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Tre Kronor improved its final group phase record at the Milano Cortina Olympics to 2-1-0. On Saturday, the Swedes handed Slovakia its first loss of the tournament. Team Sweden prevailed by a 5-3 score.
Nevertheless, at the end of the game, the Slovaks were all smiles. The Swedes slunk unhappily off the ice.
Why? Goal differential.
Swedes still paying for loss to Finland
In the likely event that Finland defeats Italy, there will be a three-way tie in Group B. The Swedes, the Finns and the Slovaks will all have 2-1-0 records. In the Olympics, which operate under International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) tournament rules, the preliminary round standings in Group B will come down to total goal differential.
Due to Sweden’s regulation loss to Finland in their second game, Tre Kronor needed to beat Slovakia by three or more goals to beat the Sovaks Group B. Now the standings come down to how Finland fares against Italy.
- Finland has an even goal differential (5 GF – 5 GA) heading into the Italy game. Sweden (11 GF – 9 GA) and Slovakia (10 GF – 8 GA) are both plus-two.
- However, Sweden lost to 4-1 Finland and beat Slovakia 5-3. Slovakia opened with a 4-1 win against the Finns. The leaves Treo Kronor at -1 in the tiebreaker, the Finns at even and the Slovaks at +1.
- If the Finns beat Italy in regulation, Team Finland finishes second. Slovakia finishes first. Sweden will be third.
- This was why the Slovaks celebrated at the end of their game and why Tre Kronor pulled Jacob Markstrom for an extra attacker despite leading by two goals.
Costly penalty
Entering the final minutes of the third period against Slovakia, Sweden held a 5-2 lead. At 17:22, Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond took a retaliatory slashing penalty. Slovakia called timeout before their power play started.
At 19:21, a Juraj Slafkovsky shot leaked past Markstrom. Dalibor Dvorsky tucked the puck home. Suddenly, Sweden’s goal differential clincher disappeared.
The big picture
Winning group play cliches a spot in the medal round quarterfinal game. It automatically avoids the qualification game. Beyond that, every team in Group B (except Italy) still has a fighting shot at a medal. The three Group play winners plus the highest second-place team get automatic spots in the quarterfinal.
All medal round games are single elimination.
