"We've just come off the ice. We'll have to sit down and do a little analysis and have a meeting with the team tonight and take the next step," says national captain Sam Hallam after the 1-4 loss to Finland in the Santagiulia Arena in Milan.
Filip Gustavsson does not say whether it has already been decided who will face Slovakia at Saturday lunchtime.
"You can take that with you, Sam," says the 27-year-old.
"It hits my stick"
What have Hallam and the coaches told you?
"Nothing. They said I'd play against Italy, and then they said I'd play today."
On Finland's 1–0 goal, Gustavsson had a clear view, but he thought the puck would go wide.
"Then it hits my stick and goes in," he says.
"It is what it is. You can't do anything about it, you just have to keep making the next save," he continues.
On the 2–0 goal, he whipped the puck in himself. The situation was video reviewed for a high stick on goal scorer Anton Lundell, but he was judged not to have been on the puck and the goal was allowed.
"I have to look at the situation a little bit. Somehow it pops up there, then it swings a little bit," says Gustavsson.
Easy goals against Italy
Gustavsson conceded two goals on Italy's first four shots in Wednesday's opener (5–2). The first was on a play where he dropped his stick after giving up a simple rebound on a clearance.
New Jersey goalie Jacob Markström has been on the bench in both Olympic games. Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota, has not been substituted.
Sweden can still take home first place, but a basic requirement for that to happen is a win in regulation against Slovakia in the final group game. If Finland – with a victory against Italy on Saturday – also has six points, the Tre Kronor must win by four goals.
