Sweden's 60 shots on goal against Italy in the Santagiulia Arena in Milan on Wednesday night were a record for an Olympic match, TV4 reported during the broadcast. Yet it took until the final stages before the Swedish stars punctuated the opening, scoring to make it 4–2 and then 5–2.
"It was nice to get this run-through. We had to fight really hard," says Pittsburgh defenseman Erik Karlsson.
“A little nervous”
It's been two Olympic tournaments and twelve years since the best NHL players were able to compete in the Winter Games. Now the stars are back in action.
Now we're underway! A little nervous too, that's good. Now we're alive, now we know we're alive, says Karlsson, who was also in Sochi in 2014.
"It feels like we had to give 100 percent the whole game to finally win. It's only good for us," he continues.
Similar match results are not to be expected against Finland (Friday) and Slovakia (Saturday).
"I don't think we'll play another match like this in this tournament," says team captain Sam Hallam.
“A completely different match”
Italy - without any NHL professionals - relied almost exclusively on counterattacks and rarely established control in the offensive zone.
"We need to look at what we can learn from this match structurally. Against Finland we know we have to do it 100 percent, but it will also be a completely different match where there is an opponent who is able to play an attacking game," says Hallam.
The reigning Olympic champion Finland - then coached by Jukka Jalonen, who is now the national team coach of Italy - began the tournament in Milan with a 1–4 loss to Slovakia.
Tre Kronor's men's group stage schedule and playoff dates.
11/2: Sweden–Italy 5–2
13/2: Finland–Sweden (12:10).
14/2: Sweden–Slovakia (12:10).
17/2: Playoff to quarter-finals (4 matches).
18/2: Possible quarter-final.
20/2: Possible semi-final.
21/2: Possible bronze medal match.
22/2: Possible final.
