Sweden Shuts Out France 4-0 in World Hockey Championship

Hosts Sweden dominated France, shutting them out 4-0 in a convincing display of skill and teamwork at the World Hockey Championship.

Sweden dominated France at the World Hockey Championship, securing a 4-0 shutout victory. This impressive win marked Sweden's sixth victory in as many Group A matches.

The Swedes wasted no time in taking the lead, scoring the game's opener within 13 minutes. France's defense struggled to contain Sweden's offense, ultimately failing to register a single goal. This decisive win showcases Sweden's strength in the tournament.

Lucas Raymond scored the opening goal, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by France. He was given ample time to pick his spot and fired the puck into the top corner of the net.

Just under a minute later, Sweden doubled their lead. A swift break from deep in their own zone found Anton Bengtsson, who set up Emil Heineman on the right. Heineman cleverly fired the puck past Antoine Keller, scoring his first goal of the tournament despite a tight angle.

France's chances took a hit in the second period when Enzo Guebey was sent to the penalty box for hooking. Sweden capitalized on the power play, scoring just over 30 seconds later.

One more to go for @trekronorse in the preliminary round 🫡

Game Recap 👇https://t.co/DDgrxgo7JT#MensWorlds #IIHF pic.twitter.com/3xhF3zQ3dC

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 17, 2025

A patient build-up ended with Lucas Raymond finding Mikael Backlund behind the net. Backlund directed the puck to Elias Lindholm, who shot it home with a deflection, adding another goal to his tournament-leading tally.

Sweden sealed the 4-0 win four minutes into the third period when Erik Gustafsson's shot was tipped by Filip Forsberg to Isac Lundestrom, who tapped it home.

Goalie Samuel Ersson earned the shutout, facing 14 shots and recording his second consecutive clean sheet. This win marked Sweden's sixth victory in as many Group A matches.

Sweden's victory propels them to 18 points in Group A, holding a six-point lead over Canada. Canada's upcoming matches against Slovakia tonight and Finland on Monday will be crucial, as the top two teams will face off on Tuesday in a likely deciding match for the top spot.

Meanwhile, France finds itself in seventh place with just one point. Their final match against Slovenia on Monday will determine whether they'll remain in the top tier for the 2026 World Championship, making it a vital contest for the French team.