Sunday's 5-1 win against newcomers Poland felt routine, but Monday night was a different story. Here, Sweden's star-studded team, clad in blue and yellow, shone with remarkable brilliance.
The victory showcased a true team effort. Defense star Erik Karlsson notched his third goal of the tournament, while four other players scored their first.
Even 18-year-old Leksands forward Felix Unger Sörum, the fifth-youngest Swedish World Championship debutant ever, dazzled with his puck handling, leaving opponents bewildered. Goalie Samuel Ersson, making his World Championship debut, had a relatively calm evening, at least for the first two periods.
This dominant third straight win likely sent shivers down the spines of their gold medal competitors. The joy of playing was evident – Sweden flowed with confidence.
The dominance began early, with Erik Karlsson scoring his first of the night at 2:54 (following his double against Poland). Fellow defenseman Marcus Pettersson, from Pittsburgh, joined the party with a powerful top-corner shot – his first World Championship goal in his third tournament.
Victor Olofsson, nicknamed "Goalofsson," silenced his critics with a power-play goal, his first in nearly two months. Sweden camped out in the German zone at times, leaving the German players looking like mere pylons. Carl Grundström added another, and Burakovsky made it 5-0 before the second period ended.
The shot statistics reflected Sweden's control – 35-9 after two periods, with the on-ice dominance even more pronounced.
Germany showed some fight in the third, managing a goal by Leonhard Pföderl. However, Isac Lundeström sealed the deal for Sweden with a 6-1 final score.
With an unexpected overtime loss by the USA to Slovakia, Sweden is now in a powerful position to secure the group victory, sitting atop the standings with nine points after three dominant performances.