Sweden vs. Finland hockey: Nordic rivals collide Friday morning in Olympic Group B
One of international hockey’s great matchups returns on Friday, Feb. 13, when Sweden and Finland meet in Group B at Santagiulia Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:10 a.m. ET, with both teams eyeing a critical step toward a quarterfinal bye and a statement in a rivalry that spans generations.
A rivalry defined by gold and heartbreak
The shared history is unmistakable. Sweden’s 3-2 win in the 2006 Turin gold-medal game remains a touchstone moment, sealed by a last-minute save that still stings in Finland. A decade earlier, Finland authored its own landmark memory with a 4-1 triumph over Sweden to capture the 1995 world title in Stockholm. When NHL players last took the Olympic stage in 2014, Sweden edged Finland 2-1 in the semifinals on the way to silver.
Recent meetings have kept the pendulum swinging. Finland struck in overtime to win a 4 Nations Face-Off meeting last season, while Sweden answered with a tight 2-1 victory at the world championship. Few rivalries balance familiarity and unpredictability quite like this one.
Veterans who know the stakes
Several core pieces have lived this rivalry under Olympic lights. Sweden brings back experience from the 2014 semifinals in forwards Marcus Johansson and Gabriel Landeskog and defensemen Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Erik Karlsson. Finland counters with forward Mikael Granlund—who delivered the overtime dagger in last season’s showcase—and defenseman Olli Maatta.
Inside both locker rooms, the history is present tense. Sweden coach Sam Hallam acknowledged the weight of past moments and how often they’re revisited by today’s group. Finland star Mikko Rantanen, who watched the 2006 final as a child, has called that loss a heartbreaker, underscoring how early these games etch themselves into memory. Karlsson, who has skated in more than a few Nordic showdowns, frames it as a lifelong sporting constant: a rivalry that stretches beyond tactics and into identity.
Early read: chances created, chances missed
Both teams arrive with plenty to clean up from their openers. The two combined for 100 shots across their first games yet left goals on the table thanks to misfires and confident opposing goaltending. Finland generated looks but fell 4-1, a scoreline that masked long stretches of zone time but also exposed the cost of a few critical breakdowns. Sweden controlled large portions against host Italy but conceded early off a turnover before settling in and managing the clock.
In net, there is room for both sides to sharpen. Juuse Saros allowed three on 24 shots in Finland’s start, with rebound control a point of emphasis moving forward. Filip Gustavsson handed Italy an early lifeline with a miscue but then saw little sustained testing the rest of the way. With elite finishers lurking at both ends, composure in goal could swing a game that typically hinges on inches.
Blue-line depth vs. front-line firepower
Sweden’s defense corps is a clear strength, rich in NHL experience and poise. Even with a few opening-night lapses, the group’s structure, puck movement and matchup versatility should travel well against a skilled opponent. Finland’s blue line features a true fulcrum in Miro Heiskanen, though the minutes behind him will face a stern examination against Sweden’s layered attack and mobile defense joining rushes.
Up front, Finland’s star quality remains a threat to tilt momentum quickly. Rantanen and Sebastian Aho headline a forward unit that can manufacture goals off the rush or grind on the cycle. Sweden counters with a balanced top nine and power-play weapons capable of turning one mistake into two goals in a hurry. Special teams, as ever in tight tournament games, loom large.
Group B context and what’s next
The format incentivizes strong early results. Teams earn three points for a regulation win, two for an overtime win, one for an overtime or shootout loss, and none for a regulation loss. After the preliminary round, the three group winners and the best second-place team receive byes to the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams play qualification games on Feb. 17 (ET), with quarterfinals on Feb. 18, semifinals on Feb. 20, the bronze medal game on Feb. 21, and the gold medal game on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Elsewhere on Friday’s slate, Canada meets Switzerland, France faces Czechia, and Slovakia takes on host Italy. For Sweden and Finland, though, the implications extend beyond standings math. Every entry into the ledger of this rivalry is hard-earned and long-remembered—and the next chapter begins early Friday morning.
