Sweden’s Success in Italy Continues with a Shutout Victory over Czechia

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Sixth-seeded Sweden remained undefeated at Milano Cortina 2026, as they pulled off a scrappy 2-0 triumph over the third-place team in Group A, Czechia. Ebba Svensson Träff made 29 saves for her second consecutive shutout and the team’s third, for an overall shutout streak of 206 minutes and 30 seconds.

The first period was a defensive battle unlike anything we’ve seen at Milano Cortina thus far. Takeaways, blocked shots, and solid positioning aplenty led to a shot total of just two each 14 minutes into the frame, and six apiece overall. Two Czech power plays resulted in just a single, albeit threatening attempt on goal from Natálie Mlýnková that Svensson Träff shouldered away.

Mlýnková was once again the story for Czechia outside the defensive zone. The first-line forward continued her strong run of form at the Olympics even despite the result, not only being the only Czech to record multiple shots, but accounting for easily their most dangerous chances. Mlýnková’s tenacity was a perfect compliment to Kateřina Mrázová’s finesse and Tereza Vanišová’s power game all tournament long.

As for Sweden, Mira Jungåker was all over the ice in her 9:37 of play in the first, nearly half the period. Like Mlýnková, she was the only player on her team with more than one shot on goal, on top of a couple blocks and many physical battles engaged with Czechia’s forecheckers. Jungåker’s strength and positioning led to Sweden’s first player advantage of the game, forcing Tereza Vanišová to the outside with nowhere to go but into Svensson Träff, and then into the penalty box for goaltender interference.

After killing off both of Czechia’s power play attempts in the first period, Sweden would continue to win the special teams battle with a goal to open the scoring. Hanna Olsson sent a rising wrister from the left circle over a sprawling Klára Peslarová for her third goal and team-leading seventh point of the Olympics. Her impressive tournament is made even more so given context from four years ago, as Sweden – sans Olsson, who’d unfortunately received a positive Covid-19 test directly prior to the Games – scored just seven goals as a team in Beijing.

While Hilda Svensson and Maja Nylén Persson recorded assists, the goal wouldn’t have happened without the net front presence of Sara Hjalmarsson, whose screen took Peslarová’s eyes off the puck moving across the ice to Olsson. Hjalmarsson’s strong period continued immediately afterwards with a drawn tripping penalty on Kristýna Kaltounková, and a tip off the post during a later power play.

Sweden would take the 1-0 lead to intermission, and Czechia would come out of the gate in the final frame desperate. With their tournament lives on the line, they pulled away in shots in a period for the first time in the game, firing seven of the first nine and 13 of 18 overall. They survived a scare against the run of play when Swedish captain Anna Kjellbin fired a one-timer into the back of the net, but Thea Johansson had clearly interfered with Peslarová, and the referee’s arm was already up before the puck reached mesh.

Czechia’s best chances in the period came on this power play and another to follow it – both Johansson infractions, with both opportunities orchestrated by Mlýnková. Her cross-seam feed to Kaltounková was fanned on, and her shot-pass to a back-door Vanišová was expertly broken up by Jungåker.

Damkronorna kept up the pressure and didn’t allow Czechia pull Peslarová for the extra attacker until about a minute to play. With time not on their side, they weren’t able to properly set up in the offensive zone, merely sending a long shot in onto Svensson Träff before Kjellbin quickly sent Svensson on a break. Holding off a pursuing Kaltounková, Svensson, who had an injury scare against Japan but appeared in fine form with a multi-point effort on Friday, deposited a backhand into the empty net to seal the game.

Czechia’s group stage placement ensures a fifth-place finish at Milano Cortina, while Sweden will move onto the semifinals where their overwhelmingly likely opponent will be the United States. It isn’t a guarantee, however. If one of the North American favourites were to fall in the quarters, Sweden would face the winner of Finland vs. Switzerland, and if both lose, Sweden would take on Germany. The latter two scenarios are incredibly improbable indeed, but considering we just saw one Group B over Group A upset? Don’t count it out just yet.