
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2022
18:43 — Canada go on the power play early as Elias Pettersson comes in late and hits a high stick on Brennan Othmann. Canada’s power play is 69% in the World Juniors.
6:40 p.m. – GOAL! Canada takes just 57 seconds to get on the board as Joshua Roy takes a fake pass from Connor Bedard and defeats Lindbom. Canada jumped all over Sweden in the first minute and was rewarded with a goal. Couldn’t have asked for a better start from the Canadians, 1-0 Canada.
JOSHUA ROY!! Canada gets the party started in 57 seconds! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Jbf1NcbbS1
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2022
foreplay
17:40 — Lineups for Sweden and Canada. Thomas Milic is in the net for Canada and Carl Lindbom is in goal for Sweden. Both Leo Carlsson and Fabian Lysell are there for Sweden; Carlsson missed Thursday’s game against the Czech Republic through illness and Lysell was eliminated in the first.
Here are the lines for Canada and Sweden. Carlsson (2023) returns to his place in the first line. Lysell (BOS) returns to the third row while Magnus Havelid chooses to keep the Djurgarden trio together. pic.twitter.com/5dwEpXXsss
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 31, 2022
17 o’clock – With the Czech Republic defeating Germany on Saturday earlier, Canada cannot finish as No. 1 in Group A. If Canada wins in the rule they will secure No. 2, however if Sweden takes at least one point then Sweden is No. 2 and Canada is No. 3.
Start time Canada vs. Sweden
- Time: 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. AST)
The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time) from the Scotiabank Center in Halifax, NS, home of the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL.
MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results
This is the final group game for both clubs at World Juniors 2023.
What channel is Canada vs Sweden on today?
- Canada: TSN 1/4/5
- United States: NHL Network
TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.
Gord Miller and Mike Johnson will be on the phone. James Duthie, Bob McKenzie and Cheryl Pounder will provide analysis during the breaks.
How to stream World Juniors hockey games live
Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games on TSN.ca or the TSN App. US fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (which offers a free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.
Canada vs Sweden Odds
- Canada: -1.5 (-130)
- Sweden: +1.5 (-106)
- O/U: 6
Canada is a slight 1.5-goal favorite on the puck line for the World Juniors clash against Sweden, according to Sports Interaction.
Canada World Juniors Schedule 2023
(All times Easter)
| date | Opponent | result | time (ET) | TV info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 26th | Czech Republic | L, 5-2 | 6:30 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| December 28th | Germany | W, 11-2 | 6:30 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| December 29th | Austria | W, 11-0 | 6:30 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| Dec 31 | Sweden | — | 6:30 p.m | TSN, NHLN |
| January 2nd | TBD (Quarterfinals) | — | open | TSN, NHLN |
| January 4th | TBD (semifinals) | — | open | TSN, NHLN |
| January 5th | TBD (Gold Medal Game) | — | open | TSN, NHLN |