Late Swedish Strike Breaks Slovak Hearts in World Juniors Opener
So, let me walk you through what turned out to be a dramatic opening game for Slovakia at the 2026 World Junior Championships, where fine margins once again made all the difference. Slovakia pushed hard, stayed resilient, but in the end, it was Sweden that walked away with a narrow 3–2 win after a late twist in the third period.
The game opened cautiously, with both teams clearly feeling the weight of the tournament’s first night. Chances were created, but nothing got past the goalkeepers in a scoreless first period. Slovakia looked organized and confident early on, even managing to test Sweden’s defense with several shots that narrowly missed the target. At one point, the post was hit more than once, hinting at how close Slovakia already was to breaking through.
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The second period is where the momentum briefly shifted. Sweden took advantage of power-play opportunities, and a two-goal lead was quietly built. Anton Frondell opened the scoring with a clean slap shot from the face-off circle, and moments later, Victor Eklund doubled the lead from close range. At that stage, Slovakia could have dropped their heads, but instead, the response was immediate and determined. With just five seconds left in the period and on a 5-on-3 power play, Tomas Pobezal finally found the net, cutting the deficit and giving Slovakia much-needed belief heading into the third.
That belief carried over. Sweden even had a potential shorthanded goal overturned early in the final period due to goaltender interference, a decision that further fueled Slovakia’s push. The pressure eventually paid off when a Swedish turnover right in front of their own net was capitalized on. Tobias Pitka moved the puck quickly to Tobias Tomik, who calmly buried the equalizer, leveling the game and sending Slovak fans into hope-filled anticipation.
However, just when it seemed Slovakia might complete the comeback, the decisive moment arrived. With under four minutes remaining, Ivar Stenberg slipped past the defense and finished with a composed backhand around the Slovak goaltender. It was a goal that silenced the momentum and effectively sealed the outcome.
Despite the loss, Slovakia showed fight, structure, and flashes of real promise. It was another reminder that while Sweden continues its long-standing dominance in this matchup, Slovakia is no longer far behind. With Group A action continuing against Germany next, the performance offered enough encouragement to believe that stronger results could still be ahead.
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