Switzerland vs Sweden Prediction
🔊 One of the teams will clinch Olympic medals for the first time in years, pushing Finland off their familiar "bronze" perch. Switzerland have made a strong impression in the decisive matches, even challenging the formidable Canada. Which team will leave Milan with medals? Let's break down the third-place match in the women's Olympic ice hockey tournament and offer a prediction for the game on February 19.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past five years, the Swiss and Swedish women's national teams have clashed 16 times: the Swiss secured victory in six encounters, while the Swedes triumphed in ten. Most of these matches took place within the Euro Hockey Tour. In the Olympic Games, Switzerland and Sweden have faced off three times. In 2010, the Scandinavians won during the group stage (3-0), in 2014, Switzerland avenged their loss by winning the bronze medal match (4-3), and in 2018, Sweden edged them out again in the group stage (2-1).
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Switzerland (W) Team Overview
Switzerland's national team, having advanced from the group stage with just one win over Czech Republic (4-3 OT), sensationally avenged their preliminary round loss to Finland in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory. In the semifinals, they put up a fierce fight against the most decorated team in the world, Canada (1-2).
Switzerland doesn't rank in the top five in any key metrics. Their conversion rate of 7.4% is only the sixth-best in the tournament, with just 1 out of 11 power-play opportunities converted, ranking them eighth. Their penalty kill percentage of 70.6% also places them eighth. Switzerland is the most attended European team at the Olympic Games, with fans traveling to cheer them on as they chase their first medals since 2014.
Match Results: Switzerland (W)
Sweden (W) Team Overview
Sweden navigated through the preliminary stage in Group B without suffering a single defeat. Their first real test came in the quarterfinals, and the Scandinavians passed it by defeating the Czech Republic 2-0. In the semifinals, they faced an anticipated defeat against the reigning world champions, USA, with a score of 0-5.
Nevertheless, the Swedish team boasts one of the best conversion rates in the tournament at 9.5%. They consistently perform well on the power play with five goals and are strong in penalty killing, allowing just one goal with a 90.9% neutralization rate. While their group may have been relatively easy, it's noteworthy that only one team, the USA, has conceded fewer goals than Sweden's seven in the tournament.
Match Results: Sweden (W)
⚡️ Key Players
Switzerland's main scoring threat remains Alina Müller, who has tallied 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists). In the semifinal against Canada, she added an assist to her tally. On the defensive end, first-line defenders Lara Christen and Alessia Baechler shoulder the heaviest load, with Christen averaging 24:08 on the ice per game (fifth in the tournament) and Baechler at 23:20.
For Sweden, Hanna Olsson leads in points with 7 (3 goals, 4 assists). Thea Johansson remains in contention for the tournament's top scorer with four goals, while Hilda Svensson competes for the top playmaker with five assists. Lina Ljungblom ranks among the top five in faceoff wins at the Olympics with a 65.2% success rate.
🥅 Goalies
Saskia Maurer started as Switzerland's number one goalie, boasting a 91.8% save percentage and a 3.25 goals-against average. However, Andrea Brändli emerged as the playoff star, recording a shutout with 40 saves against Finland and allowing just two goals on 44 saves against Canada.
Sweden's top goalie, Ebba Svensson Treff, was performing well until their matchup against the USA, which significantly affected her stats (94.4% save percentage). After conceding four goals, she was replaced by Emma Söderberg.
🏆 Winter Olympics Statistics
- 1998 (Nagano, Japan): Switzerland - Did not participate, Sweden - 5th place
- 2002 (Salt Lake City, USA): Switzerland - Did not participate, Sweden - 3rd place
- 2006 (Turin, Italy): Switzerland - 7th place, Sweden - 2nd place
- 2010 (Vancouver, Canada): Switzerland - 5th place, Sweden - 4th place
- 2014 (Sochi, Russia): Switzerland - 3rd place, Sweden - 4th place
- 2018 (Pyeongchang, South Korea): Switzerland - 5th place, Sweden - 7th place
- 2022 (Beijing, China): Switzerland - 4th place, Sweden - 8th place
Editorial Prediction
Switzerland have shown they are ready to play decisive matches with a defensive approach and minimal scoring. Throughout the tournament, only one of their games saw six goals scored. In their head-to-head encounters with Sweden, 10 of the last 11 meetings have also seen five or fewer goals. We're opting for pragmatic hockey and predicting total goals under 5.
Betting Tips: Switzerland (W) - Sweden (W)
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