This usually gets brought up by TSN as an aside but I thought it deserves highlighting - Sweden is currently on a 44-game winning streak in the Preliminary Round.
That stat is absolutely insane to me, their last loss was December 31, 2006, 3-2 in OT to Team US led by Patrick Kane, Jack Johnson and Erik Johnson.
That’s 11 consecutive teams to not lose in the Preliminary Round.
Some other stats over the streak:
- Sweden has only 1 gold medal, but 5 silver medals, 1 bronze, and 4 fourth place finishes
- They are 3-0 in shootouts and 2-0 in OT
- They have 234 GF to 77 GA for a goal differential of +157 (or an average score of 5.3 to 1.8)
- They were able to avenge their loss to the US, 1-0 on December 28, 2015
- They’ve tormented Switzerland beating them in the last 7 consecutive tournaments (this year the Swiss are in the opposite pool).
- They are 7-0 against Russia, 5-0 against Finland, 3-0 against Canada and 1-0 against the US during this timeframe.
Record vs Each Country (Year of Tournament and score) :
Russia - 7-0 (25 GF/13 GA) - 2018 4-3 (SO), 2015 3-2, 2014 3-2, 2012 4-3 (OT), 2011 2-0, 2010 4-1, 2009 5-0
Switzerland - 7-0 (36 GF/16 GA) - 2018 7-2, 2017 4-2, 2016 8-3, 2015 5-1, 2014 5-3, 2013 3-2 (SO), 2012 4-3 (OT)
Czech Republic - 7-0 (37 GF/12 GA) - 2018 3-1, 2017 5-2, 2015 5-2, 2012 4-1, 2011 6-3, 2010 10-1, 2008 4-2
Finland - 5-0 (24 GF/9 GA) - 2017 3-1, 2014 4-2, 2013 7-4, 2010 7-1, 2009 3-1
Denmark - 4-0 (26 GF/3 GA) - 2017 6-1, 2016 5-0, 2015 5-1, 2008 10-1
Canada - 3-0 (15 GF/10 GA) - 2016 5-2, 2011 6-5 (SO), 2008 4-3
Slovakia - 3-0 (16 GF/5 GA) - 2011 9-1, 2009 3-1, 2008 4-3
Latvia - 3-0 (24 GF/6 GA) - 2013 5-1, 2012 9-4, 2009 10-1
Norway - 2-0 (17 GF/1 GA) - 2014 10-0, 2011 7-1
United States - 1-0 - 2016 1-0
Austria - 1-0 - 2010 7-3
Belarus - 1-0 - 2018 6-1
Their schedule this year:
December 26 - vs Finland
December 27 - vs Slovakia
December 29 - vs USA (the ultimate 12 year grudge match!)
December 30 - vs Kazakhstan
Is this the year the streak falls or does it continue into 2019?
Useless thread MMII: Eagles & Buckeyes championship appreciation thread
