2021 World Junior Championship. Russia U20 - Sweden U20

The under 20 Russian national team will face Sweden in the concluding group-stage match of the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton, Canada.

So far, Russia have won two out of their three games, beating the USA 5:3 and Austria 7:1 while losing to the Czech Republic 0:2. Yesterday, Rodion Amirov, Vasily Podkolzin (2), Marat Khusnutdinov, Artemiy Knyazev, Yegor Afanasyev and Arseniy Gritsyuk all scored during the large victory against the Austrians, while goalkeeper Artur Akhtyamov stopped 17 of the 18 shots he faced.

Sweden, for their part, have only participated in two matches so far, defeating the Czechs 7:1 and Austria 4:0.

Russia will finish in first place of the group if they emerge victorious in this game.

"The match against Sweden? We know that it's the decisive one of the group, it doesn't matter who had a longer rest, stated head coach Igor Larionov after seeing off the Austrian challenge. "We're calmly preparing for that game."

Puck-drop is scheduled for 05:30 Moscow time on December 31. Channel One will provide a live television broadcast in Russia.