Sweden and Denmark are only one win away from a spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The problem is, only one of them will win and qualify as the two undefeated teams in Group H will face off Sunday to earn a spot in Italy.
Sweden enters as the heavy favorite to win the game and has not allowed a goal in their opening two games beating Norway 3-0 to open the tournament, followed by an 8-0 romp over the Netherlands today.
Sara Hjalmarsson got Sweden on the board scoring twice in the opening frame, which was followed by six different Swedish players hitting the scoresheet. Josefin Bouveng, Paula Bergstrom, Thea Johansson, Sofie Lundin, Ida Karlsson, and Hilda Svensson all scored for Sweden. Ida Boman made nine saves in the win while Dutch goalie Eline Gabriel faced 80 shots in the game, including being outshot 30-0 in the first period.
In the other game of the day, Denmark beat Norway 3-1. 16-year-old Nikita Bergmann was Denmark’s top player scoring the empty netter and going end to end to set up Denmark’s first goal of the game, scored by Lillo Friis-Hansen.
With the two teams both undefeated, the winner of Sunday’s game will earn an automatic berth to the 2026 Olympics.