Published Feb 14, 2:53am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 14, 2:53am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Feb 14, 2:53am ET
The pressure will increase on teams in Group B at the Winter Olympics, with Sweden fighting for their hopes of automatic progression on MD3 against Slovakia.
Sweden was the red-hot favorite to win Group B, but a shock loss against Finland on Friday leaves them sitting third in the standings.
Slovakia will be the confident team ahead of this clash, having won each of their opening two games and scored seven goals overall.
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|---|---|
| Sweden | -620 |
| Slovakia | +480 |
Sam Hallam's Sweden will have major questions to answer in their final Group B game on Saturday. The Swedes are fighting for their spot in the next round, hoping to avoid a playoff clash that would further fatigue them.
Sweden were stunned on Friday, losing 4-1 against Finland in a rematch of the gold medal game from 20 years ago.
It could be argued that the Swedes were outfought and outworked in the defeat, with Rasmus Dahlin scoring their only goal in the second period. The loss creates significant pressure on Sweden to secure a spot in the quarterfinals against Slovakia.
Slovakia were outsiders to finish top of the Group B standings, but it is worth noting their strong Olympic pedigree, having won bronze at the 2018 Games.
Vladimir Orszagh's team have been perfect in their opening two games, scoring seven goals in wins over Finland and Italy. Adam Ruzicka was the standout performer once again for Slovakia, scoring for the second game running in the 3-2 win over Italy on Friday.
However, only a victory on Saturday will secure their automatic spot in the quarterfinals, while a defeat could see them finish as low as second.
| TOTAL | Sweden | Slovakia | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WINS | 19 | 12 | 6 | - |
| GOALS | 107 | 63 | 44 |
Slovakia have been excellent in their opening two games, but their hard work could be undone in their final Group B game against Sweden. The talented Swedes will be chasing a response, and the increased pressure will likely ensure they raise their performance.
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Pick
Sweden
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