The 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championship continues with a highly anticipated matchup between Sweden and Czechia, set to take place at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario. The game begins at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Time: 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Venue: TD Place Arena, Ottawa, ON
TV Coverage: NHL Network (USA), TSN (Canada), CT sport (Czechia), Max (Finland), TV6 (Sweden), Viaplay (Sweden), XSport (Ukraine)

As the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Junior Championship heats up, Sweden and Czechia clash in a pivotal Group B matchup that promises high-intensity action and significant tournament implications.

Key Players to Watch

Sweden:

• Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Detroit Red Wings prospect): The dynamic defenseman has been a standout performer, tied for the top point-getter in the tournament with seven points.
• David Granberg: Another key contributor for the Swedes, Granberg has tallied six points, cementing his status as a reliable offensive presence.

Czechia:

• Jakub Stancl (St. Louis Blues prospect): Stancl has showcased his scoring prowess, tying Sandin-Pellikka at the top of the tournament’s points leaderboard.
• Vojtech Hradec (Utah Hockey Club prospect): Hradec’s consistent performances make him a critical player for the Czechs, matching Stancl’s seven-point total.

Recent Form

Sweden’s Last Matches:

• Dec. 29, 2024: Defeated Switzerland U20 (5-7)
• Dec. 28, 2024: Dominated Kazakhstan U20 (8-1)
• Dec. 26, 2024: Triumphed over Slovakia U20 (5-2)
• Dec. 24, 2024: Outplayed Germany U20 (11-1)
• Dec. 22, 2024: Fell to Canada U20 (4-2)

Sweden enters this game on a four-game winning streak, but their late-game shakiness against Switzerland is a concern that Czechia might exploit.

Czechia’s Last Matches:

• Dec. 30, 2024: Edged out Slovakia U20 (4-2)
• Dec. 29, 2024: Overpowered Kazakhstan U20 (14-2)
• Dec. 27, 2024: Defeated Switzerland U20 (5-1)
• Dec. 24, 2024: Narrowly lost to Canada U20 (3-2)
• Dec. 21, 2024: Beat Latvia U20 (5-1)

Czechia’s physical style and resilience were evident in their feisty encounter against Slovakia, showcasing their ability to grind out results in tight games.

Head-to-Head

Recent history between these two teams reveals a competitive rivalry. The teams have faced each other five times in 2024, splitting results almost evenly:

• Nov. 6, 2024: Sweden 5-4 Czechia
• Aug. 29, 2024: Czechia 5-4 Sweden (SO)
• Apr. 20, 2024: Czechia 1-2 Sweden
• Feb. 8, 2024: Czechia 3-1 Sweden
• Jan. 4, 2024 (WJC): Sweden 5-2 Czechia

Prediction

Sweden’s depth and offensive firepower, led by Sandin-Pellikka and Granberg, give them a slight edge in this matchup. However, Czechia’s gritty performances and star players like Stancl and Hradec will ensure this game remains competitive until the final whistle. Expect a closely fought contest, but Sweden’s overall consistency and recent head-to-head success against Czechia make them the favorites.

Prediction: Sweden wins 4-3.

Stay tuned to NHL Network, TSN, and other broadcasters for live coverage of what promises to be an exciting game in Ottawa!