Sweden maintained its perfect record in Group B with a 4-0 victory over Olympic newcomer France at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena on Sunday.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andrea Cardin
The Swedish women jumped out to a three-goal first-period lead and blanked France 4-0 on Sunday to increase their lead atop Group B at the 2026 Winter Olymipcs.
The well-organized Swedes have won three straight games in regulation and secured a quarter-final berth. The French are eliminated from quarter-final contention in their first Olympics.
Coach Ulf Lundberg continues to get big contributions from his top forwards. Sara Hjalmarsson and Hanna Thuvik had a goal and an assist apiece, and Thea Johansson and Lisa Johansson also scored. Hilda Svensson and Hanna Olsson earned two assists apiece.
"It feels very good," said Svensson. "Of course, we want to win all the games in this group, and so far, we have done it and scored a lot of goals. So I'm happy with that."
"I think today was a little bit of an up and down game," Hjalmarsson said. "It got a little chippy there in the third and stuff. But I think we handled it well and I'm happy with our performance."
Final shots favoured the Swedes 49-14 as their puck-moving and physicality were too much for Les Bleus. Two-time Olympic goalie Emma Soderberg earned a shutout in her Milan debut.
On Monday, the French women get one more crack at recording their first Olympic win when they face Germany. They have been outscored 14-2 through three games.
French goalie Alice Phlibert accentuated the positive: "I think we’re starting to play with more confidence. We don’t usually have the chance to play these kinds of teams very often, so it’s a good experience for the team."
The Swedes came out hungry to ensure that their goal song, Lasse Holm’s catchy 1986 hit “Canelloni Macaroni,” would blast repeatedly.
At 3:39, Thea Johansson drew first blood, barging to the crease to deflect Hilda Svensson’s centering pass past Philbert. It was the 23-year-old University of Minnesota-Duluth ace’s fourth goal of these Olympics, extending her goal streak to three games.
On Sweden’s first power play, Hjalmarsson made it 2-0 on a rebound at 7:08. Goalless in 16 games as a PWHL rookie with the Toronto Sceptres, the power forward has scored in back-to-back games here with the Damkronorna.
"A bit of a weird one for sure," Hjalmarsson said. "Got the puck in the face there at first and then was able to clean up the rebound. It was nice to get one."
A botched French breakout attempt resulted in confusion down low, and Lisa Johansson got the puck to an unguarded Thuvik, who backhanded it high over Philbert at 13:14.
"We're trying to develop here in every game and every practice and keep our communication up," Thuvik said. "It paid off today."
Thea Johansson was shaken up in an open-ice collision that sent France’s Margot Huot-Marchand to the penalty box. However, the Swedish sniper would return for the second period.
Just 0:56 into the middle frame, Lisa Johansson finished off a passing play on the rush with Thuvik and Hjalmarsson for a 4-0 lead.
Asked if she has learned all the words to "Canelloni Macaroni" yet, Hjalmarsson smiled: "Maybe not all of them, but most, I would say. Great goal song. I'd love to hear it even more!"
The Swedes went into cruise control and the French picked up their intensity as the period wore on. It boiled over into a mid-game scrum behind Soderberg's net.
In the third period, French supporters chanted "Allez Les Bleus!" during a power play opportunity where captain Lore Baudrit tested Soderberg from the slot. However, no goals were on the menu for coach Gregory Tarle's squad. Clara Rozier fired high on a 2-on-1 rush with under three minutes left.
​Sweden completes its preliminary-round slate against Japan on Tuesday. Hjalmarsson analyzed the matchup: "They're fast. They play very solidly within their system. They're very disciplined. I think it's definitely going to be a challenge for us, but we're up for it."
Looking ahead to facing Germany, French forward Clemence Boudin said: "We want to win our last game. We know Germany and we know what to do, so we have to go out and end our tournament with a win. "
This was the first Olympic meeting ever between Sweden and France. The Swedes won 2-1 at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship and romped 8-2 in 2023.
The Damkronorna are vying to return to the Olympic podium for the first time in 20 years. They captured a shocking silver medal at the Turin Olympics in 2006, upsetting the U.S. 3-2 in a semi-final shootout before falling 4-1 to Canada in the gold medal game.
Sweden – despite the SDHL’s reputation as Europe’s strongest league – has not medalled at the Women’s Worlds since 2007’s bronze medal. It’s been a long and arduous rebuilding process that is finally bearing fruit with a rich crop of young talent. And, perhaps, with an Olympic medal if everything goes perfectly.
The well-organized Swedes have won three straight games in regulation and secured a quarter-final berth. The French are eliminated from quarter-final contention in their first Olympics.
Coach Ulf Lundberg continues to get big contributions from his top forwards. Sara Hjalmarsson and Hanna Thuvik had a goal and an assist apiece, and Thea Johansson and Lisa Johansson also scored. Hilda Svensson and Hanna Olsson earned two assists apiece.
"It feels very good," said Svensson. "Of course, we want to win all the games in this group, and so far, we have done it and scored a lot of goals. So I'm happy with that."
"I think today was a little bit of an up and down game," Hjalmarsson said. "It got a little chippy there in the third and stuff. But I think we handled it well and I'm happy with our performance."
Final shots favoured the Swedes 49-14 as their puck-moving and physicality were too much for Les Bleus. Two-time Olympic goalie Emma Soderberg earned a shutout in her Milan debut.
On Monday, the French women get one more crack at recording their first Olympic win when they face Germany. They have been outscored 14-2 through three games.
French goalie Alice Phlibert accentuated the positive: "I think we’re starting to play with more confidence. We don’t usually have the chance to play these kinds of teams very often, so it’s a good experience for the team."
The Swedes came out hungry to ensure that their goal song, Lasse Holm’s catchy 1986 hit “Canelloni Macaroni,” would blast repeatedly.
At 3:39, Thea Johansson drew first blood, barging to the crease to deflect Hilda Svensson’s centering pass past Philbert. It was the 23-year-old University of Minnesota-Duluth ace’s fourth goal of these Olympics, extending her goal streak to three games.
On Sweden’s first power play, Hjalmarsson made it 2-0 on a rebound at 7:08. Goalless in 16 games as a PWHL rookie with the Toronto Sceptres, the power forward has scored in back-to-back games here with the Damkronorna.
"A bit of a weird one for sure," Hjalmarsson said. "Got the puck in the face there at first and then was able to clean up the rebound. It was nice to get one."
A botched French breakout attempt resulted in confusion down low, and Lisa Johansson got the puck to an unguarded Thuvik, who backhanded it high over Philbert at 13:14.
"We're trying to develop here in every game and every practice and keep our communication up," Thuvik said. "It paid off today."
Thea Johansson was shaken up in an open-ice collision that sent France’s Margot Huot-Marchand to the penalty box. However, the Swedish sniper would return for the second period.
Just 0:56 into the middle frame, Lisa Johansson finished off a passing play on the rush with Thuvik and Hjalmarsson for a 4-0 lead.
Asked if she has learned all the words to "Canelloni Macaroni" yet, Hjalmarsson smiled: "Maybe not all of them, but most, I would say. Great goal song. I'd love to hear it even more!"
The Swedes went into cruise control and the French picked up their intensity as the period wore on. It boiled over into a mid-game scrum behind Soderberg's net.
In the third period, French supporters chanted "Allez Les Bleus!" during a power play opportunity where captain Lore Baudrit tested Soderberg from the slot. However, no goals were on the menu for coach Gregory Tarle's squad. Clara Rozier fired high on a 2-on-1 rush with under three minutes left.
​Sweden completes its preliminary-round slate against Japan on Tuesday. Hjalmarsson analyzed the matchup: "They're fast. They play very solidly within their system. They're very disciplined. I think it's definitely going to be a challenge for us, but we're up for it."
Looking ahead to facing Germany, French forward Clemence Boudin said: "We want to win our last game. We know Germany and we know what to do, so we have to go out and end our tournament with a win. "
This was the first Olympic meeting ever between Sweden and France. The Swedes won 2-1 at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship and romped 8-2 in 2023.
The Damkronorna are vying to return to the Olympic podium for the first time in 20 years. They captured a shocking silver medal at the Turin Olympics in 2006, upsetting the U.S. 3-2 in a semi-final shootout before falling 4-1 to Canada in the gold medal game.
Sweden – despite the SDHL’s reputation as Europe’s strongest league – has not medalled at the Women’s Worlds since 2007’s bronze medal. It’s been a long and arduous rebuilding process that is finally bearing fruit with a rich crop of young talent. And, perhaps, with an Olympic medal if everything goes perfectly.
France vs Sweden - 2026 Women's Olympic Games
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