Tre Kronor won six of seven matches in the group stage and took 18 of 21 possible points.
The "reward" was to face the reigning world champion Canada in Thursday's quarterfinals.
Canada finished only third in Group A and has lost to both Switzerland and Denmark.
But of course many remember the World Cup in Riga last year where the team switched up after a weak group game to then go all the way and win gold.
- They can certainly switch up, but we can also do that, says national team captain Johan Garpenlöv to SVT Sport.
They have lost to Switzerland and Denmark. What do you read into it?
- During World Cup tournaments, there are some so-called better teams that lose against so-called less good teams, there is nothing unusual about that.
They are in the quarterfinals for a reason and we have respect for the fact that it is a good team, but again, we are a good team as well.
Crowds of NHL professionals
All but one of the names in the Canadian squad - Dynamo Moscow's Eric O'Dell - play everyday in the NHL.
A name that stands out is, for example, Pierre-Luc Dubois who is third in the World Cup points with ten points in seven matches.
In addition, he is the tournament's sharpest teaser.
He scored 60 points for the Winnipeg Jets last NHL season.
- They have an incredibly good team with many skilled NHL players that you usually meet over there.
But we also know how good we can be when we are turned on and we must be from the start, says Chicago defender Erik Gustafsson.
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Swedish among Finns.
Photo: Viaplay
World Cup's second best powerplay
This is what the Nynäshamn son - who is listed for six assists in the World Cup, most in the Swedish team - says about the plan to beat Canada:
- It is important to be on them, our forwards are fast and fierce.
They probably want us to keep dribbling on the blue line so they can counter, but we have to put the puck deep and go after their backs.
Then I think they get tired and take unnecessary expulsions and then we can slam it into powerplay.
Tre Kronor's powerplay has gone from being the third worst in the tournament, with only France and Great Britain behind it, to being the second best.
Switzerland is by far the sharpest with 36.36 percent efficiency, but Sweden and Germany are just behind at 34.78 (eight goals in 23 attempts).
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Lucas Wallmark laughed at the sign.
Photo: SVT / TT