Sweden captured the silver medal each year from 2010 to 2012, but hasn’t hit the podium since. They’re chasing their first gold medal in IIHF World U18 Championship history.

While this was a disappointing note for the Slovaks to finish on, they can take a little solace in recording their third consecutive top-eight finish. Their best result at this tournament remains 2003’s silver.

Slovakia’s biggest highlight in this game was when Adam Ruzicka opened the scoring at 6:02.

After that, it was all downhill as Sweden’s skill took over.

Erik Brannstrom notched the tying goal at 11:37, and Linus Lindstrom scored the eventual winner at 15:24 on a two-man advantage. Rickard Hugg got a 5-on-4 goal just 1:04 later to send Sweden to the dressing room with a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.

The blue-and-yellow team’s blitz continued in the second period at even strength. Jesper Bokvist made it 4-1 at 13:59. Axel Jonsson Fjallby got Sweden’s fifth goal at 18:50, and Jesper Bratt rounded out the scoring in the middle frame 41 seconds later.

In the third period, Slovakia's Vojtek Zelenach cut the gap to 6-2 with his power play goal at 4:28. However, no miraculous comeback was in the offing.

With 11 minutes remaining, Tim Wahlgren got his team-leading fifth goal of the tournament with the man advantage to restore Sweden's five-goal edge.

Swedish goalie Filip Gustavsson made 18 saves for the win, while Slovak goalie Roman Durny had 35 saves in a losing cause.

This was the third straight game in which the Swedes have potted five or more goals. Now the question is whether they can sustain that winning momentum against the surging Canadians.