"A little bit of a pulse. I think we're getting a bit sloppy. We need to be much, much better in two days (the match against Finland)," says national coach Sam Hallam to TV4.
Packed with NHL stars for the first time since 2014, the tournament featured a host nation that was expected to be the tournament's big punching bag in the Olympic premiere.
Then there was a fiasco surrounding Tre Kronor at the scandal-hit Santagiulia arena in Milan until the final minutes.
The arena was only ready for games as late as January, even though not all the areas had been completed.
National coach Sam Hallam has had three days to assemble his national ice hockey team - the stars landed in Milan on Sunday - and it was noticeable in the opener.
After just over four minutes of play, the first blow came for Sweden. Minnesota goalie Filip Gustavsson dropped his stick after he had blocked a clearance from the Italian defensive zone and Luca Frigo was able to send in the puck he was given for free.
Lighter fluid for Tre Kronor
The goal ignited Sweden. Team captain and Colorado star Gabriel Landeskog tied the game at 9:06 and defenseman Gustav Forsling smashed in a 2–1 goal with just over two minutes left in the period.
Sweden won the first period 27–3 – a shot total that is not uncommon in an entire ice hockey game – but Brynäs goalie Damien Clara played well for Italy.
Our first period is by far our best; we probably should have scored more goals there, Hallam notes.
Just 37 seconds into the second period, a pumped-up home crowd could cheer again when Matt Bradley equalized - with Italy's fourth shot on goal.
Tre Kronor was unable to dominate the second period in terms of play in the same way as the first, but Toronto star William Nylander managed to give Sweden the lead 3–2.
No overtaking
However, it was never the start of a blue-yellow overrun by Italy, which does not have a single NHL professional on its squad. If Gustavsson had not made a couple of sharp saves, Italy could have easily tied the score a third time.
After facing 49 shots on goal, Damien Clara was forced to leave the Italian goal early in the third period due to injury. Substitute Davide Fadani sat on the bench for a while, but with just under four minutes left Mika Zibanejad made it 4–2, and in the final stages Victor Hedman scored into an empty net to make it 5–2.
It's difficult for the players to find the timing in that. We need to be more comfortable in our game without the puck, and also in the game with the puck; we need to be more straightforward, Hallam says.
The next group stage match awaits on Friday against Finland, who lost the opening match against Slovakia 1-4.
