Canada vs. Sweden final score, results: Connor Bedard makes more history in final group play win

Bryan Murphy

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Canada vs. Sweden final score, results: Connor Bedard makes more history in final group play win image

Connor Bedard and Canada gave the Halifax crowd plenty to celebrate on New Year's Eve, as the team defeated Sweden 5-1 in its final group play game at the 2023 World Juniors. 

Bedard made more history Saturday night, as his four assists pushed his career World Juniors point total to 31 to tie Eric Lindros' record for most points ever by a Canadian at the tournament

In addition, he also tied Dale McCourt and Brayden Schenn for the most points ever by a Canadian at a single tournament, as his 2023 points total is now up to 18. 

Brennan Othmann scored twice for the Canadians and Thomas Milic was sensational in net, making 22 saves in the win. The Canadians closed out the preliminary round winning three consecutive games, outscoring its opponents 27-3 in that span. 

MORE: Watch the 2023 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)

With the victory, Canada leapfrogged Sweden in Group A. The defending gold medalists finish with nine points to earn the No. 2 spot in the group. Czechia finished as the top tea after defeating Germany earlier Saturday to push their total to 10 points. 

It sets up a quarterfinal matchup against Slovakia for Canada on Monday. The Slovaks finished as the No. 3 team in Group B. 

As the No. 3 team in Group A, Sweden draws a quarterfinal match against Finland, the No. 2 from Group B. 

MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results

The Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from the Canada-Sweden matchup at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Canada vs. Sweden score

  1 2 3 OT F
Canada 3 0 2 - 5
Sweden 1 0 0 - 1

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

(All times Eastern.)

Final: Canada 5, Sweden 1

9:03 p.m. — Canada holds on to defeat Sweden 5-1. The best performance by Canada so far at the tournament, led by Bedard's four assists and Milic's play in net. With the win, it sets up Canada with a quarterfinal matchup against Slovakia on Monday. 

8:51 p.m. — GOAL! Kevin Korchinski rips a shot short side over Lindbom's shoulder and it's 5-1. Bedard with the assist to tie Eric Lindros for the all-time Canadian World Juniors record for points (31), as well as the Canadian record for most points at a single tournament (18). 

8:47 p.m. — Canada is making Milic's period extremely easy, keeping the puck in the Sweden zone and as far away from its goaltender as possible. Milic has seen just three shots on goal this period and there's only eight minutes and change left. 

8:40 p.m. — Canada rips five shots onto Lindbom on the power play, but can't beat the Swedish goalie. 

8:35 p.m. — Sandin Pellikka pins Gaucher along the boards and drags him down, and he'll sit for two for interference. The second minor for the Swedish defenseman and Canada heads to a power play. 

8:33 p.m. — Colton Dach immediately heads down the Canada tunnel after delivering a hit. It looks like it might have been his right arm, you could hear him yell in pain on the broadcast. Canada is down two forwards with Ostapchuk out of the game after the major in the first.

8:29 p.m. — GOAL! Canada needs just 35 seconds to extend its lead back to three. Sweden fails to clear the puck out of its own zone and it ends up back down low on the stick of Dylan Guenther. He hits Othmann on the back door to make it 4-1 Canada. 

8:28 p.m. — Away we go for the third period. Reminder — Canada has to win in regulation in order to finish as the No. 2 team in Group A and a quarterfinal matchup with Slovakia. Any points secured by Sweden from this game result in Canada ending up as the No. 3 team with a date against Finland in the quarters. 

End of the second period: Canada 3, Sweden 1

8:09 p.m. — A sigh of relief for the Canada side as it comes away with its 3-1 lead still intact after the second period. Sweden had Canada on its heels for the last few minutes of the period thanks to the Canadian penalties, but Milic and the PK units come through. A much more even playing field in that frame, but Canada has to be more disciplined in the third. 

8:07 p.m. — Once again, the Canada penalty kill comes up huge, killing off the 5 on 3 and ensuing power play. Sweden had its best power play looks of the night, with four shots getting on Milic, but he denied each one. 

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

8:04 p.m. — Sweden goes on a 5 on 3 for 53 seconds as Olen Zellweger sits for holding. An unnecessary penalty for the Canada defenseman to take. A huge opportunity for Sweden to draw within one. 

8:02 p.m. — A late power play upcoming here for Sweden. Nolan Allan is called for tripping Lysell. The Swedes are 1 for 4 on the PP tonight. 

8 p.m. — Two great chances, one at one end and one at the other. A seemingly harmless shot from Zack Dean along the boards goes off the crossbar as Lindbom never picks it up. Sweden then immediately goes down on a 3 on 1 and Milic makes a sensational pad save, sliding over to deny Jonathan Lekkerimaki's shot. 

7:57 p.m. — This period has been a lot more of what people likely expected from these two teams. A lot of back-and-forth play between the two sides, with neither dominating the game. With that said, Canada has gotten a lot more shots on Lindbom than Sweden has on Milic.  

7:52 p.m. — Sweden kills off the Odelius minor. Two shots on goal for Canada on the power play, but both turned aside by Lindbom. 

7:49 p.m. — Bedard draws a hooking penalty on Calle Odelius. Canada goes to its fourth power play of the night. 

7:45 p.m. — Gaucher is out of the box after another good kill by Canada. Sweden never got a chance to get set up in the offensive zone. 

7:43 p.m. — Sweden is going to the power play as Nathan Gaucher is called for holding. He pretty much wrapped up and tackled Fabian Lysell to the ground. 

7:41 p.m. — Great chance for Stankoven in close on Lindbom. Bedard gives a great saucer pass over two Swedish stick to Stankoven, who tries to drag and beat Lindbom over the glove, but is denied. 

7:38 p.m. — Nothing doing for Canada on the man advantage. 

7:35 p.m. — Second period is underway in Halifax. Canada starts the frame on the power play. 

End of the first period: Canada 3, Sweden 1

7:17 p.m. — Canada holds a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission. An excellent first 20 minutes from Canada, besides the Ostapchuk major, which allows Sweden to get on the board. Axel Sandin Pellikka was called for interference at the end of the period, so Canada starts the second on a power play. 

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

7:11 p.m. — GOAL! Ludvig Jansson stays hot as his third goal of the World Juniors gets Sweden on the board. He rotated to the top of the power play and beat Milic with a seeing-eye shot. After a rocky couple of minutes, Sweden was able to settle in, get its system in place and was rewarded. 3-1 Canada leads now. 

7:03 p.m. — After review, the officials give Ostapchuk a five-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing. This is the last thing Canada needs right now after building a 3-0 lead. The Swedes get a five-minute power play and can score as many as they can. 

7:01 p.m. — Zack Ostapchuk is going to sit for at least two minutes as he's called for tripping. He hits Bystedt knee-on-knee and the officials will review. 

6:59 p.m. — GOAL! Tyson Hinds takes a dish from Stankoven and rips a one-timer from the slot past Lindbom. Goals in back-to-back games for the defenseman and the lead is 3-0 with just over eight minutes left in the first. Bedard has assists on all three goals for Canada. 

6:57 p.m. — Sweden has finally settled into the game. Filip Bystedt just stole the puck in the neutral zone and got a chance in on Thomas Milic, but his backhand wouldn't go. That was the first shot on goal for Sweden and it came at around the halfway mark. 

6:52 p.m. — Play is back to 5 on 5, but not before Canada nearly capitalized again on the power play as Logan Stankoven danced through the Swedish defense and missed wide with the shot. All the momentum is on the Canadians' side right now. 

6:49 p.m. — The power play is wiped out as Sweden gets called for too many men. It'll be 58 seconds of 4 on 4 before Canada gets an abbreviated power play. This has been an awful first five minutes for the Swedes. 

6:47 p.m. — Zach Dean cross-checks 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. 

6:44 p.m. — GOAL! Canada's power play continues to be scalding hot as the lead is extending the lead to two less than three minutes in. Shane Wright fires a pass from the boards across the crease and hits Othmann on the back door for the tap-in. It's 2-0 Canada just 2:20 into the game. 

6:43 p.m. — Canada goes to the power play early as Elias Pettersson comes in late and gets a stick up high on Brennan Othmann. Canada's power play is clicking at 69% at the World Juniors. 

6:40 p.m. — GOAL! Canada needs just 57 seconds to get on the board as Joshua Roy takes a fake-shot pass from Connor Bedard and beats Lindbom. Canada jumped all over Sweden in the first minute and it is rewarded with a goal. You could not have asked for a better start from the Canadians, 1-0 Canada. 

Pregame

5:40 p.m. — The lineups for Sweden and Canada. Thomas Milic gets the start in net for Canada, and Carl Lindbom mans the crease for Sweden. Both Leo Carlsson and Fabian Lysell are in for Sweden; Carlsson missed Thursday's game against Czechia with an illness and Lysell left in the first. 

5 p.m. — With Czechia's win over Germany earlier on Saturday, Canada cannot finish as the No. 1 seed in Group A. If Canada wins in regulation, then it secures the No. 2 seed, however, if Sweden earns at least one point, then Sweden is No. 2 and Canada is No. 3. 

Canada vs. Sweden start time

  • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. AST)

The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time) from the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, N.S., the home of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads. 

MORE: Team Canada 2023 World Juniors roster, results

This is the final group game for both clubs at the 2023 World Juniors. 

What channel is Canada vs. Sweden on today?

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

TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.

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

How to live stream World Juniors hockey games

Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games at TSN.ca or the TSN app. U.S. 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 1.5-goal favorite on the puck line for the contest against Sweden at the World Juniors, according to Sports Interaction. 

Canada World Juniors schedule 2023

(All times Eastern)

Date Opponent Result Time (ET) TV Info
Dec. 26 Czechia L, 5-2 6:30 p.m.  TSN, NHLN
Dec. 28 Germany W, 11-2 6:30 p.m.  TSN, NHLN
Dec. 29 Austria W, 11-0 6:30 p.m.  TSN, NHLN
Dec. 31 Sweden — 6:30 p.m. TSN, NHLN
Jan. 2 TBD (Quarterfinals) — TBD  TSN, NHLN
Jan. 4 TBD (Semifinals) — TBD  TSN, NHLN
Jan. 5 TBD (Gold-medal game) — TBD  TSN, NHLN

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.