Sweden's Damkronorna delivered a dominant 6-1 win over host nation Italy in their second group stage match at the Olympics. The victory highlighted the team's depth and key performances from several players. With two wins, Sweden is well-positioned to claim the group title.
Sweden's women's national ice hockey team, known as Damkronorna, started their Olympic campaign strongly by beating Germany 4-1 in the opener, with goals from Lina Ljungblom (two), Thea Johansson, and Mira Jungåker. Ebba Svensson Träff earned the start in goal again against Italy, saving shots effectively after a solid debut where she stopped 14 of 15 shots.
The lineup remained unchanged from the Germany match, though Ebba Hedqvist sat out due to illness. Against Italy, the first line of Hilda Svensson, Hanna Olsson, and Thea Johansson stepped up after a quieter start to the tournament. Johansson scored the 5-1 and 6-1 goals, while the line netted the crucial 4-1 shortly after Italy's lone goal pulled the score to 4-1.
Sara Hjalmarsson added the 3-0 goal in the second period, earning praise from TV4 expert Staffan Kronwall. "She stands for much of that hard work—it's number one, two, and three on the priority list," Kronwall said during the intermission. "She goes really in the breach." The 27-year-old forward, who moved from Linköping to the PWHL's Toronto Sceptres in late November, proved vital.
The defensive pairing of Maja Nylén-Persson and Mira Jungåker anchored the back end, taking heavy minutes and showcasing skill. Jungåker, making her Olympic debut after a 2023 world junior silver, impressed alongside the PWHL star Nylén-Persson.
Italy, featuring several North American players, started fast with dangerous counters but faded as Sweden's depth prevailed. The hosts tired after heavy shifts from their top lines, allowing Sweden to pull away. Goaltending questions linger, with young Ebba Svensson Träff preferred over veteran Emma Söderberg so far, though Söderberg may start against France.
This result, following Germany beating Japan, means Sweden needs four points from their remaining games against France and Japan to likely win the group and avoid early quarterfinal clashes with powerhouses like Canada or the USA.
