Denmark: Siltanews – News Desk
In an unexpected matchup between the Nordic co-hosts, Sweden defeated underdog Denmark 6-2 in Sunday’s bronze medal game at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Tre Kronor blew the game open with three second-period goals to claim its second bronze in as many years.
Mikael Backlund and Marcus Johansson both scored twice. Lucas Raymond and Mika Zibanejad added singles. Elias Lindholm assisted on both of Backlund’s goals, which came 4:34 apart midway through the second period to give Sweden a 2-0 lead. Lindholm finished with a team-high 14 points.
Sunday’s result applies a little balm to Sweden’s wounds. It’s naturally disappointing not to win gold in Stockholm with a stacked roster, as Tre Kronor famously did in 2013 to break the 27-year-old “home-ice curse.”
“It’s been an unreal experience, playing in front of your home country fans with family and friends in the stands,” said Raymond. “It’s been amazing. But obviously it’s tough to look back and not feel disappointed. That’s the reality. That’s hockey, and we move on.”
For Denmark, Nick Olesen had a goal and an assist, and Nikolaj Ehlers also scored”We gave everything we had, there’s nothing more in the tank,” said Denmark’s Morten Poulsen. “Every Danish player has left everything he’s got. We’re completely empty.”
The Cinderela Danes were outscored 13-2 in their last two playoff games. Still, coming fourth goes down as a special milestone in their sports history.
The Danes have never finished higher than eighth at an IIHF WM before (2010, 2016). Pre-tournament, another quarter-final exit was widely seen as their best-case scenario, especially without NHL mainstays like goalie Frederik Andersen (Carolina) and forwards Lars Eller (Washington) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (Tampa Bay).
Sweden outshot Denmark 37-18, including an 18-4 gap in the middle frame”In some ways, yesterday [the 7-0 semi-final loss to Switzerland] was more disappointing,” said Denmark’s Nicklas Jensen. “Today, we battled hard. We know they’re going to be more on the puck and be better defensively, and today we can be proud. In general, we can be very proud of the tournament we put together.”