mens hockey olympics: U.S. Men to Face Sweden in Milan Quarterfinals
The U. S. men’s Olympic hockey team plays Sweden in a quarterfinal at Santaguilia Ice Arena with the opening faceoff scheduled for 3: 10 p. m. ET. The single-elimination showdown pits a hot American group that swept its preliminary pool against a deep Swedish roster that advanced through the qualification round.
Teams, form and goaltending
Team USA finished the preliminary stage unbeaten in regulation, going 3-0 to claim the top spot in its group and the second overall seed for the playoff bracket. Its most recent outing ended in a 5-1 victory on Feb. 15, a game in which the expected starter in net, Connor Hellebuyck, made 23 saves on 24 shots. Hellebuyck has appeared in two of the U. S. games and ranks among the tournament leaders with a. 952 save percentage and a 1. 00 goals-against average.
Sweden advanced to the quarterfinals after a 5-1 qualifying-round win over Latvia. In the preliminary round the Swedes posted wins over Italy (5-2) and Slovakia (5-3) but were beaten by Finland (4-1). The Swedish roster carries NHL-caliber forwards and goaltending options; one available netminder is 1-1 in the tournament with a 2. 55 goals-against average and a. 889 save percentage, a detail that has created some tactical debate about which goalie will draw the start.
Familiar faces and club rivalries on the ice
The matchup will have a club-level subplot: several players who are teammates in the NHL now face each other in national colors. Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek projects as a matchup nightmare for U. S. defensemen, a player described by an American blueliner as operating "right at the net, creating havoc. " That physical, forechecking style directly challenges U. S. defenders like Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, who will be tasked with limiting Eriksson Ek’s chances and transition opportunities.
Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy, a linemate of Eriksson Ek during the NHL season, will also be on the ice against his club teammates. Boldy and teammates say they relish the competitive shift: club camaraderie gives way to national intensity in a one-game knockout where everyone must "put everything into it. "
History, stakes and what to watch
The Olympic head-to-head ledger between the two nations is tight. They have met 15 previous times at the Winter Games; the U. S. holds six wins, Sweden seven, and two contests ended in ties. Their last Olympic meeting came in Torino in 2006, a 2-1 Swedish victory on Feb. 19 of that year.
The U. S. has struggled in recent quarterfinals at the Games, dropping its last two quarterfinal matches in 3-2 shootout decisions and carrying a 4-5 all-time mark in quarterfinal contests. Its most recent quarterfinal win was a 5-2 victory in 2014. With a place in the medal round on the line, special teams, goaltending and execution around the crease should decide a close matchup; the U. S. coach has signaled confidence in the defensive structure and goaltender returning to the net, while Sweden’s depth attack and experience present a stern test.
Expect a physical, fast-paced affair where small margins—penalties, goaltender saves and contested plays down low—will determine who advances from Milan to the medal rounds.
