We’ve got a bronze medal on the line in Olympic women’s hockey on Thursday. It’s a battle between two strong European teams, Switzerland and Sweden. One team will go home with a medal, while the other walks away empty-handed. Which team will it be?
Sweden enters as a 1.5-goal favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Switzerland sits as a +180 underdog. The total is set at 4.5 goals.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for Thursday’s Olympic hockey matchup between Switzerland and Sweden for the bronze.
Switzerland vs. Sweden prediction, preview
Switzerland’s route to the final four has been unlikely. They drew a tough preliminary-round group, being placed in Group A with Canada, the USA, Finland, and Czechia. The Swiss lost to the top three of those teams but earned a shootout win over Czechia, which was enough to secure the final spot in the knockout stage. Eight of 10 teams make the knockout round, and Switzerland was second-to-last, but their strength of schedule boosted their case. They’ve made the committee look awfully smart by upsetting Finland before giving Canada a serious run for its money.
Goaltending has been a leading story for the Swiss. Andrea Braendli has seemingly secured the top job and stood on her head against Canada by saving 44 of 46 total shots. That allowed the Swiss to remain in the game despite a 46-8 shots-on-goal deficit. Their defense has been solid at times, but their offense has generally struggled. They’ll look to Alina Muller, who leads the team in scoring with five points in six games.
Now they have a chance to secure their second medal in team history, after taking home the bronze in the 2014 Sochi Olympics. But there is a formidable Swedish team in their path.
Sweden stormed through the preliminary stage. Playing in a weaker Group B, they won all four games against Germany, Italy, Japan, and France by a combined 18-2 margin. The good vibes continued in the quarterfinals with a 2-0 win over Czechia, but the United States brought out the belt in the semifinals, winning 5-0. Now the Swedes have to compete for a bronze, or else face bitter defeat. This was supposed to be their best shot at a medal since 2006 in Turin — and a win here is expected.
There are more than a few skaters to watch, but here’s the 30,000-foot view. Hanna Olsson and Thea Johansson have powered their offense across Sweden’s first six games, recording seven and six points, respectively. Starting goaltender Ebba Svensson Traff has been one of the best netminders in the tournament, allowing only 1.30 goals per game with a 94.39 save percentage. Their stout defense and a great top line are the focus for the Swedes.
Now we know how these teams got here and who’s leading the charge. Who takes home the medal?
Switzerland vs. Sweden pick, best bet
There’s no denying that Sweden has the superior team. From top to bottom, they have medal-winning quality. There’s no shame in being behind Canada and the USA in women’s Olympic hockey, but the Swedes sure made their case for the third-best team throughout the tournament.
Switzerland’s Cinderella run has been a lot of fun. Despite being 1-1-4 overall, they’re one win away from an incredibly unlikely medal. And yet, I cannot shake the feeling that they have run out of gas.
You can’t rely on your goaltender to stand on their head forever. With a poor offense going up against a great defense, I think the Swedes should be even bigger favorites here. I feel comfortable with their puck line as Sweden coasts to a comfortable bronze medal win.
