Sweden holds a 1-0 lead over Czechia after the opening period of the gold medal game at the World Junior Championship from the Grand Casino Arena from Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Casper Juustovaara opened the scoring with a short-handed tally at the 14:46. Jack Berglund picked up the assist.
Sweden outshot Czechia in the period, 10-7.
Forward Vojtěch Čihař, a prospect for the Los Angeles Kings, entered the gold medal contest as Czechia’s top point producer with four goals and seven assists across six games.
Forward Anton Frondell of the Chicago Blackhawks leads the way for Sweden with seven goals and three assists in six games.
Czechia defeated Canada 6-4 on Sunday to advance to the gold medal game while Sweden downed rival Finland, 4-3, in overtime in the other semifinal.
Both teams are in long gold medal droughts at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Czechia won their two gold medals in back-to-back years in 2000 and 2001 while Sweden struck gold in 1981 and 2012.