Sweden gets past Latvia and will face the US in the quarterfinals at the Olympics
MILAN (AP) — Jacob Markstrom is thrilled to be tending goal for Sweden at the Olympics. He is not ready to go home just yet.
“I waited 36 years to get my first one and it’s a great feeling, but you don’t want it to end,” Markstrom said.
Markstrom made 20 saves, Adrian Kempe and Gabriel Landeskog scored in the first period and Sweden avoided the earliest possible exit by defeating Latvia 5-1 in the qualification round on Tuesday. The U.S. awaits in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
“It’s a fun challenge,” defenseman Erik Karlsson said. “That’s why we came here: to play these guys. I know everybody, including ourselves, it’s probably a little bit earlier than we expected it to be, but it is what it is.”
With all the pressure on — and the possibility looming of being on the NHL player-filled first plane back to North America — the Swedes endured a nervous first 10 minutes before Kempe got them on the board. Landeskog scored 41 seconds later to relieve some of the tension.
Filip Forsberg scored in the second, and Mika Zibanejad and William Nylander added insurance goals in the third. Lucas Raymond, who has been Sweden’s best player minus a costly penalty, had three primary assists.
Sweden has won three of its four games in Milan and is a formidable opponent Wednesday for the unbeaten second-seeded Americans to begin the single-elimination knockout round.
“Our opponent’s going to up another level,” Landeskog said. “What a great opportunity it is to see what we’re made of.”
Markstrom has emerged as Sweden’s starting goalie after Filip Gustavsson started the tournament in that role. It’s entirely possible Markstrom plays on back-to-back nights, a rarity in the NHL.
“Many times you see goalies who play back to back play even better the second night,” coach Sam Hallam said. “But let’s see if everybody’s fresh and ready to go.”
Czechia holds on to beat Denmark and set up a matchup with Canada
Czechia players almost seemed more relieved than anything after holding on to beat Denmark 3-2.
“Joy and relief,” winger Ondrej Palat said. “A big game for us. We won. We’re happy.”
Czechia gets a second shot at the tournament favorite after losing to Canada 5-0 last week in each team’s opener. Committing four penalties against Denmark is not a promising recipe for the Czechs if they’d like to shock the world against top-seeded Canada.
“It’s a huge challenge for us,” said captain Roman Cervenka, who scored 69 seconds after David Kampf’s goal on what turned out to be the game-winner. “If we want to have a chance, we have to play much better than (against Denmark). Everybody has to play to their max. But we try. I believe the chances always.”
Lukas Dostal made 24 saves and said he’s ready to play each half of the back to back if the coaching staff calls for that.
Germany defeats France 5-1
Leon Draisaitl and JJ Peterka scored in a three-goal first period, and Germany beat France 5-1 to set up a quarterfinal game against Slovakia.
“Definitely a step in the right direction,” Draisaitl said. “It’s going to get harder. The tournament is getting smaller and it’s getting harder each and every round, so teams are going to get better. We know that. We’re aware of that. We’ve got a big task ahead of us.”
Josh Samanski, a teammate of Draisaitl’s on the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL, had a goal and an assist, and Philipp Grubauer stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced.
“The team is playing great,” said Grubauer, who may also go back to back like Markstrom and Dostal. “It makes it easy for me back there to see the puck, so they’re we’re doing the right things. System-wise, we are boxing guys out. We’re blocking shots. Great game from us. What we talked about in the locker room we translated and executed on the ice.
France lost all four of its games. Captain Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored his team’s only goal in the final game in his first and last Olympics at almost 41 years old.
“I never had the talent to be one of those top guys, but if I could be as reliable as possible, I would get a role in the NHL and that is what I have done,” Bellemare said. “It brought me a long career.”
Switzerland advances
Switzerland beat Italy 3-0, outshooting the host country 51-20.
New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier had a goal and two assists. Philipp Kurashev and Roman Josi had the other Swiss goals. Switzerland next faces Finland.
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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics