2025 IIHF Worlds Quarterfinals: Denmark Stuns Canada, Sweden Defeats Czechia

In a day filled with surprises and high drama, the 2025 IIHF World Championship quarterfinals saw Sweden and Denmark secure their places in the semifinals, albeit through very different paths. Sweden, playing in front of their home crowd, triumphed with a commanding 5-2 win over Czechia, powered by Lucas Raymond’s stellar performance and a strong team effort. Meanwhile, Denmark delivered one of the most stunning upsets in recent memory, rallying from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Canada 2-1, thanks to a heroic 39-save performance from Frederik Dichow and late goals from Nikolaj Ehlers and Nick Olesen. Both teams now turn their sights on the semifinals, with Sweden looking to avenge last year’s heartbreak and Denmark riding the wave of their historic victory.

Denmark vs Canada

First Period

Canada dominated early, controlling possession and generating pressure in Denmark’s zone. However, Denmark’s defense remained resolute, with Frederik Dichow standing tall in goal, making critical stops against key Canadian players like Nathan MacKinnon and Ryan O’Reilly. Denmark’s penalty-killing unit also stepped up, including a successful kill when Matias Lassen was sent to the box for delaying the game at 4:33.

Despite Canada’s offensive pressure, Denmark’s best chances came when Markus Lauridsen forced Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington into a save and Morten Poulsen nearly capitalized on a defensive error by Jared Spurgeon. However, Canada couldn’t break through, and Dichow’s stellar performance kept the score at 0-0 heading into the second period.

First Period Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Canada 10 | Denmark 7
• Saves: Canada 7 | Denmark 9
• PIM: Canada 4 | Denmark 2

Second Period

Denmark’s defense continued to frustrate Canada, but the Canadians had their chances. Early in the second period, Denmark applied some pressure, with a flurry of shots forcing Binnington to stay alert. The Danes earned a power play but were limited to a point shot from Phillip Bruggisser.

Canada broke the deadlock in the 45th minute when Sidney Crosby set up Travis Sanheim, who scored to give Canada a 1-0 lead. Despite some pressure from Denmark, the Canadians held onto their lead for the majority of the period.

However, the game took a dramatic turn in the final moments. With 2:17 left on the clock, Nikolaj Ehlers, playing with six skaters, fired a blast from the point that beat Binnington and tied the game at 1-1. The crowd erupted as Denmark gained new life.

Second Period Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Canada 12 | Denmark 7
• Saves: Canada 7 | Denmark 12
• PIM: Canada 4 | Denmark 6

Third Period

With the game tied at 1-1, the atmosphere in the arena was electric. Denmark came out with intensity, dictating the pace early on. Nicklas Jensen had an early chance, and Mathias Bau set up Christian Wejse on the doorstep. However, Binnington and the Canadian defense stood firm.

Then, at 59:12, the unthinkable happened. Nick Olesen showed incredible composure on the doorstep. After denmark collected the puck off the boards, Nick Olesen got the chance on a rebound. He slid it home past Binnington, stunning the Canadians the 2-1 lead with mere moments remaining. The crowd went wild as Denmark held off Canada’s late push, securing the historic win and advancing to their first-ever semifinal appearance.

Third Period Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Canada 10 | Denmark 22
• Saves: Canada 20 | Denmark 9
• PIM: Canada 2 | Denmark 0

Final Summary

Canada 1 | Denmark 2

Denmark’s stunning 2-1 victory over Canada will be remembered as one of the greatest upsets in IIHF World Championship history. Frederik Dichow’s heroic performance in goal and timely goals from Ehlers and Olesen have propelled Denmark to the semifinals for the first time ever. The host nation now prepares to continue their Cinderella story in the next stage of the tournament.

Final Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Canada 40 | Denmark 33
• Saves: Canada 31 | Denmark 39
• PIM: Canada 6 | Denmark 10

Sweden vs Czechia

First Period

Sweden opened the scoring on a power play at 12:40. Rasmus Andersson made a precise pass to Leo Carlsson, who redirected the puck past Czech goalie Karel Vejmelka’s right glove for a 1-0 lead. The Swedes continued to build pressure, and at 16:52, Lucas Raymond extended their lead to 2-0, assisted by Rasmus Sandin.

Czechia struggled to generate much offense, and Sweden made their own mistakes, with Adam Larsson going to the penalty box for high-sticking at 14:05. But Czechia couldn’t capitalize. As the period neared its end, Sweden scored again—this time at 19:32—when Raymond netted his second goal of the game, with assists from Sandin and Carlsson, to make it 3-0.

First Period Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Sweden 14 | Czechia 9
• Saves: Sweden 9 | Czechia 5
• PIM: Sweden 4 | Czechia 4

Period 2

Czechia fought back early in the second period when Roman Cervenka scored on a power play at 23:04, assisted by Martin Necas and David Pastrnak, cutting Sweden’s lead to 3-1. However, Sweden quickly responded, and at 34:05, Leo Carlsson scored his second of the game, assisted by Mika Zibanejad and Marcus Johansson, putting Sweden back up by two at 4-1.

Czechia’s chances were hurt by penalties in the second, with Jiri Tichacek receiving a slashing call at 29:18, and Sweden taking two penalties of their own, including Mikael Backlund for delaying the game. Despite this, Sweden continued to control the pace, and at 48:33, Michael Spacek scored for Czechia, making it 4-2.

Second Period Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Sweden 11 | Czechia 10
• Saves: Sweden 9 | Czechia 9
• PIM: Sweden 6 | Czechia 4

Period 3

With the game 4-2, Czechia pulled Vejmelka in favor of the extra attacker, but Sweden sealed the victory with the goal from Filip Forsberg at 55:04, assisted by Marcus Pettersson and Mikael Backlund, making it 5-2.

Czechia fought hard but couldn’t close the gap, and Sweden held onto their lead for the final 5-2 scoreline. The win sent Sweden to the semifinals, avenging last year’s semifinal loss to Czechia.

Third Period Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Sweden 10 | Czechia 9
• Saves: Sweden 8 | Czechia 7
• PIM: Sweden 0 | Czechia 2

Final Summary

Sweden 5 | Czechia 2

Sweden advances to the semifinals with a convincing 5-2 victory over Czechia. Their power play and strong team play led the way, and Carlsson’s two goals helped seal the win. Now, the Swedes look to improve on their silver medal finish from last year’s World Championship and continue their march towards gold in the upcoming semifinal. Czechia, despite their efforts, will reflect on their exit after their successful campaign in 2024, but the team will have to regroup after this early elimination.

Final Stats:

• Shots on Goal: Sweden 33 | Czechia 26
• Saves: Sweden 24 | Czechia 28
• PIM: Sweden 8 | Czechia 6

Looking Ahead to the Semifinals

The excitement continues on Saturday, May 24 as Sweden faces off against USA in a high-stakes semifinal showdown at Avicii Arena. After securing impressive victories in the quarterfinals, both teams will look to build on their momentum and reach the coveted gold medal game. Sweden will look to use their home-ice advantage, while the USA aims to continue their dominant run. Expect a thrilling contest with both teams eager to showcase their skill and determination in this must-watch matchup.

The second semifinal of the day will see Switzerland take on Denmark in a battle of unexpected yet thrilling contenders. After shocking upsets and heroic performances in the quarterfinals, both teams are eager to continue their journey toward the gold medal. Switzerland’s balanced offensive attack faces off against Denmark’s sensational upset over Canada, with Frederik Dichow’s stellar goaltending in the mix. This game promises to deliver intense, edge-of-your-seat action as both teams chase their dream of competing for the ultimate prize.