The tournament format also became controversial because the Soviet Union finished undefeated in the preliminary round but the Swedish team won on goal differential because of a 9 -- 0 win over Canada in the medal round .
The Swedish team had lost three games in the preliminary round .
The tournament format also became controversial because the Soviet Union finished undefeated in the preliminary round but the Swedish team , which had lost three games in the preliminary round , won on goal differential because of a 9 -- 0 win over Canada in the medal round .