The 2018 IIHF World Championship final will feature a stunning matchup, with defending champions Sweden taking on Switzerland. The Swedes annihilated the USA earlier today, winning 6-0 on the back of another great performance from Anders Nilsson. Late additions in Patric Hornqvist and Viktor Arvidsson made a big difference again, and the Swedes are looking about as unstoppable as a team can in an international tournament. They are undefeated so far, and have an All-Star level lineup from nearly top to bottom.
Switzerland on the other hand has had to battle to get to this point, knocking off Finland and Canada on the way to the finals. Today, the Swiss outlasted a Canadian onslaught in the third period to win 3-2, as Connor McDavid couldn’t carry his team to victory. The Swiss will have to try and puncture the outstanding Swedish defense, including Oliver Ekman-Larsson, John Klingberg, Mattias Ekholm, Hampus Lindholm and Adam Larsson. Roman Josi and company will have a tough test, but can’t be ruled out after knocking out two powerhouses already.
The game is scheduled for 1:15pm (CT) tomorrow afternoon.
Team USA and Canada aren’t done though, as they’ll play the bronze medal game in the morning. After such an unexpected crushing defeat this morning, Patrick Kane and the rest of the US will have to try to bounce back and stop taking retaliatory penalties. Canada, who lost in an even bigger upset, will need to keep their heads in the tournament if they want to medal once again. Their game is set for 8:45am.
For Switzerland, this will be just the second medal since 1953 and a chance at gold for the first time in history. The team won silver back in 2013 on a similar improbable run, but could even top that by taking down the undefeated Swedes tomorrow afternoon.