Sweden arguably has toughest path to men's hockey gold

MILAN (AP) — After realizing his team would have to play in the qualification round at the Milan Cortina Olympics, Sweden coach Sam Hallam was quick to reference what Canada did 16 years ago after a rough start on home ice in Vancouver.

Canada also had to play the extra game and went on to win it all on Sidney Crosby's golden goal in overtime in the final against the United States. If the Swedes do the same this time, they will have earned every carat of their gold medals.

Sweden as the seventh seed has an incredibly difficult path through the men's hockey tournament, starting in the qualification playoffs on Tuesday against 10th-seeded Latvia. The winner of that game faces the unbeaten U.S. in the quarterfinals Wednesday night.

“We’re going to have to play ... one more game than some other teams, but that’s an opportunity for us to come together even more as a team, work on our details, work on our game as a unit out there,” forward Adrian Kempe said. “That’s just the way I’m seeing it.”

Sweden dropped out of the No. 3 spot only because it allowed a last-minute goal to Slovakia that changed who won the group based on a tiebreaker. That 5-3 victory Saturday was arguably the best Sweden has played thus far in Milan, from goaltender Jacob Markstrom out.

“Everyone contributed,” alternate captain Victor Hedman said. “Marky played great. A lot to build on and look forward to the next one.”

Hallam has a decision to make in net given the back-to-back scheduling. Markstrom may have played well enough to become Sweden's starter, but Filip Gustavsson could get the nod against Latvia.

“Let us see," Hallam said. "(Markstrom) showed good presence. I like the way he plays with the puck. He started a couple of breakouts for us. He felt big, felt solid, so he did a good impression on me, yeah.”

Switzerland beating Czechia in overtime Sunday on Dean Kukan's goal was a big one to play winless host Italy, which was outscored 19-4 in round-robin play. The Swiss should be able to get into the quarterfinals and face Finland, even after losing one of their top forwards, Kevin Fiala, to a leg injury that required surgery and ended his Olympics and probably his NHL season.

“We care about each other very much, and we care about winning," winger Timo Meier said. “This group we have here, we love playing with each other. We’re a really tight group.”

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics