When a 5–2 lead became a 5–3 final while Sweden was down a player with 39 seconds left against Slovakia on Saturday, it had major consequences.
Tre Kronor fell from first place in the group and a direct spot in the quarterfinals to third place and the round of 16 on Tuesday.
There, Latvia will provide resistance.
It will be inspiring and fun. They play with a lot of heart. On paper we are probably a bit of a favorite, but in a tournament like this things can turn very quickly, says 35-year-old Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman.
A victory there would set up a quarterfinal against second-place favorite USA on Wednesday. If Sweden can win that, just like in the Four Nations, gold favorite Canada will likely await in the semifinals.
“Both halves tough”
On paper, the path forward could have been better. And above all, easier.
"I think both halves are tough, so it doesn't matter that much. We'll take one game at a time and focus on Latvia now," Hedman said after Monday's training at Santagiulia's training arena.
National team captain Sam Hallam on the way forward:
We knew that the journey would be far from easy, with a couple of really tough tests along the way. We are prepared that it will require a lot from us.
Latvia came last in their group with one win (over Germany) and two losses (against the USA and Denmark) and eliminated Sweden in the 2023 World Cup quarterfinals in Riga.
A team that plays with a lot of intensity and sacrifice. Their attitude stands out, says Sam Hallam.
“Entered the system”
Even though the ending was abysmal against Slovakia, the Swedes are taking the game as a boost compared with the lacklustre performance against Finland.
It felt like it really started to click and that everyone has gotten into the system. Everyone comes from different systems in everyday life, but now it feels like we have started to set it. It looked very good, especially in the last period when we dominated. Our power play has been very good and our penalty kill very good, says Hedman.
Lucas Raymond's unnecessary tackle on a Slovak player, which led to him being sent off, was costly, and team management has stressed the need for discipline. Sam Hallam:
Everyone knows that we shouldn't take penalties, but especially not bad penalties, giving them away. There was probably no one more disappointed afterwards than Lucas Raymond, but then it's important to let it go, both for Lucas's sake and ours.
Goran Sundberg/TT
Facts: How the playoffs are played
TT
Round of 16 (final ranking after group stage in brackets)
Tuesday, 12.10: Germany (6)–France (11), Switzerland (5)–Italy (12), 16.40: Czech Republic (8)–Denmark (9), 21.10: Sweden (7)–Latvia (10).
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, 12.10: Slovakia (3)–Germany or France, 16.40: Canada (1)–Czech Republic/Denmark, 18.10: Finland (4)–Switzerland/Italy, 21.10: USA (2)–Sweden/Latvia.
Semifinals
Friday 4:40 PM and 9:10 PM.
In the semifinals, the highest ranked remaining team will face the lowest ranked team and the second highest ranked team will face the third ranked team.
Bronze match
Saturday 8:40 p.m.
Final
Sunday 14.10.
