Canada vs. Sweden live score, highlights, updates from 2023 World Juniors

One more group game remains to be played at the 2023 World Juniors, and it’s a Saturday night battle between Canada and Sweden.

Canada bounces back from defeats by Germany and Austria. After the first loss to the Czech Republic, Canada has six points going into the game against the Swedes.

Sweden picked up a big two points last time out, beating the Czech Republic in extra time on Thursday. The team is still unbeaten in the tournament, picking up wins over Germany and Austria to take their total to eight points.

MORE: Watch World Juniors 2023 live with fuboTV (free trial, US only)

Connor Bedard lit it up in Halifax. The top 2023 NHL draft prospect leads all skaters in goals (six), assists (eight) and points (14). He has a chance to break Team Canada’s world junior record if he can record his 15th career goal of the competition.

Logan Stankoven is second at the World Juniors in points with seven. Dylan Gunther, Olen Zellweger, Shane Wright and Joshua Roy each have five.

Ludwig Jansson, who was the OT hero against the Czechs, leads the Swedes in points with five. Philipp Bistedt and Fabian Wagner are right behind him with four each.

Canada can pass the Swedes in the standings with a win in regulation, but Sweden only needs to earn at least a point to finish ahead of Canada. With the Czech Republic beating Germany earlier on Saturday, Canada cannot finish as the top team in Group A.

MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results

Sporting News will provide live updates and highlights from the Canada-Sweden match at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Canada vs Sweden Score

Canada vs Sweden live updates, highlights from the 2023 World Juniors

(All times Eastern.)

End of second period: Canada 3, Sweden 1

8:09 p.m. — Sigh of relief for Team Canada as they exit with their 3-1 lead still intact after the second period. Sweden had Canada on their heels for the last few minutes of the period thanks to Canadian penalties, but Milic and the PK units came through. Much more level playing field in this frame, but Canada needs to be more disciplined in the third.

8:07 p.m. — Once again, Canada’s penalty kill is huge, killing 5 on 3 and following through on the power play. Sweden had their best game of the night, with four shots on Milic, but he denied every single one.

8:05 p.m. — Chaos at 5 on 3 as Gaucher almost gets a goal for Canada. The clear from Canada rolls into Sweden’s zone, Lindbom comes out to play it, but his pass hits Gaucher in the forecheck. The Canadian forward just couldn’t handle the puck as it dribbled into the corner and Lindbom was able to get it back into the net. Gaucher would have a wide open net if he could settle the puck.

8:04 p.m. — Sweden goes 5 on 3 at 53 seconds as Olen Zellweger sits for the hold. Unnecessary penalty for the Canadian defender. Huge opportunity for Sweden to draw within one.

8:02 p.m. — A late power play is coming for Sweden. Nolan Allen is called to trip Liesel. The Swedes are 1 for 4 on the PP tonight.

8 in the evening – Two great chances, one at one end and one at the other. Zach Dean’s seemingly innocuous shot along the boards goes wide of the post as Lindbom never picks it up. Sweden then immediately fell to 3-1 and Milic made a sensational save, sliding in to deny Jonathan Lekerimäki’s shot.

19:57 – This period was much more than what people probably expected from these two teams. Lots of back and forth play between the two sides with neither dominating the game. With that said, Canada has received far more snaps of Lindbom than Sweden has of Milich.

19:52 – Sweden kills little Odelius. Two shots on goal for Canada on the power play, but both turned wide by Lindbom.

19:49 – Bedard takes a penalty for a hook on Calle Odelius. Canada begins its fourth power play of the night.

19:45 – Gaucher is out of the box after another good kill from Canada. Sweden never got a chance to settle into the offensive zone.

19:43 – Sweden goes to the power play as Nathan Gauchet is called upon to hold. He almost wrapped and took Fabian Liesel to the ground.

19:41 – Great chance for Stankoven from close range against Lindbom. Bedard plays a great pass over two Swedish sticks to Stankoven, who tries to drag and beat Lindbom over the glove, but is denied.

19:38 – Nothing helps Canada with the man advantage.

19:35 – He is in his second term in Halifax. Canada starts the frame on the power play.

End of first period: Canada 3, Sweden 1

19:17 – Canada leads 3-1 at the first intermission. An excellent first 20 minutes from Canada, apart from Ostapchuk’s key play that allowed Sweden to get on the scoresheet. Axel Sandin Pellica was called for interference late in the period, so Canada started the second game strong.

7:12 p.m. — The main is over and the game is back to even strength. Not a bad kill from Canada, but Sweden gets one.

7:11 p.m. — GOAL! Ludwig Jansson remains hot after his third goal of the World Juniors put Sweden on the board. He pivoted on top of the power play and beat Milic with a seeing-eye shot. After a few shaky minutes, Sweden managed to settle, get their system in place and were rewarded. 3-1 Canada leads now.

Ludvig Jansson runs one through traffic and puts Sweden on the board! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/PNpIcrBbLT

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2023

7:03 p.m. — After a review, the officials gave Ostapchuk a five-minute major penalty and a game violation for kneeling. That’s the last thing Canada needs right now after taking a 3-0 lead. The Swedes get a five-minute power play and can score as much as they can.

Zak Ostapchuk (#GoSensGo) stepped up for the goal but caught Philip Bistead with a knee and was assessed a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and game misconduct.

🎥: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/bniJU2aPHx

— EP Rinkside (@EPrinkside) January 1, 2023

7:01 p.m. — Zach Ostapchuk will sit at least two minutes as he is called for tripping. He hits Bystedt with a knee to the knee and the officials will review.

18:59 — GOAL! Tyson Hinds takes a dish from Stankoven and rips a one-timer out of the slot past Lindbom. Goals in back-to-back games for the defender and the lead is 3-0 just over eight minutes into the first leg. Bedard had assists on all three goals for Canada.

Logan Stankoven makes one for Tyson Hinds! Canada is 3-0!🚀#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/tEx1Aob7SG

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2023

18:57 – Sweden finally settled into the game. Filip Bistedt just stole the puck in the neutral zone and got a chance against Tomas Milic, but his backhand fell short. It was Sweden’s first shot on goal and it came around halfway.

18:52 – The game went back to 5-on-5, but not before Canada almost took advantage again on the power play when Logan Stankoven danced through the Swedish defense and missed a shot. All the momentum is on the side of the Canadians right now.

18:49 – The power play is wiped out as Sweden gets too many people. It would be 58 seconds of 4-on-4 before Canada got a shortened power play. It was a terrible first five minutes for the Swedes.

18:47 – Zach Dean throws a cross-check to Noah Ostlund right in the back of the head and he’ll sit for two minutes. Sweden gets a power play three minutes into the first.

18:44 — GOAL! Canada’s power play continues to be hot as the lead extends its lead to two less than three minutes into the game. Shane Wright fires a pass off the boards across the crease and hits Othman on the backdoor for a tap-in. Canada is up 2-0 just 2:20 into the game.

Shane Wright to Brennan Othman! Canada strikes on the power play and leads 2-0! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UJBnfAWbG8

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2022

18:43 – Canada starts the power play early as Elias Peterson comes in late and gets a high stick against Brennan Othman. Canada’s power play hits 69% at World Juniors.

18:40 — GOAL! Canada needed just 57 seconds to get on the board as Joshua Roy took a fake pass from Connor Bedard and beat Lindbom. Canada jumped all over Sweden in the first minute and were rewarded with a goal. You couldn’t have asked for a better start from the Canadians, 1-0 Canada.

JOSHUA ROY!! Canada gets the party started in 57 seconds! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Jbf1NcbbS1

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 31, 2022

Foreplay

17:40 – The squads for Sweden and Canada. Tomas Milich starts in net for Canada and Karl Lindbom handles the crease for Sweden. Both Leo Karlsson and Fabian Leisel are for Sweden; Karlsson missed Thursday’s match against the Czech Republic due to illness and Liesel left in the first leg.

Here are the lines for Canada and Sweden. Karlsson (2023) returns to his place on the first line. Lysell (BOS) returns to the third line as Magnus Havelid opts to keep the Djurgarden trio together. pic.twitter.com/5dwEpXXsss

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 31, 2022

17:00 hours — With the Czech Republic’s win over Germany earlier on Saturday, Canada cannot finish as the No. 1 seed in Pool A. If Canada wins in regulation, then it secures the No. 2 seed in the bracket, but if Sweden wins at least one point, then Sweden is #2 and Canada is #3.

Canada vs Sweden start time

• Time: 6:30 PM ET (7:30 PM AST)

The puck drops at 6:30 PM ET (7:30 PM local time) from the Scotiabank Center in Halifax, North Carolina, home of the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL.

MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results

This is the final group match for the two clubs at the 2023 World Juniors.

What channel is Canada vs Sweden on today?

• Canada: TSN 1/4/5
• United States: NHL Network

TSN carries all World Junior events in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on the NHL Network.

Gord Miller and Mike Johnson will be on the call. James Duty, Bob McKenzie and Cheryl Pounder will provide analysis during the breaks.

How to live stream World Juniors hockey games

Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors matches on TSN.ca or the TSN app. American fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (which offers a free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.

Canada vs Sweden Odds

• Canada: -1.5 (-130)
• Sweden: +1.5 (-106)
• O/U: 6

Canada is a slight favorite at 1.5 goals on the puck line for the contest against Sweden at the World Juniors, according to Sports Interaction.

Canada World Junior Program 2023

(All times Eastern)