Can Norway create hockey history by advancing to the semi-finals?
photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
It’s that time again, when the writers of IIHF.com gather around the virtual Hot Stove and discuss essential hockey matters as they pertain to the World Championship. Herewith are the thoughts and insights of the four writers who have been watching the games, writing the stories, and trying to make sense of the goings-on on ice. The writers are Lucas Aykroyd (LA), Risto Pakarinen (RP), Andrew Podnieks (AP), and Andy Potts (Andy). Go!
Okay, let’s deal with the elephant in the room. Can Switzerland win gold?
AP: If not now, when? This is about the best team they can possibly put together. Roman Josi, El Nino, who has won those four heart-breaking silver medals, a new coach, Jan Cadieux. They have the goaltending, the scoring, everything. The gold medal hurdle is a high one, but I think they can win and will win. A gold medal for all time.
LA: “Can” is one thing. “Will” is another. The Swiss have a ton of weapons in their arsenal this year: The tournament’s premier goalie in Leonardo Genoni, a Norris Trophy-winning defenceman in captain Roman Josi, and multiple two-way scoring forwards, including 2025 IIHF Male Player of the Year Sven Andrighetto. And they’ve delivering thus far. Like, say, Finland in IIHF play or the Detroit, Pittsburgh, or Tampa Bay NHL dynasties of the last 30 years, the Swiss have “learned through losing” with four silver medals since 2013. However, only twice this century has the host team actually gone all the way: Sweden in 2013 and Finland in 2022. The pressure is immense and the margin between winning and losing is slim. If Switzerland is going to do it, now is the time. It would be wonderful for Swiss hockey if they come through. But I’m still not convinced they have the game-breaker they need when gold is on the line.
Andy: Given the recent near misses, the question might be ‘if not now, will Switzerland ever win?’ We know this team has the quality. We can see once again how its core of top players is back together and gelling. More impressively, we can see how different players are emerging with big goals – not many had Ken Jager to settle the crunch game with Finland. Throw in home advantage in Zurich and it’s hard to see when the Swiss will get a better chance than this to upgrade silver for gold.
RP: Yes. It’s the age-old story of people saying how you can’t win with this or that player, or that you have to change the DNA of a team to win it — until they win it. Switzerland has come as close to winning as you can without winning it: Four gold-medal game losses, one in a shootout (2018), another loss, last year, in OT. Maybe the home crowd is what will carry them over the finish line this time. The home crowd and Sven Andrighetto.
What was the best game of the preliminary round?
Andy: Canada’s 6-5 win over Norway is the one I wish I’d seen. But instead I’ll have to go for Switzerland’s 4-2 win over Finland. A fantastic atmosphere as always in Zurich, and two teams determined to maintain their undefeated starts to the tournament. It could have been a damp squib if the countries had looked to preserve their energies ahead of the QF, but instead they both went for it. Switzerland’s blistering start, Finland’s fightback, a tense third period, and a dramatic finale – what more could a hockey fan want?
RP: The best? Well, let me put it this way. The most entertaining games all included Norway, the runaway sensation of the tournament. Their games against Canada, Sweden, and Czechia kept me on the edge of my seat—and I wasn’t even cheering for anyone. (No cheering in the press box). They play for each other, and they seem to be having a lot of fun. And fun is so underrated in this crazy world.
AP: The crowd for the Czechia-Slovakia game was unmatched. Half cheering for each team, so every time there was a possession change, half the crowd went nuts. They created an exceptional atmosphere, and the players responded in kind with an exceptional game. And the referees were great—they called what they had to, but let the small stuff go.
LA: Switzerland-Finland, the showdown to top Group A. Huge emotion on the ice and in the building, the biggest test for both teams so far. It was exciting to see how the Finns rallied from 2-0 down with Aleksander Barkov leading the way with two goals – and how the Swiss found a way to pull out the 4-2 win. You sensed that both teams grew from this game.
Do you sniff an upset in the quarter-finals?
LA: The way the pairings have shaped up this year make it unusually hard to find “upset value.” To put the games in context, it’s the 2022 champion (Finland) versus the 2024 champion (Czechia); the 2023 champion (Canada) against the 2025 champion (United States); and, the 2024 and 2025 silver medalist (Switzerland) versus the 2024 and 2025 bronze medalist (Sweden). But ultimately, no. I expect the higher seeds to advance in the aforementioned cases. That said, Latvia could certainly eliminate Norway, but that wouldn’t be an upset either, with due respect to how well the Norwegians have performed.
AP: I can’t recall a stranger four games in any quarter-finals. Three mondo battles between medal contenders…and then Latvia-Norway. Latvia has played for a medal recently, and for the first time, so if Norway wins, I would say that constitutes an upset. And that’s what I’m going with. Norway is playing solid hockey without the puck and scoring more than they have ever shown capable. Norway will play for a medal this weekend, say I.
RP: Let me see … I wonder what “upset” is in Norwegian? Norwegian players called their quarter-final berth and win over Czechia “vilt”. As in “wild.” And so, do they have one more wild game in them? Ja.
Andy: Oddly, the way the ties have fallen this year, it’s hard to pick out a pairing that looks an obvious mismatch. First seed versus fourth should produce an obvious favourite, but it’s hard to argue that the current World and Olympic champion would cause a sensation by making the last four, even if the Switzerland roster is very different from the USA’s recent gold-medal teams. Similarly, most years would see Latvia or Norway up against a traditionally stronger opponent – yet they are head-to-head here. And that’s the game that intrigues me, a rare chance for a less powerful nation to get to the final four.
What’s your favourite memory of the preliminary round? A game, a goal, a save, anything that made you go, ‘Wow!’
RP: I could list everything that Sidney Crosby does from the second he snaps on the chin strap of his helmet. He must be the greatest one-touch player in the world. The puck doesn’t spend a lot of time on his blade before it’s already on its way to a teammate. So, let me pick Crosby’s fantastic lob to Dylan Cozens in their game against Slovakia.
LA: After finishing tenth, the Germans won’t look back on 2026 as a banner year. But the amazing play captain Moritz Seider made in the opening 3-1 loss to Finland – desperately pivoting and sweeping the puck right off the goal line as it was going in – will likely live on highlight reels for years to come.
Andy: I always love a defiant goalie, and Kristers Gudlevskis has been exactly that here. Watching him make save after save, keeping Latvia in games they had no right to contest, has been my stand-out from the group phase. And, on a personal note, having followed Robert Dowd through much of his GB career, it was good to see him sign off with a goal in his final international appearance.
AP: I’m going to have to augment what Risto said. Crosby plays some other sport that mere mortals call hockey. His determination to set up Macklin Celebrini, and then doing it time and again, is a marvel. He has led the NHL in goals some years and assists others, and this tournament he isn’t interested in scoring, only in setting up “Mack.” The results are a treat to watch.
Okay, let’s deal with the elephant in the room. Can Switzerland win gold?
AP: If not now, when? This is about the best team they can possibly put together. Roman Josi, El Nino, who has won those four heart-breaking silver medals, a new coach, Jan Cadieux. They have the goaltending, the scoring, everything. The gold medal hurdle is a high one, but I think they can win and will win. A gold medal for all time.
LA: “Can” is one thing. “Will” is another. The Swiss have a ton of weapons in their arsenal this year: The tournament’s premier goalie in Leonardo Genoni, a Norris Trophy-winning defenceman in captain Roman Josi, and multiple two-way scoring forwards, including 2025 IIHF Male Player of the Year Sven Andrighetto. And they’ve delivering thus far. Like, say, Finland in IIHF play or the Detroit, Pittsburgh, or Tampa Bay NHL dynasties of the last 30 years, the Swiss have “learned through losing” with four silver medals since 2013. However, only twice this century has the host team actually gone all the way: Sweden in 2013 and Finland in 2022. The pressure is immense and the margin between winning and losing is slim. If Switzerland is going to do it, now is the time. It would be wonderful for Swiss hockey if they come through. But I’m still not convinced they have the game-breaker they need when gold is on the line.
Andy: Given the recent near misses, the question might be ‘if not now, will Switzerland ever win?’ We know this team has the quality. We can see once again how its core of top players is back together and gelling. More impressively, we can see how different players are emerging with big goals – not many had Ken Jager to settle the crunch game with Finland. Throw in home advantage in Zurich and it’s hard to see when the Swiss will get a better chance than this to upgrade silver for gold.
RP: Yes. It’s the age-old story of people saying how you can’t win with this or that player, or that you have to change the DNA of a team to win it — until they win it. Switzerland has come as close to winning as you can without winning it: Four gold-medal game losses, one in a shootout (2018), another loss, last year, in OT. Maybe the home crowd is what will carry them over the finish line this time. The home crowd and Sven Andrighetto.
What was the best game of the preliminary round?
Andy: Canada’s 6-5 win over Norway is the one I wish I’d seen. But instead I’ll have to go for Switzerland’s 4-2 win over Finland. A fantastic atmosphere as always in Zurich, and two teams determined to maintain their undefeated starts to the tournament. It could have been a damp squib if the countries had looked to preserve their energies ahead of the QF, but instead they both went for it. Switzerland’s blistering start, Finland’s fightback, a tense third period, and a dramatic finale – what more could a hockey fan want?
RP: The best? Well, let me put it this way. The most entertaining games all included Norway, the runaway sensation of the tournament. Their games against Canada, Sweden, and Czechia kept me on the edge of my seat—and I wasn’t even cheering for anyone. (No cheering in the press box). They play for each other, and they seem to be having a lot of fun. And fun is so underrated in this crazy world.
AP: The crowd for the Czechia-Slovakia game was unmatched. Half cheering for each team, so every time there was a possession change, half the crowd went nuts. They created an exceptional atmosphere, and the players responded in kind with an exceptional game. And the referees were great—they called what they had to, but let the small stuff go.
LA: Switzerland-Finland, the showdown to top Group A. Huge emotion on the ice and in the building, the biggest test for both teams so far. It was exciting to see how the Finns rallied from 2-0 down with Aleksander Barkov leading the way with two goals – and how the Swiss found a way to pull out the 4-2 win. You sensed that both teams grew from this game.
Do you sniff an upset in the quarter-finals?
LA: The way the pairings have shaped up this year make it unusually hard to find “upset value.” To put the games in context, it’s the 2022 champion (Finland) versus the 2024 champion (Czechia); the 2023 champion (Canada) against the 2025 champion (United States); and, the 2024 and 2025 silver medalist (Switzerland) versus the 2024 and 2025 bronze medalist (Sweden). But ultimately, no. I expect the higher seeds to advance in the aforementioned cases. That said, Latvia could certainly eliminate Norway, but that wouldn’t be an upset either, with due respect to how well the Norwegians have performed.
AP: I can’t recall a stranger four games in any quarter-finals. Three mondo battles between medal contenders…and then Latvia-Norway. Latvia has played for a medal recently, and for the first time, so if Norway wins, I would say that constitutes an upset. And that’s what I’m going with. Norway is playing solid hockey without the puck and scoring more than they have ever shown capable. Norway will play for a medal this weekend, say I.
RP: Let me see … I wonder what “upset” is in Norwegian? Norwegian players called their quarter-final berth and win over Czechia “vilt”. As in “wild.” And so, do they have one more wild game in them? Ja.
Andy: Oddly, the way the ties have fallen this year, it’s hard to pick out a pairing that looks an obvious mismatch. First seed versus fourth should produce an obvious favourite, but it’s hard to argue that the current World and Olympic champion would cause a sensation by making the last four, even if the Switzerland roster is very different from the USA’s recent gold-medal teams. Similarly, most years would see Latvia or Norway up against a traditionally stronger opponent – yet they are head-to-head here. And that’s the game that intrigues me, a rare chance for a less powerful nation to get to the final four.
What’s your favourite memory of the preliminary round? A game, a goal, a save, anything that made you go, ‘Wow!’
RP: I could list everything that Sidney Crosby does from the second he snaps on the chin strap of his helmet. He must be the greatest one-touch player in the world. The puck doesn’t spend a lot of time on his blade before it’s already on its way to a teammate. So, let me pick Crosby’s fantastic lob to Dylan Cozens in their game against Slovakia.
LA: After finishing tenth, the Germans won’t look back on 2026 as a banner year. But the amazing play captain Moritz Seider made in the opening 3-1 loss to Finland – desperately pivoting and sweeping the puck right off the goal line as it was going in – will likely live on highlight reels for years to come.
Andy: I always love a defiant goalie, and Kristers Gudlevskis has been exactly that here. Watching him make save after save, keeping Latvia in games they had no right to contest, has been my stand-out from the group phase. And, on a personal note, having followed Robert Dowd through much of his GB career, it was good to see him sign off with a goal in his final international appearance.
AP: I’m going to have to augment what Risto said. Crosby plays some other sport that mere mortals call hockey. His determination to set up Macklin Celebrini, and then doing it time and again, is a marvel. He has led the NHL in goals some years and assists others, and this tournament he isn’t interested in scoring, only in setting up “Mack.” The results are a treat to watch.